Learn how your assessor’s office determines the values of residential real estate. Do they look at recent sales? Is it a percentage of the estimated value of your home? Do they figure out how much it might take to rebuild your home from scratch? Find out so you can understand why the assessor priced your home the way they did.

Obtain the property card for your home from your assessor. It lists basic details about your home, like lot size, bathroom/bedroom numbers, etc. See if there are any errors that might have been used to calculate a higher value. Sometimes assessors can make shortcuts in evaluations that can result in errors.

Get a copy of your assessor’s file for your home. There should be a sheet that the assessor filled out for your home that contains the addresses of homes compared with yours. If the homes used to draw up a value for your property are significantly different from your property, you may have a case for a lower property value.

Look up comparable assessments of homes that are similar to yours at the assessor’s. A real estate agent can help you find comparable sales that can help you prove your case, in most cases, for less than $100. New communities often have identical homes that you can use to build an even stronger case for the re-evaluation of yours.

Get a receipt when you deliver your appeal or use certified mail so that you have a record that you actually sent it in. Usually you will send it to the county board, but ensure that you are sending it to the right place by consulting your assessment paperwork. Be prepared for a wait; you could be waiting months or over a year if you are in a big municipality.

Attending an actual appeal hearing can prepare you for your own. Observe the procedure and make notes on it. Sometimes the same questions are asked every time – if you have ready answers for these, it can make your case appear stronger.

Bring the information you have found that bolsters your case with you in clear notes or a spreadsheet. Have extra copies on hand. Keep your appeal short; your time should not run over 10 minutes and should be shorter if possible.

You are not guaranteed to win an appeal, but taking the time to file an appeal and attend a hearing can end up saving you thousands of dollars in taxation. By being polite, precise and prompt, you will have the best chance of succeeding with your appeal. Carolyn Capalbo