Before the formal hearing, many assessors offer an informal review — a short meeting (often ~15 minutes, by phone, online, or in person) where you show your evidence and the appraiser can adjust the value on the spot. Most residential appeals that succeed are settled here. Always try the informal route first.
What to bring
- Your strongest comparable sales (3–5 recent, similar, nearby).
- Any factual errors on the record card.
- Photos and estimates for condition problems.
- A clear “ask”: the value you believe is correct, and why.
The letter
[Your full name]
[Your mailing address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Phone] | [Email]
[Date]
[County Assessor / Appraisal District]
[Address]
Re: Request for informal review of assessed value
Owner: [Name] Parcel / account number: [number]
Property address: [address]
Noticed value: $[amount] My opinion of value: $[amount]
To the Assessor's Office:
I would like to request an informal review of my [year] assessed value before any
formal hearing. I believe the assessment exceeds my property's fair market value
based on the evidence below, and I'd appreciate the chance to resolve it directly.
Summary of my evidence:
- Comparable sales: [e.g. "3 similar homes within 0.5 mi sold for $X-$Y in the
last 6-12 months; details attached"]
- Record-card corrections: [e.g. "square footage overstated by ___"]
- Condition: [e.g. "needs roof/HVAC; estimates attached"]
Please let me know how to schedule the informal review (phone, online, or in
person) and the deadline to do so. I have also filed/will file a formal appeal to
preserve my rights in case we cannot resolve it informally.
Enclosed: [comps, photos, estimates, corrected measurements].
Sincerely,
[Your signature]
[Your printed name]
How to send it
Request the informal review early, but still file your formal appeal by the deadline as a backstop — the informal process doesn’t extend it. Be brief and factual in the meeting; lead with your best 3 comps and your specific target value.
Notes. If the informal review resolves it, get the agreed value in writing. If it doesn’t, proceed to the formal appeal and hearing. Whether an informal review is even offered, and how, varies by jurisdiction. General information, not legal or appraisal advice.