Questions, answered plainly

The things owners ask before they appeal — including the ones most services would rather not answer.

Do you file my appeal for me?

No — and that is deliberate. We generate a pre-filled, evidence-backed packet; you review, sign, and file it. Filing as your own representative is what makes the product legal in all 50 states and keeps the price flat.

Are you a law firm or a tax consultant?

No. We are software. We are not a law firm, a licensed appraiser, or a licensed property-tax consultant, and nothing here is legal or appraisal advice.

Can an appeal raise my taxes?

In some states, yes — Georgia, Pennsylvania and Washington are the ones the industry's largest vendor discloses. Our free check flags the risk for your state before you pay anything, and the packet repeats the warning in writing.

What evidence wins for a home?

Comparable sales (3–5 similar homes sold recently), uniformity with your neighbours' assessments, and errors on the county's record card for your home. Boards disregard automated value estimates like Zestimates.

What evidence wins for commercial or multifamily property?

The property's own numbers: rent roll, leases, 2–3 years of income and expenses (P&L or Schedule E), vacancy records, and a supported cap rate. Value = NOI divided by cap rate — each input is an assumption you can contest.

My LLC owns the property. Can I still use a packet?

Yes, with one honest caveat: in Cook County, an LLC or corporation must appear before the Board of Review through an attorney, and New Jersey has a similar rule for entities. In those places the packet is built to hand to your attorney as organised evidence.

What if my deadline already passed?

Then this cycle is closed in most jurisdictions — there is generally no late filing. Monitoring exists for exactly this: it watches your next window and alerts you before it opens.

Why flat pricing instead of a percentage of savings?

Because the percentage is where the money goes: contingency runs 8–50% of your first year's saving, and some firms charge again every winning year. A flat packet costs the same whether you save $800 or $18,000.

Do you guarantee a reduction?

No, and you should distrust anyone who does. Public county data — Cook County's published 2025 figures, for example — shows reductions in about a fifth to a quarter of commercial and multifamily appeals in a non-reassessment year. Good evidence and the right year matter more than any promise.

What is monitoring?

A $49/yr watch on each property: deadline alerts before your window opens and a re-check when a new assessment arrives, so a 25-day window never catches you out.

Software, not representation. FairAppealPacket is not a law firm, a licensed appraiser, or a licensed property-tax consultant. We do not file, appear, or negotiate for you. You review, sign, and file your own appeal. No result is guaranteed.