          
          
          
          
                                Consultants
          
               One word of caution.  There is a new fad of
          "property tax consultants" offering to verify your
          taxes for a percentage of the savings.  You can catch
          the obvious errors yourself, and don't need this deal. 
          Many, probably most, of these people are totally
          unqualified.  Many of them entered the business through
          purchasing a kit from several business opportunity
          promoters advertising in the "get rich quick" genre of
          magazines.  If the same "consultant" is appearing
          before the board with dozens of cases, he may actually
          hurt your chances.  A qualified property tax consultant
          working on a business property that might save
          thousands of dollars per year is probably sincere.  But
          those pursuing the small homeowner market are more
          often the victims of a "start your own business"
          marketing scheme and can't help you.  Check the
          personal and professional credentials of any consultant
          first -- just because he will work for a percentage of
          the savings does not guarantee that his services, or
          his image, are in your best interest.  You will
          probably be more effective yourself.  If you want a
          representative, then hire either a lawyer who
          specializes in the field or a professional appraiser
          with experience in property tax appeals.
          
          
          
