So, those of you that have had your meeting, how did it go?

Any success stories to share? 

Appraisal district dropped my appraisal 15K as a result of meeting with them. 

Ask me tomorrow. I don't have high expectations but it is one of those things that I feel I should not just accept on face value either. But I don't look forward to that drive to their office and that waiting room. It is as much fun as going to the dentist. 

Appraisal district dropped my appraisal 15K as a result of meeting with them.

Wow. Congrats, CM. Was that based on comps? The comps they used for my appraisal don't give me much to work with. Neither have the comps I have obtained on my own. 

Our appt is on the 20th and I haven't started gathering my proof...ugh. Any suggestions? 

They only offered to lower the "market value" to match the appraised value, so I withdrew my protest completely. 

They only offered to lower the "market value" to match the appraised value, so I withdrew my protest completely.

You are kidding? That would be helpful..not. I hope my meeting isn't a waste of time. 

They only offered to lower the "market value" to match the appraised value, so I withdrew my protest completely.

Would getting the market value lowered help you in the long run for the following year's appraisal? 

I don't think so ghostpost. From the way I understand it, the taxes are based off the lower of the two values and they can only raise the appraised value 10% every 2-3 years unless sold.

The market value will fluctuate as much as the housing market does, so it wouldn't do any good to change it unless the housing market crashes again.

So yeah, waste of time.

ETA: I could be totally confused on it all, I was annoyed. It's makes sense though. 

Cajunmom or anyone with successful meetings. Are the comps the only paperwork you took to the meeting? Did you take pictures or anything else? How long are the meetings? 

I didn't even take comps or pictures. I looked at all of the houses that were close to the same square footage/lot size and got a price per square foot. All square footage prices were less than my house. I was the second highest price per square footage in the neighborhood.(The only house more per square foot was sold earlier this year.) I told them that if I had worked on my house like the one that was sold I wouldn't have a problem with the appraisal but I have done nothing to my property and the house that sold had workers there for a solid month before being put on the market. I just wanted my appraisal to be more in line with the other houses in the neighborhood. The whole meeting took 10 minutes. 

B.R. Lawson and Co.
5700 NW Central Dr #220, Houston, TX 77092
(713) 952-3500 

we took an actual appraisal from our refinance showing the value significantly lower than their value and they rejected it. my wife was beyond furious that they'd reject an official appraisal. we now have to go again and hope they accept our appraisal and other documents we bring to the review board 

The house next door to me sold in May for a good deal less than my appraisal and was completely remodeled and is much larger than my home. I know that is a 2014 comp but I am still going to try to use the info. 

I have a law firm that specializes in just that- they reduced it $10,000.00- 

I did the meeting myself. I didn't have to pay anybody anything for the reduction. 

Reduced ours by a $8K. 

Off today for our meeting. They raised the value by $19,617 over the purchase price in January 2012. Looks like it was a blanket appraisal since all the houses with the same sq. ft. are appraised the same amount....regardless of condition etal.

Last contact with the office went well.
They were polite and helpful....a switch from what you usually find for a government office. 

Off today for our meeting. They raised the value by $19,617 over the purchase price in January 2012.

Good luck! Check back and update us with your success. I hope you are leaving early, I've heard the traffic is brutal around the HCAD offices. 

Looks like the fastest way, considering all the construction, is around on Beltway 8 and towards town on 290. Leaving 90 minutes before meeting and taking something to read.
Glad when this BS is over with and taxes are frozen 'cause I qualify as "old". 

Glad when this BS is over with and taxes are frozen 'cause I qualify as "old".

Hey, I thought you were 80. Why aren't they already frozen? 

Evidently they do not give you the same appraised price as the previous owner...they base it on your purchase price...I guess. We shall see. 

Arrived 10 minutes early and was called in at the appointment..short wait time.

Appointment was not too productive this time. Adjuster was polite and helpful so I understood the process.

Evidently they get a wild hair and just raise your value 10% a year come hell or high water.It is up to you to dig and dig to get the facts before you do. I did, but

I will have a formal hearing where I can present all the things the adjuster suggested. She was very helpful I might say.

Want to get it as low as possible so it will be locked at that rate. 

I too arrived a bit early and was called within 2 minutes for the appointment.

I was not very prepared. I had taken photographs of all of our problem areas and handed the adjuster a paper with the repairs needed. He said that was nice, but would not help. I needed to have estimates on the company's letterhead. I brought in a couple of houses on the market that were selling for slightly lower than appraisal. He also said that would not help as he needed actual sales for comps.

He went online to check comps and worked with me. He said most homes were selling for well over the appraised value. He was a fabulous adjuster - he kept searching and lowered my appraisal.

They originally increased it $15K and he lowered it $18K!

This was the BEST experience I had with an adjuster. 

My appointment is tomorrow! Did a spread sheet of all the homes on my street and will be asking to have mine lowered to the average appraisal value of the block. Mine is the highest now. Hope that will work with my pretty spreadsheet! 

We did Appearance by Affidavit. Our hearing was yesterday. From reading this thread, I have a feeling it's not going to go well. 

Evidently they do not give you the same appraised price as the previous owner...they base it on your purchase price...I guess.

That is exactly what happened to me, the year after I bought and moved in. I have one of the smaller homes on the street yet they raised my appraisal to be more than most of the much larger homes. I was prepared with spreadsheets out the wazoo and they just said basically "Too bad. We are appraising it based on what you paid for it".

Thankfully now I am "locked-in" however, if I ever do make any major improvements that would require a city permit, they can again, raise my appraisal. 

I have enough sense to not give them too much information...like the interior improvements that we made. As long as what you do does not require a city permit keep your mouth shut I guess.

Now I expect comments on what a flake we are for not paying our "fair share". 

Mine was lowered 22K. I was frankly shocked that it was so easy. I didn't have a lot to work with because the neighboring comps weren't helping me much. I had a few fairly minor things to complain about with my house itself (lol, who doesn't?) but I can't say they were major.

There were 2 recent sales on my street that I pointed out. One went low--a short sale-- and the other was much larger than my home and had been completely redone inside with high end everything and sold for about the same as the market value appraisal on mine. Even though they were 2014 sales, she looked them over with interest.

The adjuster I had was super nice. I arrived early, everyone was on their lunch break. I was called in 20 minutes before my appointment time. She really seemed to want to do whatever she could to get it lowered. I was hoping for a man because I think I have better rapport better with men (lol), but she was great.

I had given a low ball estimate of what I thought it "should be" when I filed my protest. I did not really expect to get anywhere near that figure, it was lower than last year's appraisal...but they always say go lower than you expect to compromise on. However, she said, I can't give you "xxx" like you have asked for, but I can do "xxx", would you accept that? It was only 2K above what I had asked for, so I was more than happy to settle!

The good news is that next year is my "golden birthday" so I really wanted to get a good rate this year to base my over 65 exemption on.

I think everyone should file a protest. It is your right of arbitration and it really was a very easy and comfortable process. Why pay someone to do it when with a little digging around you can do it yourself and pocket the difference that would have gone to a company that might not get it as low as you can on your own? Even if you don't win, you will know you didn't just lay down and let them have their way. 

Good news ghostpost! 

Just wanted to let you all know that mine was lowered by 12 thousand. I want to thank everyone because I really would not have protest it at all if it had not been for all of your helpful threads and advice.

Also, I have to say that it was a very painless and actually enjoyable process. I am used to county offices being so disorganized and expected to encounter rude, bureaucratic employees.

It was not the case at all. People were friendly and the whole processed is very streamlined. I was probably in and out in 20 minutes. I was called in 10 minutes early. If you have not done this, you really should do it next year. Don't pay someone, it is a great feeling to take care of it yourself. 

We used Bettencourt Tax Advisors for the second year in a row. Ours was reduced over $57k - mostly due to the fact that our square footage was estimated more than 1,000sqft over actual and our home was listed as 5 bedrooms instead of the actual 4 (this has been incorrect on HCAD since the home was built, I guess. We are new owners). We were able to get those details fixed as we included the appraisal done by our insurance company when purchasing the home. 

We were able to get those details fixed as we included the appraisal done by our insurance company when purchasing the home.

my wife must have met with a real jerk when she went to protest. they wouldn't accept our appraisal and update that we had done. 

we go to the full board on Friday to protest. it will be interesting to see what they say. 

Back again at 08:00 on Thursday. Dread that traffice on 290. May try Beltway and back on 290 again.

Have done a great deal of research and will ask for what I am sure is in line with other comp's on our street and area.

Wish me luck.. 

Good luck. Definitely take the Beltway there. 

We used O' Connor and althought I have never been much impressed by them in the past, this year they lowered it 40K (yes yes) and even lower than last year's. We had threatened HCAD with another lawsuit this winter (we sued before and won), which may have helped. 

I did mine myself. I did put a lot of work into it and used several websites I found by googling HCAD lowering tax appraisal. I used THEIR comps but brought actual pictures of their comps from the MLS listings and compared it to pics of my house showing lack of updates and original ac units. Got my appraisal lowered 30K. The adjustor did say I was well prepared. (i wad kinda proud of myself as this isn't my usual thing!) 

Sweetie pie, that is just great. You should be proud. When I protested, I was so nervous and really had no idea how to go about it except for what I learned from others on KU. Your tips are going to help someone else. 

Well. it's over with----at least for another year. Can't believe you may have to protest year after year.

Mine lowered 12,500 to even lower than I thought it should be. So, no problem

Hardest part was traffic on Beltway 8, both ways between 7 & 9.