Posts Categorized: Giving Back

Making an Impact in Storm Uri

Making an Impact

The Opportunity: Storm Uri

At Wayfinder, one of our main goals is to make an impact for good in communities and for families. Back in February of 2021, an opportunity to do good presented itself in Texas with Storm Uri. Storm Uri hit Texas very hard and impacted millions of people. The freeze hit for almost seven days and it affected the electrical grid, so there were many people who did not have food, could not heat their homes, and could not even get gas for vehicles because the systems were down. 

Evaluating the Situation

When we heard about the situation, immediately our hearts broke. We called down to our properties in Texas asking if they were ok and if they needed anything. The regional director expressed that they really needed food. The H-E-B was almost completely out of food, save for a few remaining lunch meat packages. They were concerned that their tenants would not have enough food to get through the weekend. It was really scary. We sat there with that news and said, “Well, we can’t necessarily write a check. It’s not really going to help to just write a check for this one.”

Seizing the Opportunity

After some brainstorming, we called the regional director back and said, “Hey, if we got a truck and filled it with food and brought it, would that help you?” She broke down in tears, and she said, “I can’t believe you would be willing to help, that is amazing.” 

Taking the next step, we found out that we could rent a refrigerated truck. We then took it to Costco and Sam’s Club and asked if they could waive their limits on some of their products to help us, and they said, “Absolutely.” The staff at both places all jumped on board to help us. It was pretty amazing.

When we got the truck down to Texas, there were about 30 people waiting there for us to help us unload the truck. We then worked with our client and their team to unload the truck. They had boxes ready so that as we unloaded the truck, we began to make food kits that would get a family through the weekend.

Treating Every Property Like Our Own Home

The fingerprint of Wayfinder, what makes us unique, is that we treat every property as if it was our own. In this situation, if that was our own property, we absolutely would do anything we could to help. If we are looking for opportunities to do good in the world, they will come. All we have to do is be willing to say yes. 

At Wayfinder, it is our goal to always say yes to opportunities to do good.

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Wayfinder: Desire To Make An Impact

Why We Do What We Do

Wayfinder was founded from a desire in our hearts to do some good in the world through the process of appealing property values. When we began sharing this idea with others, the first reaction that we got was, “Yeah, that’s not gonna work. That’s a nice idea, but it is not really how life works.” But in spite of that advice, we still had to give it a try and ask the question: What could be possible if we had the position of making a difference and doing good through our work?

The Start Of Something New

So, we created Wayfinder. It was really exciting to see what we could do even in the first year. We were able to work with our clients, successfully reduce their property values, and take some of that money and give it back to charitable causes that our clients cared about. For the organization Feed My Starving Children, we were able to go as a team and help make food packets to give to children that are in dire straits all around the world. That was one of the first blessings of being able to start Wayfinder.

More Opportunities

One of the most surprising parts of this adventure has been discovering the many opportunities to go above and beyond when we intentionally seek to do good. I remember hearing from a company that received their tax bills and the boardroom conversation turned into, “Who are we going to let go in order to afford our property tax bill?” That was sadly the only option that they could think of to free up money to afford their tax bills. We fought for our client and got their property values reduced so significantly that their conversation changed to, “We can give our property managers and employees bonuses this year!”

Debunking Property Valuation Appeal Misconceptions

Sometimes property valuation appeals get a bad name. Some people say that by protesting your value, you end up hurting communities and families. The media will say that you are taking away from schools and hospitals. However, the reality is that you are not taking away from any of that when you appeal your value. You are simply helping the process be more fair and equitable. The government will collect all of the money that they need to collect for the schools and they’re gonna get it through property taxes which allows it to be paid fairly based on the value of your property. 

We take that a step further by asking our clients what causes they care about and donating to those causes. A lot of times they care about giving back locally because they know that a strong community is crucial to everyones success. For multifamily owners, they know they are protecting homes and they value the fact that they are helping some of the most vulnerable to have a place to live. Owners care about making that place the best it can be with amenities and a safe neighborhood. Together we are able to give back to your communities.

Making An Impact

These stories are just part of what makes going to work amazing. We are so thankful to be part of the process of making a positive impact in communities and on families and individuals. The impact is above and beyond what we could have ever imagined when we created this company. In the beginning, we were questioned if we could really make a difference. Years down the line, we now know that the work has improved communities and our ability to give. It is truly a result of the desire to make an impact. People may have mocked it at the beginning, but look at what we’ve been able to accomplish alongside our wonderful clients! 

At Wayfinder, we have seen so much good already… and we are just getting started. 

We are excited to see what comes next!

Aren’t All Property Tax Agents the Same?

A GENERALIST CAN’T DO WHAT A SPECIALIST CAN

It is common understanding that not all physicians are created equally.  Primary care physicians are wonderful at general care and can help with many problems, but a patient would be ill-advised to ask them to perform the specialized care of heart surgery.  In medicine, it has long been expected that doctors specialize in order to learn the complexities of a specific area of the body so they can give the best care. Currently, there are over 159 specialties and subspecialties listed by the American Board of Medical Specialties.   

property tax agent

ALL PROPERTY TAX AGENTS ARE CREATED EQUALLY

That is a common misunderstanding.  For too long in the property tax world, companies have been told that property tax agents are all the same and can handle any property type in any market.  This is not true.  Properties and markets are very different.  The belief that all are the same has resulted in many property owners receiving poor representation and care.  Specialization has become more necessary with the advanced technologies and information available in the world.  Tax agents who specialize in markets and property types are much better prepared to reduce property tax burdens than tax generalists.  Just as the trained eye of the heart surgeon sees issues, conditions, and solutions specific to the heart, the specialized multifamily property tax agent understands issues unique to your property type. Wayfinder Tax Relief is the only firm specializing in multifamily property tax in the state of Texas.

Specialized property tax agent

SPECIALISTS GIVE BETTER CARE

Medical specialists spend nearly all their time within their specific field of practice and come to know the details of their expertise at a much deeper level.  Understanding the details allows for better care and more accurate work.  Tax agents who try to be a “jack-of-all-trades, masters of none” are usually overburdened with too many properties, too many different industries, and a lack of time necessary to give quality attention to each appeal. That is the opposite of what you want when it comes to getting reductions and filing protests.  

Tax agents who specialize give more time to each appeal, have first-hand knowledge of the property, and even do additional research into surrounding properties to ensure they present the best, most substantiated case for their client.  The end result of this specialization is the best possible outcome for the client.

GETTING THE BEST RESULTS

Specialization in markets and property types separates great tax agents from the rest of the tax agent pool.  If you need heart surgery, go to a heart surgeon;  if you want the best representation for your multifamily property, go to Wayfinder. The results will speak for themselves.

See How Wayfinder Can Help

Helping Struggling West Texans

Storm Uri put a stop to food deliveries to West Texas. Roads were slick with ice and rolling blackouts made keeping warm difficult. Wayfinder reached out to Weidner Apartment Homes in Midland, TX on Thursday to find out how to help. The immediate need was food to help residents get through the weekend. With no time to spare, Wayfinder went to work securing a refrigerated truck in Phoenix, AZ, and filling it with the much-needed food supplies. At 9:45 PM on Thursday, the truck was loaded and ready to go. William and Brendan drove straight through the night and arrived at Weidner’s office in Midland at 1 pm Friday.

A large and wonderful group of the Weidner team were there to meet them and help unload the groceries. Together they packed nearly 300 food boxes and the local Weidner team went to work delivering food to those in need in Midland, Odessa, and Abilene, TX.

We are all so thankful to be part of organizations that truly care about the communities they serve. What a blessing to be able to help our friends in West Texas in this time of need. Thank you to all who have helped in this process by donating funds, time, and encouragement to make this happen so quickly.

For more on the story, you can visit the CBS 7 news story.

Helping Homeless Youth

We are dedicated to sharing our success with causes that are meaningful to our clients. This year we were able to help support Covenant House Alaska on behalf of one of our valued clients. Through the fundraiser, over $1.2 million was raised to help homeless youth.

Covenant House Alaska is a non-profit organization that houses approximately 135 youth every night through their various programs. They believe that no young person should have to sleep outside. We are grateful for their wonderful work and that we had the opportunity to support them in this cause.

Wayfinder is a property tax consulting firm that specializes and focuses on multifamily properties. If you would like additional information about our services or how to help support great causes please contact us at william@wayfindertaxrelief.com or 480-616-1025.

PBAA 2019 Awards

Congratulations to all winners of the 2019 Permian Basin Apartment Association Awards. William Ryan of Wayfinder Tax Relief presented the awards at the Odessa Country Club on January 24, 2020.

Jayce Rodriguez- Manager of the Year

Renee Pocsik- Assistant Manager of the Year

Kasey Kessler- Leasing of the Year

Enrique Martinez- Maintenance Professional of the Year

Juan Rodriguez- Asst. Maintenance of the Year

Erma Rodriguez- Make Ready Tech of the Year

Yadira Galindo- Housekeeper of the Year

James Ditto- Groundskeeper of the Year

Roberto Martinez- Vendor of the Year

The PBAA is doing a wonderful job of promoting and growing a healthy multifamily industry in the Permian Basin.

Feeding Children Worldwide

Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) is a Christian non-profit organization that provides life-saving food to children across the globe regardless of religion, race, or culture. At FMSC we have the opportunity to actually make the meals that are being shipped.

Since 2018, Wayfinder has been able to provide over 111,025 meals through Feed My Starving Children. This means that over 309 children were given the food to survive for an entire year. We are so thankful everyday for our opportunity to serve our clients and, as a direct result, we are able to serve others as well.

Wayfinder is a property tax consulting firm specialized and focused on multifamily properties. If you would like additional information about our services or how to help support great causes please contact us at william@wayfindertaxrelief.com or 480-616-1025.

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