Property appraisals rising

By Larry Tucker
editor@wood.cm
Posted 5/7/20

The doors to the Wood County Appraisal District offices may be locked due to the COVID-19 protocol, but Chief Appraiser Tracy Nichols and his staff are working diligently through the restrictions at …

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Property appraisals rising

Posted

The doors to the Wood County Appraisal District offices may be locked due to the COVID-19 protocol, but Chief Appraiser Tracy Nichols and his staff are working diligently through the restrictions at this time.

Appraisal district property values went up this year.

“We use our 2019 sales data we get to adjust our property values. We adjust as of Jan. 1. As a result we had to go up,” Nichols said. “Like I tell folks, you get your notice and you can protest. Right now you can call up here and we will talk to you about it. If you feel like you want to protest you can go on my website and e-file at woodcad.net.”

Nichols said last year was an indicator.

“Last year was a hot and heavy year for the housing market. Things moved and things sold. We stopped shortly after Jan. 1 collecting sales data just to get ready for notices this year,” Nichols explained. “All the virus has done to us is locked our front door and people can’t come in our building. We are still here with email and the phones.”

Nichols said the appeals process is an ongoing thing. 

“We mail you the notice. You can call us and we can visit. We might have done something wrong, we don’t hit everything on the head and we aren’t perfect,” Nichols added. “We need to know things and we want you to bring those things to us. If you have information we need, let us know about it. We can make adjustments and maybe get things fixed. If we can’t agree on something, then we can go to the formal process. If you aren’t happy with the decision by the appraisal review board, you can sign up for arbitration or you can file suit in district court.”

Nichols said if you want to protest your appraisal do some homework.

“Go and find some property that has sold which is comparable to yours. I have to give that appraisal review board a reason why I feel like your house is worth that appraisal. The other side is that you, as a taxpayer, need to bring something to that review board for those folks to look at,” Nichols remarked. “That is what that process is for.  Just bring me something tangible.

There are exemptions for veterans.

“A veteran can go to my website and go under forms and applications. You can find an application for disabled veterans. You will need to furnish me a letter from the Veteran’s Administration and you can mail it all in to me,” Nichols stated.