Harris County holding free property tax protest workshops

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- If you think the county has set your property values too high, file a protest. If you don't what to do, don't worry - there are free workshops coming soon that will teach everything you need to know.

Whether your home is worth $400,000, $100,000 or somewhere in between, property values are up.

Pat Gerard knows what that means.

"Most of the time you are paying too much," said Gerard.

While Gerard knows how to fight property tax increases, you may not.

That's why the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector is holding 10 free property tax protest workshops across Harris County starting next week.

If you don't know how to protest and you think the value assessed by the Appraisal District is too high, the meetings are for you.

"I view it as my responsibility to advocate for the tax payer to reduce their tax burdens," said Mike Sullivan the Harris County Tax Assessor Collector.

Sullivan adds there three easy ways to lower your assessed value.

1. Make sure you have an homestead exemption on your home. It caps increases at 10 percent a year.

2. If your property is in poor condition take pictures of the damage or needed repairs and show them when you protest.

3. Check the recently sold homes in your neighborhood. If they sold for less than the assessed value of your home, you can get your assessment lowered.

"When you request your hearing you can request the information in the file HCAD has and you can receive comps from adjacent you can also contact a friendly local realtor, they are generally willing to help," said Sullivan.

The protest workshops start next week and they are going to be held all over Harris County. Check here for locations near you