In which construction costs were an effective measure to reducing property taxes:

In this particular case, Harris County Appraisal District was basing the subject property’s value based on a cost approach method. Once the owner provided Novotny & Company with the cost of construction, which came up to 2,296,421 including land. Novotny & Company argued that the land value was too high and itemized the construction cost to reflect the actual construction of the property. As a result, the value was reduced from 3,027,908 to 2,000,000. Due to Novotny & Company’s knowledge of the differences in soft and hard costs, we were able to reduce the value below the property owner’s actual construction cost. Our clients saved $23,634.

In which the properties were not equal and uniform:

In this case, the county was comparing the subject property to properties that were not located in the same proximity. Novotny & Company supported the value that we were seeking by comparing the property to others which were comparable, that had similar or the same characteristics, and valued much lower than the subject. This is a serious equity issue. All properties with similar characteristics should be valued equal and uniform according to law. As a result of Novotny & Company’s work, our client saved $11,008.20

In which the property is only partially complete:

In this case, the subject property was a new construction residence that was only partially complete as of January 1. The Harris County Appraisal District appraiser that visited the property on January 1 recorded the property as being 66% complete and assessed a value on the property of $430,731. After reviewing the interior and exterior photographs of the property, Novotny & Company determined the property was actually only 51% complete. This was the basis of our protest that was presented to the Appraisal Review Board. The Appraisal Review Board agreed with Novotny & Company and reduced the value to $335,487. Novotny & Company saved our client $2,575.38.

In which the surroundings played a role in the property value:

This residential property sits directly in the landing path of Bush Intercontinental Airport. Due to the location of the property and negative influences of noise from the airport operations, Novotny & Company argued that this property was being over assessed. In addition, the Harris County Appraisal District’s evidence was using sales comparables from other neighborhoods as far as 10 miles away. The Appraisal Review Board agreed with Novotny and Company and reduced the value from $255,983 to $174,000. This provided our client with a tax savings of $1,743.96.