How to Review Your Property Assessment
Estimate the market value of your property by checking recent sales of property similar to your own. Factors to consider are the age, size, type of construction, number of rooms, lot size, the neighborhood in which the house is located and the usual selling price for properties with similar characteristics. This information is available at the Assessor’s Office, real estate offices and financial institutions. You may prefer to have an independent appraisal made of your property. The assessment should represent approximately 50% of market value (the price your property would sell for). Compare your estimate of value with the estimated value as indicated by the assessment. The two estimates should be reasonably close. If there is a significant difference, further analysis should be made. If you believe the assessment is not representative of 50% of market value, you may request that the Assessor’s Office review it, and/or appeal to the local Board of Review in March of each year.
How to Appeal Your Property Assessment
You may have your assessment reviewed by the City Assessor’s Office at any time. The assessment process is an annual process and information is gathered and assembled throughout the year to make changes for the following year. The Assessor has no jurisdiction to change an assessment for the current year. Any changes after March 1 must be made by the Board of Review before their last scheduled meeting in March. You may appeal your assessment to the local Board of Review, which meets the third Monday in March each year. The specific dates, times and location appear on the assessment notice that is mailed to each property owner around March 1 of each year. Dates, times and places also appear in the local newspaper one week before the meeting.
Failure to receive an assessment notice does not invalidate the assessment or extend the period of appeal. It is crucial to meet the deadline for appeal. Be sure to call the Assessor’s Office for the meeting dates and times if you are contemplating an appeal and do not know when the Board of Review is meeting. You may file your appeal by letter if delivered no later than the last hearing date. The Board of Review holds hearings by appointment.
If you wish to appeal your assessment, please call the City Assessor’s Office at 586-469-6818 ext. 4 to schedule an appointment. Appointments are generally 10 minutes in length, and it is recommended that you arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled meeting. When you appear before the Board, be sure to have with you all of the information you’ve gathered to support your contention of value. The Board will use this information as well as information on file as a basis for their decision.