The deadline for property tax appeals is fast approaching, and taxpayers across the Lone Star State are starting to get their notices of appraised value. Inside these oft-overlooked documents are key pieces of information that help taxpayers understand how their local CAD views the worth of their home or property. All of this data needs to be correct, and the values must be fair, otherwise a taxpayer has the right to appeal.
As both property values and taxes are increasing across Texas, more and more Texans are appealing their property values. The process can be confusing and time-consuming. One of the best ways to help with this process is to engage with a professional firm, which can give guidance and do most of the work. However, not all firms are created equal. We at O’Connor offer a full-service experience with a personal touch that most firms cannot match, which gives you a practical advantage when it comes to winning your protest and reducing your taxes.
Why Representation Matters
No matter what firm or representative you engage with, having experts by your side can help immensely when it comes to getting a reduction on your property taxes. While proving and fixing errors like the wrong owner, incorrect square footage, or the wrong classification are easy to rectify, proving unequal appraisal or excessive assessment requires much more evidence. This includes doing appraisal comparisons, gathering sales records of homes across your neighborhood, taking photographs of damage or deferred maintenance, and gathering other documents. Having a partner can save extensive amounts of time and can help locate the most important evidence.
When it comes to hearings, many taxpayers who represent themselves focus on the wrong evidence or the wrong grounds for appeal. For instance, many will focus on taxes being too high when appeals do not address tax rates directly. Instead, protests lower the taxable value. The complexity of evidence and arguments is why a low percentage of pro se appellants achieve reductions. In 2025, only around 9% of taxpayers who represented themselves in a hearing got a reduction. In comparison, those who used O’Connor saw a reduction 83% of the time.
What Separates O’Connor from Other Firms?
We at O’Connor offer a full-service experience for our clients. To give our clients the biggest advantages possible, and to make for a comfortable experience, we ensure that every client gets a personalized service. Our clients know their home or business like no one else, so working hand-in-hand leads to the best evidence. By putting our heads together, we and our clients can discover issues that need to be addressed or details that would have gone unnoticed without a collaborative effort.
Client Success Consultant
When you sign up with O’Connor, you are assigned a client success consultant. Rather than being shunted to a corporate mailbox or an AI chatbot, you will have a single person managing your entire journey, from beginning to reduction. This gives you a name to depend on and a single point of contact that can be held accountable for your case. The consultant understands you and the needs of your property, and can advocate for you with hearing representatives, analysts, attorneys, and more. This means that your appeal is tailored to you and your home or business.
The client success consultant will be able to answer any questions about your case and can provide updates. Having a single, accountable person to talk to means that they know your property and case and can answer any questions you have about hearing results or exemptions. Additionally, they can provide information about valuation changes or data on appraisal notices. Having one person also allows for fast and accurate communication, which benefits both you and your case. The consultant will also monitor your account and act proactively where needed.
Concierge Services
One of the chief errors in the Texas appraisal system is that many properties are never seen by a professional, but are assessed through mass appraisals or other estimates. This allows details to fall through the cracks, including those related to location, deferred maintenance, or damage. The only way to get a complete picture of a property is to see it physically. Meanwhile, you are the best expert on your home or business, and know aspects that no computer model ever could.
We at O’Connor take advantage of this with our concierge program. Through this, we send out experts directly to you. Our concierge personnel will come to your home or business, not just to meet you, but to understand your property. This gives you a face-to-face meeting, rather than depending on an anonymous mailbox. While meeting an actual person can seem like a rarity these days, a concierge visit also has many benefits that will help land you a reduction in the long run.
The On-Site Visit
Our concierge consultant takes the time to get to know you and your property. Using your own expertise with your home or business as a starting point, the concierge will examine the property for any issues or evidence that can help prove value in your case. While they will start by looking at any issues that you know about, they will examine the property for things you might have missed. As even small details can have big impacts on a hearing, discovering unknown damage or incorrect measurements can prove extremely valuable down the line. This hands-on experience also gives the concierge insight into the full story of your real estate. This includes factors stemming from your location, recent market changes, and how your property compares to neighbors. Be sure to discuss any recent changes to your property that could have an impact and address any concerns about damage or wear and tear.
Accurate Evidence Pays Dividends
Thanks to this personal approach, the evidence gathered will be more accurate, with hidden issues exposed and unknown errors fixed. Quite often, many issues are missed when taxpayers go it alone, while other firms will overlook problems to rush for a settlement. With evidence collected and issues documented, your case will be ready for appeal. Hearing specialists will use the gathered information to show that your appraisal district has overassessed your property or has appraised it inaccurately compared to your neighbors. Your case will not simply stop at the first informal stage, however, and will be moved to the highest appropriate level. For homeowners, this often means a formal hearing with the appraisal review board (ARB), while businesses or large homes could even go to binding arbitration or judicial appeals. Optimal evidence leads to optimal outcomes.
About O’Connor
For over 50 years, we have been helping Texans achieve fair tax reductions through exemptions, protests, and more. Based in Houston, but with offices all over the state, we know the best evidence to gather and the best ways to achieve a reduction. This gives us national resources and local expertise that give us an edge over both smaller and larger firms. There is no cost to sign up with us, and you will never see an upfront charge. You will only pay a portion of your winnings if we can lower your taxes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Concierge Services
Q: When is the best time to arrange for a concierge visit?
A: While a face-to-face visit helps everyone, some situations are better than others. If you have just bought a property, a visit can be helpful in finding any issues that will lower taxes. A visit is also helpful after damage from storms or when you complete a renovation. If you find that your appraisal has increased dramatically, then a visit to help gather evidence for an appeal could be needed.
Q: How much do concierge visits cost?
A: They are free and are part of the services we offer when you sign up with us.
Q: Is this service useful if I own multiple properties?
A: Yes, as we can review every property to see that it is properly classified, has the right exemptions, and see if there are any issues with each property. In addition, we can simplify management and provide a strategy for your whole portfolio.
Q: Why is being proactive important?
A: Property values and tax rates change every year, often in unpredictable ways. By staying ahead of the curve, you are able to stop problems before they can cause any damage.
