Visit the assessor. Request a copy of your property card, which contains the data used to determine your house’s value—including square footage and number of rooms. Look first for simple mistakes: math errors, the “mention of a nonexistent porch.” Sometimes a polite chat will win the day.
Know the rules. The annual window for appeals is often brief. Learn what an appeals board might expect in a formal appeal. In most cases, you’ll need to compare your assessment with those of nearby homes. “This public information can be found at your local municipality or online at value​appeal.com or domania.com.”
Insult your house. You’ll want to include photos in your appeal, as well as a list of your home’s faults, such as a leaky roof. “Those problems might save you enough cash that you’ll be able to afford to fix them.”
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Kim Ju Ae: North Korea’s next leader?The Explainer Kim Jong Un’s young daughter is being seen as his ‘recognised heir’ following a high-profile public appearance at China summit
-
Is the UK government getting too close to Big Tech?Today’s Big Question US-UK tech pact, supported by Nvidia and OpenAI, is part of Silicon Valley drive to ‘lock in’ American AI with US allies
-
Russia’s war games and the threat to NatoIn depth Incursion into Poland and Zapad 2025 exercises seen as a test for Europe
