Tax appeal

Most localities determine your property tax burden based on an ad valorem assessment of the property's value. Sometimes, as a property owner, you get an unwanted surprise in the mail telling you your taxes are going up, and sometimes it may seem as though your assessment is too high. Often, matters like this can be resolved with a phone call. However, if after discussing your assessment with your local taxing authority you still feel as though your property was overvalued, a professional, independent, third-party appraiser is often your best bet in proving your case. That's where we come in.

We would like to tell you about the services we provide for property owners who would like to challenge their assessed values with the Value Adjustment Board (VAB) of Lee County. This year (2007 tax year), 3,740 individuals petitioned Lee County to lower the assessed values on 7,844 parcels. This is a 171% increase in the number of parcels challenged over 2006. While our firm has specialized in valuation for general litigation purposes for more than 30 years, more recently we have seen the need for our services within the VAB process. We provide appraisals, consultation, and/or expert witness testimony for VAB hearings and have done so for many years. Our firm's founder, Mike Maxwell, has served as the special magistrate for these hearings in the past and we understand the process intimately.

We have found that most property owners attempt to self-represent during the VAB hearings and are unaware of the information they should have prepared to discuss. Consequently, most petitioners are unsuccessful. What makes our service unique is the potential cost savings for the property owner with limited resources. While we do offer to complete appraisals and can appear for hearings on behalf of our opinions, for many people that level of service is cost prohibitive. Instead, we offer consultation services to petitioners that could cost less than a real estate appraisal. Either in our office or by phone, we can discuss the petitioners property, explain what they can expect at the hearing, and help them plan their strategy for a dispute. We think that this is a service that many people will find extremely valuable and far more tangible than incurring significant legal expenses.

Please note: It makes sense to do your own research before determining whether to go forward with a property assessment appeal, especially before you make the decision to hire a professional appraiser. However, according to the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), we are not allowed to take "shortcuts" -- i.e., your research -- and use it on its face as part of our independent evaluation. When you hire us for an assessment appeal, you're commissioning  an independent, third-party professional appraisal report. As such we do our own evaluation, beginning to end. If you're right that your property has been overvalued, an independent report such as ours will be even more persuasive than any other evidence you can marshal on your own. But it depends on our ability to do the work independently.

Sometimes, you will need the appraiser you've hired to testify on your behalf. Be assured that at Maxwell & Hendry Valuation Services, Inc., we are able to professionally and persuasively testify at appeal hearings.  Browse our website to learn more about our qualifications, expertise and services offered.