Do I Need a Property Tax Consultant? DIY vs. Professional Help
Should you protest your property taxes yourself or hire a professional? This honest comparison breaks down what's involved in DIY protests, when professional help makes sense, how contingency fees work, and questions to ask before deciding.
Key Takeaways:
The DIY Approach
What you'll do:
- Research comparable sales
- Verify property records
- Document condition issues
- File protest
- Attend hearings
- Present your case
Time: 4-10 hours
Cost: Free
Works best when: You have time, comfortable presenting, 1-2 properties
The Professional Approach
What they do:
- Analyze property and comps
- Identify errors
- Build evidence packages
- Handle filings
- Attend hearings
- Negotiate
Cost: 25-40% of first-year savings (contingency)
Works best when: Time is valuable, multiple properties, multiple jurisdictions
Success Rates
Recent data shows well-prepared DIY homeowners achieve comparable results to professionals. The key is preparation, not credentials.
Questions to Ask Yourself
- What's your time worth?
- How many properties?
- Do you enjoy this?
- Can you attend weekday hearings?
Bottom Line
Both approaches work. The worst choice is doing nothing. With 80%+ success rates, protest your property taxes. See our real estate agent partners page. See our CPA partner program page.
Paying Too Much in Property Taxes?
Let our licensed property tax experts assess your tax bill for potential savings. Over 80% of protests get a reduction of more than $1,000 and it takes less than 3 minutes to enroll.
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FAQs
How do consultant fees work?
Most work on contingency—typically 25-40% of first-year tax savings. If they don't save you money, you pay nothing.
Are professionals more likely to win?
Not necessarily. Well-prepared DIY homeowners achieve comparable results. Preparation matters more than credentials.
Ryder Meehan
Ryder Meehan is the Co-Founder of TaxDrop and a Licensed Property Tax Protest Consultant
