The summer is just about over and we have officially completed more than half of the year. Soon, Labor Day will have come and gone, and so will Thanksgiving and the holiday season too. And before we know it, it’ll be tax time again.
Believe it or not, this time of the year is the perfect time to create a tax strategy before things get too hectic. It will also help the next tax season go smoothly when gathering your documents and hiring tax help like a property tax consultant.
Choosing the Best Property Tax Consultant in 3 Steps
If you own any personal or business property, a major part of your strategy may be a property tax consultant. A property tax consultant can assist you all things pertaining to the real estate you own and the tax you will be assessed to pay.
If you are ready to find a property tax consultant, here are three steps to help you choose the best consultant to fit your needs.
1. Evaluate Your Options
A casual web search of local property tax consultants can lead to you a long list of options. You are then faced with weening the list down and making contact with each one. So, before you decide to search the web for consultants, first ask around for a reference. Ask your friends, family, and co-workers for a property tax consultant that they would recommend to you. This allows you to get first-hand information from people you trust the most.
Another option is checking out the continuing education provider list compiled by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation department’s website.
2. Read Reviews
Once you have evaluated your options, it is now time to do your research.
A property tax consultant needs to be well established in understanding tax laws, reducing property taxes, and appealing tax bills. Therefore, it is imperative that they have the experience and professionalism. After you have compiled your list, you need to do your research on each possible candidate. One way is by checking online reviews.
Online reviews are a great way to find out what past clients of property tax consultants think. Look for the both the positives as well as the negatives. They can really tell you a lot about the person you are planning on hiring.
3. Check Out Their Compensation Guidelines
A major part of determining who you choose as your property tax consultant should also be his or her compensation guidelines.
The majority of the time, property tax consultants are paid based on contingency fees or performance-based fees. This means if they succeed at getting your property tax bill lowered, that will then determine their fee. This works because it requires no expense on your part until results are achieved.
While a contingency fee basis is the most popular option, there are some consultants who have a fee caps. This cap can sometimes be negotiated upon. This gives the consultant an amount that they cannot exceed and allows them to work with incentive.
With both fee options, always be sure that you are aware well aware of the guidelines before you choose your tax consultant.
Property Tax Consultant Help from Hegwood Group
Having a good property tax consultant on your side can be beneficial when dealing with lowering your property tax bill or appealing your tax assessment.
If you are located in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and need an expert tax consultant for the upcoming tax season, look no further than The Hegwood Group. Our expert team has many years’ experience as county appraisers and understand the methodologies it takes to help you.
Contact the Hegwood Group today to learn more.
