Saving Clients $ on Taxes

What is one way you can get clients to LOVE you?  Lower their taxes!  This is also a valuable service you can offer clients for an additional fee – I have seen outside consultants and managers charge 1/3 of the saved amount with a minimum fee which would cover your time. 

Here are a few examples:

1)      A residential house – I recently lowered tax by 8% – how did I do it – I had a retrospective appraisal done for when the town last did their valuation – so the appraisal was done today using 2008 information to come up with an appraised value that was much less than the town’s valuation.  I did the write up and submitted the appraisal as back up and went to the town pre-screen hearing myself – don’t let consultants, lawyers and appraisers make the money.

2)      A home owner association – we recently lowed tax from $20,000 /year to $0 – the home owner association common area does not have any value because it can’t be sold and you can’t rent it – You can’t assess or tax something that doesn’t have any value.  All the value is in the homes – so maybe each home has a higher tax but at least the owners can deduct that from personal income tax – not so with common charges where this fee was paid from.  Now we are working to get a refund from the town for the last 3 years.

So go out there and help your clients save money – get some great referrals – and also do it yourself!

Published on April 5, 2012 in Property Management

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