Pocono News Section

How To Fight Your Home's Reassessment

How To Fight Your Home's Reassessment - Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 5:01PM EST

Reported by: Jeff Chirico
Thursday, May 29, 2008 @ 05:01pm EST
LUZERNE COUNTY --First gas prices soared. Then food prices rose. Now some Luzerne County homeowners may have to pay higher taxes. It's a result of the county-wide reassessment. But if you think the value of your home is too much, you can appeal. Consumer reporter Jeff Chirico is here to explain exactly how to do that.

There are three ways to appeal if you think the estimated value of your home is too high. And one lawyer we spoke with believes that's common occurrence.

Folks in Luzerne County have or will soon receive notices like this. It lists their home's updated value and amount of taxes. Attorney Frank Hoegen, who handles tax reassessment appeals, has been inundated with calls from angry homeowners. “I've seen quite a few reassessment notices and from what I've seen there seems to be a significant number that are off the mark."

If you think yours is too, you can fight it. If you can take your eyes off the notice, officials say turn it over, on the back you'll find a phone number to call to set up an informal review of your assessment." That review will happen in one of these cubicles at this office in Plains Township or in Hazleton. It's here that you can correct information like the number of rooms or size.

Tony Alu/Director of Assessments: "Have proper measurements there or if you're shed's been taken off your property take a picture of the property without the shed."

After fixing the mistakes, you may get a new assessed value. You can reject it and file a formal appeal for 5 dollars.

At this meeting you'll want to come prepared. “Find houses comparable in size, age, condition and find out what their new assessment is." You can find the assessments at home --or at this walk-in computer lab at the regional reassessment office. You may also want to bring a recent appraisal of your property.

“After the ruling you'll have 30 days to appeal to the court of common pleas."

Hoegen says if you truly believe your home's been over-assessed “don't give up."

To find the assessed values of homes in your neighborhood go to