Help! With urgent abatement question (houses, property taxes, assessment)

[NH2008]

I am in the middle of filling out the application for an abatement on my property taxes, which is due tomorrow.

I am listing assessments of comparable properties that have been assessed at less than ours to show that our assessment is too high. BUT I suddenly had the fear that when the town sees that all these properties (many of which have more land or are bigger than ours) are assessed at less, they might raise theirs rather than lower ours. If that happens our neighbors will hate us!

Could that happen? Are they allowed to raise peoples' assessments once they're done for the year, or only lower them?

I think it's ridiculous that we're assessed at more than all of our neighbors, but I don't want to get off on the wrong foot with everybody either. Any insight appreciated, thanks!

[NH2008]

OK, I called the Assessor's Office and she said they CAN raise assessments on neighbors if low assessments are called to their attention, but that the neighbors would never know who called it to their attention.

But I think we're assessed high, not that our neighbors are assessed low, so I'll hope for the best.

[WannaComeHome]

Good luck! I can understand you're concern.

[nhkev]

I went through an abatement before and what you're doing pulling the assessment cards of houses around the same year, same sq ft, same acreage, and similar appeal is the best way to get yours in line. and I agree they are much more likely to bring yours down and make you happy than to keep yours high and bring everyones up and create an outrage.

[NH2008]

Thanks, and fingers crossed...