5 New Year's Resolutions for Your Home

Property Tax Reduction Consultants

125 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 500 
Jericho, NY 11753

(516) 484-0654 or (631) 484-0654

As a homeowner, you're always looking for creative ways to save. You might be strict about leaving lights on or maybe you're the type of person who is reluctant to use the furnace or the air conditioner. Whatever your style is, these tips can help you liven up your home while simultaneously cutting costs.

Tidy It Up

Do you have kids that need to learn a little responsibility? Try creating a weekly cleaning chart that gives each of them a responsibility in the maintenance of your home. De-cluttering and tidying things up will reduce allergens and make your home more enjoyable to live in.

Cut Your Costs 

While we specialize in reducing taxes, we also know a thing or two about cutting utility costs. Here are three things you can do in 2017 to reduce heating and water bills: 

• Turn your furnace down THREE degrees and utilize blankets or space heaters to compensate. This will save you close to 10% on your heating bills. 
• Upgrade to a low-flow shower head. They use close to 60% less water and they help the environment and your wallet. 
• Tune-up your furnace before it's too late. Most HVAC contractors offer this service to protect your heating system and make sure it is running efficiently. 

Spice It Up 

You can try making your home the people's choice for party home of the year in 2017. You can add things like surround sound speakers, a pool table and maybe even renovate if you're feeling extra ambitious.

Add Greenery

Indoor plants improve the look, feel and cleanliness of your home. Try purchasing an Aloe Vera plant and see if you can notice the difference in the indoor air quality. 

File a Grievance

The time to file in 2017 is running out and with the success we have had in the past, you can't afford not to file with P.T.R.C. Inc. If you want to reduce your Nassau or Suffolk County property taxes, visit our website and fill out an application!

These tips will help you save hundreds, but P.T.R.C. Inc. can help save you thousands! If you still have questions about the grievance process, visit us on the web or email us at info@ptrc.com. You can also reach us by calling 516/631-484-0654!

3 Good Reasons to File a Tax Grievance With P.T.R.C. Inc.

Property Tax Reduction Consultants

125 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 500 
Jericho, NY 11753

(516) 484-0654 or (631) 484-0654

When it comes to Long Island property taxes, you can't afford to put your fate in the hands of an amateur. We pay some of the highest property taxes in the entire country, making it even more important to find a tax reduction service you can trust. For over 27 years, P.T.R.C. Inc. has been that company and we want to continue our success with you in the upcoming tax season. Here are THREE good, no GREAT reasons to file your grievance with P.T.R.C. Inc. this year.  

Pay for Success 

At P.T.R.C. Inc., we have a reason to give each individual case our undivided attention. We only get paid if your reduction is successful, so we will work with you every step of the way to ensure the best possible result. The other thing to keep in mind is that there is absolutely NO penalty for a failed reduction. You won't have to pay our team and the county will not raise your taxes because of your challenge. So.. what do you have to lose?

Sit Back and Relax 

Once you submit your application, we'll handle the process and you can relax knowing you are in good hands. If you live in Nassau County, we'll submit your application to the Assessment Review Commission (ARC) or for Suffolk residents, the Board of Assessment Review (BAR). We will then follow the application all the way through the appeals process with the Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR) and we're confident that we will earn you a deduction. Just sit back, relax and let us handle it! 

Trust Our Experience

For over 27 years, P.T.R.C. Inc. has successfully handled over 230,000 assessment challenges. We have secured millions of dollars in reductions and we aren't stopping anytime soon. If you are still skeptical, we want you to answer this question-- who do you trust the with the big game on the line? A proven veteran, or an amateur who has never been there before? If you would choose the veteran, you need to file with P.T.R.C. Inc. today! 

If you're ready to get started, visit our website to access the Nassau and Suffolk County applications. Should you have any questions, feel free to contact us by calling 516/631-484-0654 or send an email to info@ptrc.com. 

Submit Your Signed Nassau AND Suffolk County Application Today!

Property Tax Reduction Consultants

125 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 500 
Jericho, NY 11753

(516) 484-0654 or (631) 484-0654

The holiday season is in full swing and your to-do list is about as crowded as the beach on a sunny Sunday. It can certainly be nerve wracking, but your friends at P.T.R.C. Inc. have one more thing for you to tack on. If you live in Nassau or Suffolk County, you NEED to submit your tax reduction application today! It's not an overnight process, so the earlier you submit, the sooner we can get to work. The deadlines are as follows:

Nassau: March 1, 2017

Suffolk: May 16, 2017

Note: These applications are for the 2018/2019 tax year. In Nassau County, the process typically takes about 18-24 months or 12-18 months in Suffolk County. You will NOT see tax reductions in 2017 unless you filed last year. 

The good thing about working with P.T.R.C. Inc. is that we ONLY get paid if the reduction is successful. There is no qualifying fee or a fee for a lost case, so what do you have to lose? If we are granted a reduction by the board, we receive 50% of the property tax reduction payable after the official notification. We can afford to do this because we have had great success with reduction cases in our 26 years! 

Filing a tax grievance with P.T.R.C. Inc. is like stuffing the ballot. There are other reduction services out there, but our team gives you the best chance to succeed and our success leads directly to your savings. So we ask again... what are you waiting for? 

If you're ready to file now or early in 2017, head over to www.ptrc.com to download your application. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at 516/631- 484-0654 or email info@ptrc.com. 

Steps You Must Take NOW if You Want to Sell in 2017

Property Tax Reduction Consultants

125 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 500 
Jericho, NY 11753

(516) 484-0654 or (631) 484-0654

Selling a home is a daunting task. It can be stressful, intimidating and overwhelming at times, but a game plan could help illuminate the path to a sale that you and your family are happy with. We have been in the real estate and tax industry for years, so take our advice and put these selling tips to use in 2017! 

Get Estimates

Think of it from a buyers perspective. Would you want to move into a new home and have to fix the furnace, stove and air conditioning unit? Probably not, and that is why you have to take these steps before you look to sell. You should call in your local HVAC contractor or plumber to do an inspection on the current state of your appliances. If they don't check out, you might want to update these on your own to gain an edge in negotiations.  

De-personalize 

If you have lived in a particular home for a substantial amount of time, it likely has your fingerprints all over it. It might be pictures you've hung or decor that is personal to you that might not work for someone else. Try and keep your home neutral during the selling process so any buyer could imagine themselves living there.

Channel Your Inner Picasso

The quickest and most cost efficient way to raise the value of your home is with paint. It makes the walls look like new and it brightens up a room that might have lost it's luster over the years. This is an absolute MUST.  

Update Landscaping 

Are you familiar with the expression; "You never get a second chance to make a first impression?" It is for this reason that landscaping is so important to the value of a home. When a buyer pulls up to your home, the first thing they see is the landscaping decor and that is their first judgement of your home. 

Scope the Neighborhood 

We spoke about this in our buying tips blog, but it is equally important for sellers. You should go to local open houses and see what they're asking and compare the condition of their home to your own. This will give you a better idea of whether or not you need to lower your asking price to attract more buyers.

If you're selling a home, that generally means that you are also in the market for a new one. When you do find a new home, it might come with new property taxes that you weren't expecting. If you feel they are unreasonable, contact P.T.R.C. Inc. and we will be glad to assist you!

To learn more about our tax reduction services, call 516/631- 484-0654 or email us at info@ptrc.com. 

Steps You Must Take NOW if You Want to Buy in 2017

Property Tax Reduction Consultants

125 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 500 
Jericho, NY 11753

(516) 484-0654 or (631) 484-0654

The home buying experience can be stressful, exciting and exhausting all in the same breath. You've reached the point in your life where a home is what you want, but buying is no easy task. Luckily for you, we have been in the real estate and tax space for quite some time and we are going to share you on some of our favorite buying tips! 

Imagine Your Ideal Home

To help get a better idea of what you want, do some house hunting with no expectations first. You'll start to notice that there are things you like about certain properties and some things you like about others. After you've done your research, you should be able to communicate exactly what you're looking for to a real estate agent.

Set a Budget 

In traditional real estate, most homeowners plan to put down about 10% of the purchase price as a deposit. You'll have to plan for the closing costs as well, which are typically about 5% of the price of the property. With this in mind, you should start tracking your spending and see where there is room to save. Eating out less, holding off on clothes shopping and making sacrifices can lead you closer to your dream home! 

Don't Make Any Large Purchases 

If you're in the market for a new home, it is best to leave your credit score alone for the time being. You shouldn't be making any large purchases that could affect your score when it comes time to close.  

Find Your Agent 

The most important thing to remember when you are selecting a real estate agent is that this is YOUR agent. You want to find someone you can relate to and also someone that comes recommended. Ask around and see what your friends have to say about their experiences.

Scope the Neighborhood

The perfect home in the wrong neighborhood is never a good mix. If you don't love the neighborhood before you buy, it is likely that you'll regret the purchase later. The perfect home requires the perfect neighborhood and the more homes you see the more this will become apparent to you.  

Unfortunately, buying a home is only the tip of the iceberg. You'll have to learn how to maintain a home, clean a home and perform the day to day tasks that are required for a good homeowner. But when it comes time to pay your Long Island property taxes, you don't have to go at it alone.

To learn more about our property tax reduction services, call 516/631-484-0654 or visit us on the web!

Suffolk County Homeowners- The Time to File is Now

Property Tax Reduction Consultants

125 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 500 
Jericho, NY 11753

(516) 484-0654 or (631) 484-0654

Do you live in Suffolk County and feel that your property taxes are simply too high? If the answer is yes, don't doubt yourself! There's a good chance that your taxes are unfair and through our service, we can help you reduce them to a reasonable level. 

Since 1990, our team at P.T.R.C. Inc. has been helping Long Island residents reduce their property taxes and the time has come for another year of success stories! If you're looking to reduce your property taxes for the 2018/19 tax year, the time to file a grievance is approaching. Your Suffolk County application can be found on our website and it is best to get a head start because the deadline to file is May 16th, 2017. 

How does it work? 

Good Question! Let's go through the process together: 

1. You submit your application and we will send you an email confirming that we have received it. 
2. Since you're a Suffolk County resident, we will submit your grievance to the Board of Assessment Review. Based on their decision, we will either accept the reduction or move on to the Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR). 
3. Once we're successful, you will either receive your reduction on your tax bills or in the form of a refund check It's that simple! 

If you have any more questions about the Suffolk County tax grievance process, one of our experts would be glad to assist you. Call 631-484-0654 or email info@ptrc.com to learn more. And don't forget, the deadline is approaching fast and the time to file is now! 

Holiday Gift Ideas for the New Homeowner in Your Life

Property Tax Reduction Consultants

125 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 500 
Jericho, NY 11753

(516) 484-0654 or (631) 484-0654

If there's a new homeowner in your life this holiday season, it can be difficult to pick out the perfect gift. You want to get them something practical that they can use, but you also want it to have that personal touch. Well lucky for you, these holiday gift ideas offer a little bit of both. 

Dart Board 

If the man of the house enjoys a gentleman's game, this is something he will appreciate. It is sure to bring enjoyment and it will help spice up their future friendly gatherings. But you might want to let him/her win their first game-- you don't want the board to get off on the wrong foot! 

Wine Glasses 

When someone goes through the stress of moving into a new home, it is often the little things that they forget. Things like dishes, silverware and wine glasses prove to be greatly appreciated, especially if someone is hosting a house warming party that they're under prepared for. If you have a gift for arts & crafts, you can even customize the glasses for a more personal feel. 

Holiday Decorations 

Moving during the holidays is about as hectic as it gets, and holiday decor is the last thing on a new homeowner's mind. Get them a personalized ornament for their first Christmas in their new home and your gift is sure to be featured year in and year out. 

Monogrammed Doormat 

Nothing says 'welcome to our new home' quite like a monogrammed doormat. It's simple and easy to order and once they finish all their renovations, it will be the cherry on top to signal their move is complete!

Family Portrait

The holidays are all about family and spending time with the people we love. If you're getting a gift for a new homeowner that is a cousin, child or friend, take your favorite picture of the whole family and blow it up so it can be hung on the wall. It's these little things that turn a house into a home around the holidays. 

New homes call for new property taxes and that is where we come in. Our holiday gift is our knowledge of the Long Island tax grievance process and we would love to put our gift under your tree this holiday season. To submit an application, visit our website or call 516-484-0654/ 631-484-0654. The deadline is quickly approaching and we don't want you to miss out on this opportunity! 

A Breakdown of the Grievance Process

Property Tax Reduction Consultants

125 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 500 
Jericho, NY 11753

(516) 484-0654 or (631) 484-0654

If you've been living on Long Island for awhile, you're well aware that our property taxes are some of the highest in the entire country. While we live in one of the most beautiful and convenient locations on the planet, there is no reason to pay excessive property taxes. At P.T.R.C. Inc., we understand how the tax grievance process works and we can help you use it to your advantage. Are you interested in saving money on your property taxes? Well, here's how our tax grievance process can help: 

Step 1: The first thing you'll need to do is submit your grievance application to the experts at P.T.R.C. Inc. Within the coming days, you should receive confirmation that we received your application and that you're eligible to file the grievance application. 

Step 2: If you live in Suffolk County, our team would represent you in front of the Board of Assessment Review (BAR). For Nassau County residents, we would represent you in front of the Assessment Review Commission (ARC). 

Step 3: Based on their decision, we will either accept the reduction or proceed to Small Claims Assessment Review (SCAR). This is the only  way to obtain a reduction if we were denied at the board level. But don't worry, we have been very successful here! 

Important Notice: There is a $30 fee to purchase an index number that guarantees your case will be heard. 

Step 4: P.T.R.C. Inc. will purchase the index number and handle all the necessary paperwork to make sure your case is heard. Unfortunately, once your appeal is filed it could take several months for the Supreme Court to schedule a hearing. 

Step 5: We will be fully prepared for the hearing with all the necessary paperwork and a Comparable Market Analysis to help during the appeal process. 

Note: Once we have a successful case, you can receive your compensation in one of two ways: 

1. The reduction can be reflected on your tax bills in which case you would pay your taxes based on the lower assessed value that was agreed upon. 
2. The reduction can be reflected in the form of a refund check. Some municipalities will decide to combine these two methods and give you a lower assessed value along with a refund check. It all depends on the case.  

Step 6: Send in your application and get ready for next year's reductions! 

Still have questions about the grievance process and how we can help? To learn more, please visit our website or give us a call at (516) or (631) 484-0654. You can also reach out to us via email at info@ptrc.com!