I trust many, most, or all of Fayette County has received their home assessment information this week from the Assessor’s Office. What will you do with it?
I would suggest that you appeal it. Simply send them a letter saying so. Later on you will be invited to a meeting where there will be trio of “disinterested citizens” to listen and make a determination.
If that does not go well you can file in court for about $80 and present your case to a truly disinterested party.
I have been through the process a few times. We now are allowed to use foreclosure sales in our neighborhood as comparatives. It was ridiculous that we could not before because that is what the property sold for. If the bank could sell it for more, it would have.
My last experience was interesting. I had a copy of an assessor’s report used to refinance our home. I offered it to the “disinteresteds,” but they were “disinterested.”
When the Assessor’s Office rep said she had some comps from in-house research they were grabbing for it like ravenous dogs being offered a piece of meat. Lost that phase of the appeal.
Took it to court and the week before the court date an attorney called. We worked out a drop of $40,000, which more than paid filing fees for that year and helped me keep more in subsequent years.
Under the freedom of information heading I asked the Assessors Office for info on how many properties they were voluntarily lowering and how many homeowners were winning appeals. All I got was bunch of hemming and hawing.
We need to bombard the Assessor’s Office with appeals so that justice can be done. Our property values have dropped and out assessments and property taxes should reflect that. Please join me in that endeavor.
Bill Webster
Peachtree City, Ga.
