Has anyone used Value Appeal? (assessor, attorney, houses)

[whynotcoconut]

Has anyone ever heard or used ValueAppeal? They claim to be able to reduce your property taxes if the county has over assessed yours. I would like to hear from someone who has actually used their services.

Thanks.

[NJcost$$]

I went onto the website and put in all of my info. The response was that my home was accurately assessed and that I didn't need to take any further action. Not sure what would happen if you actually were over-assessed.

[Docendo discimus]

I got something in the mail from Value Appeal and I'm curious as well. It's on my fridge now, along with all the other To Do stuff. At first glance, though, the current assessment they've cited for my property isn't accurate, so I'm a little skeptical. When I entered my info into their website, the current assessment it spit out WAS correct (and I'm over assessed). Their website claims that their fee is $99, and for $99 they send you "everything you need to successfully lower your taxes including an Appeal Evidence Report, County Appeal Form, Success Checklist and more. Our property tax experts also provide help along the way". This also makes me skeptical.

But I'd love to hear from people who've used them, to prove me wrong.

[Mightyqueen801]

It's easy enough to file an appeal on your own. Some people get a lawyer, but if you don't really need one, depending upon your situation, it isn't all that difficult to follow the instructions for filing an appeal on your county website.

This sounds like a case of someone offering to do something for you that you can just do for yourself.

[Docendo discimus]

Mightyqueen801, I think you are right. That $99 seems to get you stuff you can do on your own for free. And then the hard stuff...going before the board...you still have to do on your own anyway.

[TonyStarksNJ]

$99 seems to be just the right number too to get people to sign up and try the service. If it works great, i just lowered my taxes, and I only spent $99. If it doesnt, well I only spent $99.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by TonyStarksNJ

$99 seems to be just the right number too to get people to sign up and try the service. If it works great, i just lowered my taxes, and I only spent $99. If it doesnt, well I only spent $99.

You're right. It is smart marketing.

Even better, last year I spent the $25 filing fee to appeal my taxes. My taxes went down $400 or so--not a killing, but worth spending $25 for!

[camaro69]

Not sure it's legit.

I put my house in and my neighbors house. Both houses are the same, except my neighbors has very nice room extention on hers and I know from the tax records that I'm paying a few dollars more than her.

And the land is also accessed the same.

So either I'm over accessed or she's under accessed.

Yet it came back with both houses not being overaccessed.

[TonyStarksNJ]

hmm this site claims I am over assessed. I may pay the $99 and give it a shot. I have been reading the tax appeal website at the nj.gov site and its still confusing to me (and I am an ENGINEER!).

Edit: I just spent an hour or so looking into this. In its simplest form, here is how to determine if you should spend time trying to appeal...

1.Every January or February, homeowners in New Jersey get a postcard from their Tax Assessor with the assessed value of their home. Look on the postcard for the Assessment Total. This number is NOT an estimate of your home's value. For that, we have to do a little math.

2. Go to this website: http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxa...apter123.shtml Click on your county. Find the 3 Tax Ratios for your city. If these 3 Tax Ratios are not between 0 and 1, then divide them by 100. For example, if your 3 Tax Ratios are 24.86, 29.25, and 33.64, then divide them by 100 to get .2486, .2925, and .3364 Now they are between 0 and 1.

3. Divide the Assessment Total on the postcard by the middle of the 3 Tax Ratios. If the Assessment Total is 200,000 and the middle Tax Ratio is .2925, the result is 200000/.2925 = 683,761. This result is your Tax Assessor's estimate of your home's value. Your Tax Assessor is allowed to be wrong by up to 15% when estimating the value of your home. To calculate 15% below what your Tax Assessor estimates your home's value to be, divide the Assessment Total by the highest of the 3 Tax Ratios. If the Assessment Total is 200,000 and the highest Tax Ratio is .3364, the result is 200000/.3364 = 594,530

4. The result from Step 4 is your magic number. If you think your home's value is less than the result from Step 4, AND YOU CAN PROVE IT you may be able to appeal your home's assessed value and lower your property taxes. In this example, the result from Step 4 is 594,530. If the home in question is worth less than $594,530, then the home's assessed value can be appealed.

I bought my home last summer. I paid more than my #4 number, my home appraisal during the home purchase process was more than what I paid, and my zillow zestimate right now is more than my appraisal came in it.

That being said, looks like i'm assed out, and the only way my taxes will go down in this town is if they spend less

[piespies]

I used it to appeal my taxes. The properties it used as comps were terrible. One was a tear down. The county attorney and judge said I had no chance.