Before you can appeal, see what the assessor thinks your property is. The property record card (PRC, sometimes “field card” or “property characteristics”) lists the square footage, bed/bath count, lot size, year built, condition/grade, and other data used to value your home. Wrong details here are one of the easiest wins.
Why start here
- A single wrong number (e.g. 2,400 sq ft when you have 1,900) can inflate your value for years.
- Many counties post the PRC online; if not, request it. It’s a public record about your own property.
- Reviewing it tells you whether to argue factual error, overvaluation, or both.
The letter
[Your full name]
[Your mailing address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Phone] | [Email]
[Date]
[County Assessor / Appraisal District]
[Address]
Re: Request for property record card and assessment data
Owner: [Name]
Property address: [address]
Parcel / account number: [number from your tax bill or notice]
To the Assessor's Office:
Please provide a copy of the property record card (property characteristics) and
the assessment details for the parcel above, including:
- the recorded square footage, room/bed/bath counts, lot size, year built,
and condition/grade or quality rating on file;
- the current assessed/appraised value and how it breaks down (land vs.
improvements); and
- the comparable sales or data used to determine my value, if available.
You can send these to the address or email above, or tell me how to access them
online. Thank you.
Sincerely,
[Your signature]
[Your printed name]
How to send it
Check the assessor’s website first — many post the record card and even the comps. If not, email or mail this (keep a copy). This is a records request, not an appeal, so it does not extend your appeal deadline — note the deadline on your assessment notice and request the card as early as possible.
Notes. Compare every line on the card to reality (measure your actual finished square footage; basements and garages are often counted differently). Errors feed the factual-error dispute; an inflated value with correct data feeds a comps or unequal-appraisal argument. Rules vary by jurisdiction. General information, not legal or appraisal advice.