RISMEDIA, May 3, 2011—Towns throughout the Hudson Valley, N.Y. have just released their official tax assessment rolls, and Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Rand Realty has published a simple, yet comprehensive guide to educate homeowners on the process of challenging their property tax assessments.
“Although we support our local municipalities, we also believe in tax fairness and think that too many homeowners are over-assessed and entitled to a reduction in their property taxes,” says Joseph Rand, managing partner and general counsel of BHG Rand. A report recently released shows that Westchester is the most taxed county in the country, and other Hudson Valley counties are within the top 25.
The Guide to Grieving Your Property Taxes in Westchester and the Hudson Valley is the first resource of its kind available in the region. It was developed by BHG Rand Realty to help clients shouldering an unfair financial burden due to over-estimated assessments. A cornerstone belief at BHG Rand Realty is that service to the client does not end with the closing on a home, and this guide continues their public education and information outreach which includes seminars, Quarterly Market Reports and Seasonal Event Guides.
“This is by far the most comprehensive explanation of the grievance process ever made public, with information the towns might not even want homeowners to know,” sys Rand. “Having gone through the grievance process myself I know how complicated and difficult it is, and thought the average area homeowner needed a simple but comprehensive guide to explain the process.”
As the guide explains, challenging an assessment and grieving property taxes is complicated but manageable, and BHG Rand Realty will further assist in the process by providing sales comparables and attorney referrals.
“We’re also looking to help homeowners connect with a qualified, experienced attorney who will only collect a fee if the grievance is successful,” Rand continues.
The guide will be distributed to all of the brokerage’s clients, and is also available to the public, along with the more detailed “Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty Property Tax Grievance Municipality Guide,” which contains detailed information on each municipality including contact information, tax grievance deadlines, and more. Both are also available for download, free of charge, at www.RandRealty.com.