In Texas it’s pretty simple - basically just appraisal work:
1) You list nearby comparable properties that have sold recently.
2) You determine a price per square foot.
3) You then adjust for any outliers, which might increase or decrease your value (like a warped foundation, or marble tile everywhere).
I'm definitely taking off for ramshackle and non-maintained sheds. When the taxes rose over the years from 2 weeks income to 3 months, there's no way way to do basic maintenance anymore. No tile here, just linoleum and laminate so I'll be taking pictures of that.
1) You list nearby comparable properties that have sold recently.
2) You determine a price per square foot.
3) You then adjust for any outliers, which might increase or decrease your value (like a warped foundation, or marble tile everywhere).
I also live in Texas. A few years ago, we decided to protest our tax appraisal. We contacted a couple of realtors for sales of comparable properties in the neighborhood. I did calculations of price per square foot. I thought I was well prepared for the meeting. But when I started pulling out the price per square foot data, the guy said to forget that. He said they don't use that.
He looked at the raw data from the realtors and compared it with his own list of sales in our neighborhood during the last year. He found a house on our list that wasn't on his list. He left and did some checking, and came back and agreed to a small downward adjustment in our appraised value.
I think he appreciated our calm and cooperative attitude. The guy ahead of us was argumentative and abusive. I imagine a lot of people are in a bad mood when they go in there.