December 05, 2022
Property taxes: Protest yourself or hire an agency?
Should I protest my property appraisal myself or hire an agency?
Nobody can represent your interests better than you. All you need is evidence to prove your claims. Once you present the right set of comparable properties("comps"), your chance of getting a reduction instantly increases. You could hire an agency to protest for you. However, if you live in Houston or anywhere in Harris County, then you are better off filing the protest yourself! As per Harris County data for past 6 years, DIY protests stand a better chance at getting a reduction on their appraised value, and they also get more reductions than agent represented properties!
In 2022, DIY protests had an 81% success rate vs. 61% for agents. Homeowners who protested themselves had a median reduction of ~$22,000. Agents were able to get ~18,700 for their clients. The numbers speak for themselves!
Most counties let you protest online. It only takes a few minutes. Why hire anyone when you can DO IT YOURSELF! And you get to keep all the savings!
To understand the protest scene quantitatively, we looked at protests for Single Family Homes in Harris County from 2017 to 2022.
| Year | DIY Protest Success Rate | Median Reduction (DIY) | Agent Protest Success Rate | Median Reduction (Agent) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 81% | 21,858 | 61% | 18,692 |
| 2021 | 88% | 17,512 | 78% | 14,197 |
| 2020 | 88% | 16,568 | 74% | 14,085 |
| 2019 | 83% | 16,387 | 76% | 12,599 |
| 2018 | 68% | 15,340 | 43% | 11,782 |
| 2017 | 79% | 15,000 | 66% | 83,741 |
Clearly, DIY protests are in better luck! And have got a higher median reduction as well every year!
A detailed analysis is presented here.
In 2022, median reduction obtained by single family homeowners who protested by themselves were an all-time high of ~$21,858 vs $18,692 for professionally represented protests! Homeowners who protested by themselves got more reductions, again! Similar pattern for previous years as well.
Homeowners who used our comps report got an average reduction of $39,850 in 2022! Check your comps now!
Homeowners who protest by themselves (DIY Protests):
- Stand a better chance of reducing their market value.
- Get more dollar reductions!
- Are more likely to resolve their protests informally (either by phone or via iSettle).
- Get to keep more of their tax savings!
Protest online. Save yourself the hassle of mailing or going down to the CAD. Online protests are easier to manage for the CAD as well. Make their job easier! You may get rewarded with a reduction! Online protests are a win-win for both homeowners and the county appraisal district.
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Disclaimer
Articles presented here are for general information and education only. It is provided as a courtesy to the general public. SQD Taxtech LLC does not warrant that it is accurate or complete. Opinions expressed and estimates or projections given are those of the authors or persons quoted as of the date of the article with no obligation to update or notify of inaccuracy or change. This article may not be reproduced, distributed or further published by any person without the written consent of SQD Taxtech LLC. Please cite source when quoting.
SQD Taxtech LLC, its managed affiliates and subsidiaries, as a matter of policy, do not give tax, accounting, regulatory or legal advice. Rules in the areas of law, tax, and accounting are subject to change and open to varying interpretations. You should consult with your other advisors on the tax, accounting and legal implications of actions you may take based on any strategies presented, taking into account your own particular circumstances.