That’s why you can’t find your neighbor’s property tax value online

If you’re thinking about appealing your property tax assessment, you may be curious about how the county assessed your neighbor’s home or one on the next block. This information will take some time to find online.

Why? Cuyahoga County won’t put the assessments online until Ohio approves them in November, long after the Aug. 30 deadline to file an informal appeal.

During the informal process, Cuyahoga County accepts only sales figures – not appraisals – as points of comparison to prove that the tenant’s home is worth less than the county’s estimate.

“We wanted to prepare the public early by submitting the values ​​now. Property owners must use sales comparisons, not property value appraisals, as the basis for an appeal,” Kelly Woodard, a county spokeswoman, wrote in an email to Signal Cleveland.

Last week’s announcement of rising property values ​​sent panic into many property owners worried about how they will be able to pay their bills. Although an Ohio law mitigates the impact of inflation on the property tax bill, residents are still looking for ways to reduce their future property taxes based on new property values.

The formal process to appeal the county’s property tax assessment will begin in early 2025 for those who need more time to appeal.

Where to find information about other Cuyahoga County real estate sales near you

There are several documents you can submit with your informal appeal to the county tax assessor’s office, including what are called comparable sales, or sometimes “comps,” which are similar properties in your neighborhood that have recently sold.

Cuyahoga County has an online tool where you can enter your address and see sales comparisons in your area. The tool also shows the current average sales price for the neighborhood.

This can still be difficult, says Ron O’Leary of the Cuyahoga County Board of Auditors, who still recommends that property owners get an appraisal. Appraisers can inspect your home and look at sales figures for properties in the neighborhood, he said.

Appraisers also have access to more information than the county, O’Leary said. For example, they can use information about recent renovations that could affect the property’s value. The county does not have access to that.

Another common misconception is that the number of bedrooms matters when calculating property value. That’s because appraisers rely on square footage, not the number of bedrooms, according to O’Leary.

Do you have any further questions about the Cuyahoga County property appraisal process? Let us know.