The RETA Process

At Real Estate Tax Analysts, LLC (RETA) our process ensures maximum real estate tax saving for your company’s real estate portfolio, and that our fee is derived solely from the results we obtain for you.  In other words, if we do not bring you tax savings, you owe us nothing.

Frequently, the local tax assessor (for example, in Ohio the County Auditor, in Kentucky the Property Valuation Administrator) has the values of properties correct or even low.  In those cases, after our analysis, we will advise no challenge to the valuation.

However, very often those valuations are high – and in some cases significantly out of line with the marketplace as of the effective date of the evaluation.  In those instances, we will work with counsel to file a legal challenge to the valuation and comprehensively work to present your case as forcefully as possible to maximize your tax savings.

At Real Estate Tax Analysts, our three step process includes:

1. ANALYZE
RETA starts by evaluating your entire property portfolio to determine if there exists the potential to achieve a reduction in assessed value, digging deeply into mutli-parcel portfolios to identify all of the savings that are practical to obtain.
This analysis may include:

• Onsite inspection of property
• Economic analysis of the marketplace
• Review of each property’s historical income and expenses
• Comparable market analysis of your property to ensure equitable and fair valuation and taxation
• An initial evaluation to determine if the property has the potential to receive a reduction in assessment and if appeal proceedings should be started;
• A written recommendation as to whether such proceedings should be initiated.

2. STRATEGIZE

Next, RETA develops the case for lowering your property’s tax valuation, developing the strongest arguments and smartest valuation approach to bring your property’s valuation in line with the marketplace.

If we recommend proceeding with a challenge because significant opportunities for tax savings exist, RETA will:

• Develop the case reviewing and analyzing data
• Property and market overview to ascertain the best appraisal method and favorable valuation variables
• Work with certified independent appraisers to obtain detailed a appraisal report
• Work with the local tax assessor and his staff to learn their perspectives on assessment variables in the local marketplace and, in some cases, negotiate a reduction without the need for a hearing

3. MAXIMIZE SAVINGS
After analyzing and strategizing, the professionals at RETA have been successful saving their clients in some cases more than two thirds of their previous tax bills, which has meant hundreds of thousands of dollars in refunds and annual savings for several clients.

This process includes:

• Working with counsel to assure the timely filing of the formal complaint
• Working with counsel to assure that the appraisal report is properly prepared and timely submitted, along with all other evidence needed to present your case forcefully
• Working with adversaries such as the property assessors’ staff and local school boards to assure the valuation issues raised by the complaint are understood, and when possible facilitating settlement negotiations among all interested parties  and the clients
• Working with counsel to assure the most effective presentation at the valuation hearing
• Assuring that after the hearing, the results are properly recorded on the tax assessor’s records and the refund is timely issued

Find out today if your property has potential for a tax reduction >