24-Hour Appraisals for California Property Tax Appeals
Independent market value evidence for Prop 8 reviews and assessment appeals.
When a home's market value falls below its assessed value, Proposition 8 allows a temporary reduction. If the assessor won't agree, the county assessment appeals board hears the evidence, and an independent appraisal is the kind of evidence boards are used to weighing.
The filing window closes on a fixed date
Regular appeal applications are filed between July 2 and either September 15 or November 30, depending on the county (State Board of Equalization). Appraisals ordered in the final days of the window are where 24-hour delivery earns its keep.
Where an appraisal helps
- Prop 8 decline-in-value requests to the assessor.
- Formal assessment appeals before the county board or a hearing officer.
- Questioning a base-year value set after a purchase, an inheritance or other change in ownership.
What to send
- The assessor's parcel number and the assessed value you are contesting
- The date to be valued: January 1 of the tax year for a decline-in-value case, or the date of the ownership change
- Photos, especially of anything that hurts value, such as deferred maintenance
Send photos with your order through the upload page, or attach them to a reply to your confirmation email.
Is a desktop appraisal right for this?
Appeals boards decide on evidence of market value, and a well-supported desktop appraisal presents the same comparable-sales evidence as an inspected one.
If your county or hearing officer prefers a particular report format, ask before you order.
Prepared for every purpose on this site. Brian Ward has prepared desktop appraisals for every purpose listed on this site. Some situations still call for an inspection-based appraisal, so check with your attorney or tax advisor before you order to be sure a desktop report fits your matter.
Questions
Will an appraisal guarantee a lower assessment?
No one can promise that. The appraisal provides independent evidence of market value, which the board weighs against the assessor's evidence.
Which date should the appraisal use?
For a decline-in-value appeal, January 1 of the tax year in question, the lien date. Tell us the year and the effective date is set to match.
Often ordered alongside
Prop 19 Parent-Child Transfers
Market value on the transfer date, to see how much of the old tax base survives.
24-hour details →
Bankruptcy
Home values for Chapter 7 and 13 schedules, exemptions and plan math.
24-hour details →
Pre-Listing Pricing
An independent value before you set the list price.
24-hour details →Need this appraisal by this time tomorrow?
Start the order now. Payment and photos start the 24-hour clock, any day of the week.