Property tax assessments in Palm Beach County and Broward County don't always track the market accurately. In rapidly appreciating neighborhoods, assessments sometimes overshoot actual sale prices; in areas that have softened, the assessed value may not reflect what a buyer would realistically pay today. Homeowners often sense that something is off when their tax bill arrives, but without an independent value opinion as of the assessment date, that feeling doesn't translate into a successful appeal. The Value Adjustment Board process requires evidence, not just a disagreement — and the appeal window in Florida is short enough that waiting too long removes the option entirely.
A tax assessment appeal appraisal from Slater Appraisals, Inc. is prepared as of the January 1 assessment date, using comparable sales and market conditions from that specific period. The report is written to address the questions that property appraiser staff and VAB hearing officers typically raise, including how the comparable sales were selected, how adjustments were made, and why the concluded value differs from the assessment. This isn't a summary letter — it's a formal appraisal report structured to function as primary evidence in a formal appeal proceeding. Robin works with property owners directly and can coordinate with attorneys who specialize in tax appeal matters when the situation warrants it.
Homeowners across Palm Beach and Broward County who have successfully appealed their assessments often credit the outcome to having a well-prepared appraisal rather than a generic protest. A report from Slater Appraisals, Inc. gives the VAB or the property appraiser's office something specific to respond to — a supported value conclusion with a clear methodology. When the appeal succeeds, the result is a lower assessed value that carries forward into future tax years, making the cost of the appraisal a practical investment rather than an administrative expense. Scheduling early in the appeal window leaves time to work through the process without rushing.
What's Included
Every tax assessment appeals visit includes
Value as of the assessment date
Supports VAB petitions in Palm Beach and Broward
Written to answer assessor questions
Best scheduled early in the appeal window
Fee quoted per assignment
Service Area
Serving Palm Beach & Broward County
West Palm BeachBoca RatonDelray BeachBoynton BeachWellingtonJupiterFort LauderdalePompano BeachCoral SpringsHollywood
The Process
How a tax appeal appraisal works
1
Review the assessment
Start with your TRIM notice and the Property Appraiser's record for your home. Robin looks at whether the assessed value is actually out of line with market evidence before you spend money appealing.
2
Inspect and document
Condition issues the county's mass-appraisal model can't see — deferred maintenance, functional problems, dated interiors — are documented in detail.
3
Build the market case
The report values your property as of the assessment date using verified sales, the same evidence standard the Value Adjustment Board responds to.
4
Support the petition
You or your representative file the appeal; the appraisal is the evidence at the heart of it.
Florida Specifics
How assessment appeals work in Palm Beach & Broward
Property tax appeals in Florida run on a clock, and the counties follow the same basic sequence:
TRIM notices arrive in August showing the proposed assessed value and taxes
The window to petition the county's Value Adjustment Board closes shortly after — typically mid-September
Homesteaded owners: the Save Our Homes cap limits annual assessed increases, so the biggest appeal opportunities are often non-homestead properties, recent purchases, and homes with condition issues
Mass appraisal values whole neighborhoods by formula — it cannot see your specific house's condition
An independent appraisal is the strongest evidence a petitioner can bring
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about this service
The appeal process reviews the evidence you bring against the assessment on record. Before you file anything, Robin can tell you honestly whether the market data supports a reduction — if it doesn't, you'll know before spending the filing fee, not after.
That depends on the gap between your assessed value and demonstrable market value, and on your millage rate. A meaningful over-assessment compounds every year it goes uncorrected, so the math often favors acting — and Robin keeps fees low so the analysis doesn't eat the benefit.
The petition deadline is printed on your TRIM notice and typically falls about 25 days after notices go out in August. If you're reading this near the deadline, call promptly — a retrospective appraisal can still be prepared, but the petition itself must be filed on time.
Not by itself — assessments vary for legitimate reasons, including Save Our Homes caps that travel with long-term ownership. The argument that wins is market evidence: verified sales showing what your property was actually worth on the assessment date.
Complete appraisal reports for single-family homes and residential properties throughout Palm Beach and Broward County, prepared with more than four decades of local market knowledge. Includes a full interior and exterior inspection, photographs, sketch, market analysis, and comparable sales research specific to the subject's neighborhood. Reports are written to be defensible for lenders, attorneys, or private use. Typical turnaround is a few business days after inspection, depending on complexity. Every report is prepared personally by Robin Slater.
Retrospective valuations for estate settlement and probate, giving attorneys, executors, and families a defensible value as of the date required. Reports are prepared to IRS-friendly standards with historical comparable sales pulled from the effective date, not today's market. Used for step-up in basis calculations, estate tax filings, and distribution among heirs. Delivered in a format that won't slow down a probate filing or trigger follow-up questions from an accountant or auditor.
Independent, unbiased valuations for equitable distribution. Clear, well-supported reports that stand up in negotiation and in court. Robin works with attorneys on both sides and with mediators, and can serve as a neutral joint appraiser when both parties agree. Reports include full supporting documentation and can be accompanied by testimony if the case requires it. Confidential handling, professional communication with counsel, and turnaround that respects court and mediation deadlines.
Know what your home is really worth before you list. An objective valuation that helps sellers price with confidence and avoid leaving money on the table, or chasing the market down with price cuts. Unlike a broker's opinion, a pre-listing appraisal is prepared by a disinterested third party with no commission at stake. Useful for owners considering a sale, negotiating with a buyer directly, or evaluating an offer that came in below expectations.
Current-value appraisals homeowners can use to petition their lender to remove private mortgage insurance once equity supports it. Many South Florida owners have gained enough value to drop PMI but don't realize the lender will accept an independent appraisal as evidence. The report is prepared to standard lender format so it can be submitted directly to your servicer. In most cases the appraisal fee is recovered within a couple of months of PMI savings.
Valuations for condos and townhomes across South Florida's condo-dense coastal markets, with attention to association factors that affect value. That means looking at HOA financials, reserves, special assessments, milestone inspection status, insurance, and rental rules, all of which move the number in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and points between. Comparables are drawn from within the building or complex where possible, and adjusted carefully for view, floor, and exposure.
