Most localities periodically determine the tax burden of real estate based on an ad valorem assessment of the property's value. Sometimes, as a property owner, one may receive an unwanted notification in the mail stating the taxes are going to increase, and at times it may seem as though such an assessment is too high.

If after discussing your assessment with your local taxing authority you still believe your property has been overvalued, a professional, independent, third-party appraiser is often the best option in providing impartial and unbiased property value information. 

There are as many different procedures for appealing assessments as there are property taxing districts, so it is important to enlist the help of your legal counsel or a professional appraisal firm that has experience in your particular jurisdiction.

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 legal counsel or a professional appraiser. We can also provide preliminary consulting services in this regard. However, according to the strictness of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), we are not allowed to advocate your position. When you hire us for an assessment appeal, you're commissioning an independent, third-party professional appraisal study. As such, we do our own evaluation, beginning to end. If after our investigation and analysis, we believe the property has been overvalued, an independent appraisal report such as ours will likely be more persuasive than any other evidence you can marshal on your own. But it depends on our ability to do the work independently and thereby produce an objective analysis to present and defend before the proper forum. 

At the hearing on your assessment appeal you will need the appraiser you've hired to testify and defend the conclusions presented in the appraisal.  Be assured that Charles M. Ritley Associates LLC, believes its staff is able to professionally and persuasively testify at appeal hearings. Browse our website to learn more about our qualifications, expertise and services offered.