Vital Attribute: Integrity
Integrity is at the very core of who we are as Wayfinders. Trust is earned over a long period of performance, but it can be shattered in one moment! Mistakes can happen, we know, but integrity really can shine through mistakes.
At Wayfinder, we lead through the hard places, we don’t hide from them!
We believe in honesty and transparency with our clients. Always choose to be honest and ACT with Integrity.
What drives us?
In today’s business landscape, success is often measured not only by financial gain but also by the values and principles that guide an organization’s actions. At Wayfinder Tax Relief, we believe that integrity, accountability, excellence, and abundance are fundamental to our mission and essential for building lasting relationships with our clients and communities.
Integrity is the cornerstone of everything we do at Wayfinder Tax Relief. We recognize the importance of honesty, transparency, and ethical conduct in all our interactions. From our initial consultations to the resolution of property tax appeals, we strive to uphold the highest standards of integrity, ensuring that our clients trust us to represent their interests with honesty and fairness.
Accountability is another core value that drives our business practices. We take responsibility for our actions and decisions, holding ourselves to the highest standards of professionalism and ethical conduct. Whether it’s communicating openly with our clients, meeting deadlines, or delivering results, we believe in being accountable for our commitments and actions.
Excellence is ingrained in our culture at Wayfinder Tax Relief. We are committed to delivering exceptional service and results to our clients. Our team of experienced professionals continuously strives for excellence in all aspects of our work. By setting high standards for ourselves, we aim to exceed our clients’ expectations and achieve the best possible outcomes.
Abundance is not just about financial success; it’s about fostering a mindset of generosity, collaboration, and shared success. At Wayfinder Tax Relief, we believe in creating abundance for our clients, employees, and communities. We are dedicated to helping our clients maximize their savings through property tax relief, empowering them to reinvest in their businesses and communities. We also believe in giving back to our communities through philanthropic initiatives and supporting local organizations that share our values.
In conclusion, integrity, accountability, excellence, and abundance are not just buzzwords at Wayfinder Tax Relief; they are the guiding principles that drive our business and shape our interactions with clients and communities. By upholding these values, we strive to make a positive impact and build a legacy of trust, integrity, and success in everything we do.
Discover the essence of Wayfinder as we reveal what we believe in.
From dedicating ourselves on to every venture and fostering collective success to maintaining unwavering integrity and striving for excellence, these principles shape our company’s identity.
Joins us in illuminating the core values that drive our company forward.
Adversity is not a signal to surrender; instead, mistakes become lessons. We uplift one another, holding ourselves to elevated standards. Step into our culture, where resilience, honesty, and excellence define us.
Joins us as we shed light on our values and what we stand against as a company.
Introduction:
We all know that every dollar counts when you are creating a quality community that cares for and protects your residents. That is why it is incredibly important to navigate your property tax appeals with intense care. When you choose the right tax agent and empower them with the right information, it can make a significant difference to the outcome of your valuation appeal and the profitability of your community. Let’s take a deep look into the key factors that impact your property tax valuation and share how to effectively empower your tax agent with this crucial information.
Understanding the Valuation Date:
One critical aspect is the importance of the valuation date, usually this is January 1st. This date serves as a snapshot of your property’s status for tax assessment purposes. The condition of your property on this specific date determines your tax assessment. Therefore, it is in your best interest to provide your tax agent with a comprehensive overview of issues affecting your property on the valuation date.
Factors Influencing Valuation:
Occupancy Rates:
The percentage of occupied units on the valuation date can significantly affect the revenue potential of your property, and therefore the assessed value. A higher occupancy rate may result in a higher valuation, while a lower rate could potentially lead to a reduced assessment. Be sure to share your occupancy rates with your tax agent on your valuation date.
Rent Trends:
Keep your tax agent informed about current rent trends in your area, this ensures that they can accurately assess the income potential of your property and work toward a reduction. What economic factors are influencing your rent? For example, for multifamily communities in the Permian Basin of Texas, we are consistently documenting the direct relationship between operating oil rigs and rent prices. This level of research enabled us to prove declining market rent trends even before the oil crash in March 2020, resulting in immense savings for our clients, while competing tax agents did not even attempt to appeal that year.
Deferred Maintenance:
Any deferred maintenance issues should be disclosed to your tax agent. Unaddressed maintenance can adversely impact the property’s value. Without documenting these issues and having estimates for the repairs, you might end up with a higher valuation than you should.
Obsolescence:
Technological advancements or changes in market preferences can make certain features of your property obsolete. Identifying and communicating these factors is especially important. This is where an experienced agent who is actually visiting your property can help. If you are not sure about something, the agent can help you know what is relevant.
Acute Issues:
Flooding, fire, severe storms or other unfortunate events can significantly impact your property’s revenue and condition. Timely disclosure about these events allows your tax agent to factor in these issues during the valuation process. Do you have any down units? Why are they down? Did a fallen tree damage the roof? Did a pipe burst under the foundation? Did a storm take down part of the fence? Incidents like these have helped us lower the tax bill for our clients. Your tax agent will want to know about everything and sending them pictures to document the issues is important too.
Tenant Population and Economic Factors:
Understanding the demographic and economic landscape surrounding your property is equally important. Highlight relevant economic factors in your community, such as job growth or decline, sudden housing availability, an influx of population growth; these issues can influence property values. What is the neighborhood doing? Is it growing or in decline, etc. Be generous and share this information with your tax agent.
Transparency is Key:
One of the most crucial pieces of advice is to be transparent with your tax agent. Even if you are unsure whether certain details will impact the assessment, it is better to disclose everything. Tax agents are trained to weed out irrelevant information and focus on factors that genuinely influence property value.
Conclusion:
Empowering your tax agent with comprehensive information about your property’s condition, tenant population, and local economic factors can significantly enhance their ability to secure the most accurate property valuation for you. Transparency and communication are key elements in building a strong partnership with your tax agent, ensuring the highest savings potential on your property tax assessment.
How can a tax agent take advantage of a taxpayer?
The property tax world can be a complicated nightmare for many multifamily property owners in Texas. There are just so many variables and factors that need to be considered following a fair valuation of a property that it can be painfully confusing. Often, even the most diligent owners are ignorant of most of these factors and require guidance to navigate the appeal system. Some tax agents take advantage of this (reasonable!) ignorance and seek to twist it to their advantage. They will make promises they never intend to keep, blame others for their poor performance, and treat clients like a number while charging high rates. This is not fair to the taxpayer and should not be accepted as the status quo.
The good news here is that it’s fairly simple to spot the bad agents in these scenarios when you take a closer look. They usually are radio silent until they need something from you, and they typically avoid responsibility for most issues. If you want to test your agent, ask how your portfolio looks this tax year, or simply ask them when was the last time they saw your properties they represent. If it wasn’t at least within the past 12 months, there is a good chance you are being treated as just a number by your tax agent, and it may be time to make a switch. The same can be said if you never hear from your agent, or it takes them an unreasonable amount of time to get back to you. You pay them to help you through this process; they need to be available to you. Paying a premium for a service is great so long as you are also getting premium value in return.
Leave your tax agent! Why would you settle for being insignificant to a person or group that you depend on for guidance and help? These properties are important to you, and they should be important to your agent as well. I promise you there are agents out there that will treat your properties as if they were their own. If you notice the described red-flag attitudes in your tax agent, make the switch.
If you have any questions about what to expect from a quality tax agent who cares about you and your properties, please contact one of our Texas multifamily specialists today.
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