I had the opportunity to enlist the help of Ownwell last year to challenge the property taxes on one of my rental properties. Their efforts resulted in a significant reduction of $233 in my taxes.
Impressed by their service, I decided to utilize their expertise for both of my properties this year, and I’m delighted to share that they have already saved me $602!
If you’re looking for a hassle-free and effective property tax appeal process, I highly recommend checking out Ownwell. Plus, if you sign up at Ownwell.com, you’ll even receive a $20 credit!
Who is Ownwell?
Ownwell is a fantastic service that specializes in negotiating property taxes for homeowners in the US.
With a team of skilled negotiators who are familiar with the local regulations, Ownwell guides homeowners through the property tax appeal process in their county.
Thanks to their expertise, they have helped countless homeowners save thousands of dollars on their property taxes.
Here’s how it works: Users simply provide Ownwell with some basic information about their property, such as the address and assessed value. Once they have this information, an Ownwell representative will carefully evaluate the case to determine if there are any potential savings.
If there is a chance to save money, they will take charge of the appeal process on behalf of the homeowner.
Is Ownwell a Scam?
Ownwell is definitely not a scam. It is a legitimate company that operates out of Austin and boasts a team of 42 employees on LinkedIn. Colton Pace, the founder, was even interviewed by my friend John Egan on InnovationMap.
Despite being a relatively new and rapidly expanding company, I can personally vouch for its authenticity.
In fact, I utilized their services last year to successfully contest my property taxes. Take a look at the screenshots I’ve provided below as proof.
How Much Does Ownwell Charge?
Ownwell’s pricing structure is based on a percentage of the savings they achieve for you.
There are no upfront fees to use their service, and if they are unable to save you money, they won’t charge you anything.
This means that if they successfully reduce your property taxes by $1,000, you would owe Ownwell $250 of those savings. In this scenario, your payment to Ownwell would be $250.
My Ownwell Experience
I utilized Ownwell to negotiate and appeal the property taxes on my rental property. Here are the details:
Initially, the County assessed my property at a value of $402,522. However, with the help of Ownwell, they successfully appealed and established a new value of $390,657. This resulted in a significant reduction of $11,865.
Considering the tax rate in my County is 1.9632%, Ownwell’s efforts led to a reduction of my property taxes by $233 ($11,865 x 1.9632%).
Once I received the notification about my savings, Ownwell promptly sent me an invoice for their 25% fee. I owed them a total of $58.23.
Pros and Cons of Ownwell
Pros
Dealing with Ownwell is incredibly simple. Just hop online, provide them with some basic information, wait for their response, and then grant them permission to handle your appeal.
No need for phone calls or back and forth communication. It’s hassle-free! Ownwell delivers results. They saved me a whopping $233! They boast an impressive success rate of helping over 80% of their customers.
Ownwell is committed to assisting you year after year. They value you as a lifelong customer and will handle your property tax appeals without requiring you to resubmit any documents.
Cons
Please note that Ownwell is currently not available in all states. As a relatively new company, Ownwell may experience some growing pains as they expand their operations and venture into new states.
Keep in mind that Ownwell charges a 25% fee based on your savings. If you choose to handle your property tax appeal yourself, you can retain that 25% instead of giving it to Ownwell.
Should You Use Ownwell?
Homeowners and landlords who want a hassle-free way to appeal their property taxes should definitely consider using Ownwell.
The best part is that it won’t cost you anything to have them review your property tax situation, so there’s really no harm in giving it a try.
Deciding whether to negotiate your property taxes on your own or with the help of a service like Ownwell depends on your level of confidence and understanding of the tax appeal process. While handling it on your own can save you money on service fees, it can also be overwhelming if you’re not familiar with the process.
Speaking from personal experience, I would highly recommend using Ownwell for all future appeals. They have a team of experts and abundant resources that can greatly optimize your chances of getting your taxes lowered.
Plus, it can save you time and reduce the stress that often comes with navigating the appeal process.
However, it’s important to remember that using a service like Ownwell doesn’t guarantee a successful appeal or a reduction in property taxes. The assessment of property taxes is a complex matter, and various factors such as property value, local tax laws, and the specifics of your appeal can all influence the outcome.
Ultimately, the decision of whether to negotiate your property taxes on your own or enlist the help of a service like Ownwell should be based on your confidence in handling the appeal process and your understanding of the associated costs.
FAQs
What’s Ownwell’s Phone Number?
They are in six states right now. Phone numbers are listed below:
Texas (512) 886-2282
Georgia (678) 890-0767
Florida (305) 901-2905
Washington (206) 395-8382
Illinois (312) 500-3131
California (310) 421-0191
How long does it take?
It takes several months to complete the entire process. Last year I applied with Ownwell in late April. I was informed of a successful appeal in September. Ownwell invoiced me on Sept 15th and I had a month to pay the invoice. Your timeline could vary.