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Home Owners Can Challenge Property Valuations

DENVER (CBS4)- County assessors around Colorado released their annual property valuations on Wednesday. Those figures are used to calculate how much homeowners and property owners will pay in property taxes.

Those who don't agree with the valuation can challenge it.

Denver homeowner Jack Beattie told 4 On Your Side Money Saver Suzanne McCarroll that he has successfully challenged his assessment three times.

"In prior times I thought the increase was excessive that's what caused me to protest," said Beattie.

Although he loves his home Beattie realizes it has drawbacks and believes it is unrealistic to equate it with newer, bigger properties in the neighborhood.

"Most people like an island in the kitchen and of course this would be impossible in this kitchen," said Beattie.

Where you live determines if your value goes up or down.

"I think Douglas County is going up three to four percent, Denver three to four, JeffCo and Arapahoe County over one percent," said Arapahoe County Assessor Corbin Sakdol.

In Denver County, 59 percent of single family homes decreased in value while 41 percent increased.

In Jefferson County the median value of a single family home increased from $246,200 to $247,015.

Since the values going out now are from June 2012 homeowners who want to protest must pull comparable homes in that area that have sold 10 months ago and show that the sale price was lower than the assessed value of your home.

"I'm not sure what the assessor will do this time and if it's excessive I'll go through the process again," said Beattie.

Property owners have until June 1 to file a complaint. In most counties it can be completed in person or online through the county assessor's office.

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