Plain-language answers to the questions homeowners ask before spending time or money on a San Francisco assessment appeal.
Compare the assessed value with evidence of the property’s fair market value as of January 1. Similar nearby properties with eligible transaction dates can be useful, but condition, remodeling, views, parking, and transaction terms also matter. Appeal Prepper shows a preliminary public-record screen; it does not establish the correct value.
Start with the same property type and similar location, living area, lot area when relevant, bedrooms, bathrooms, age, condition, and amenities. For a 2026 San Francisco regular-roll appeal, the relevant value date is January 1, 2026 and comparison sales cannot be later than March 31, 2026. Verify every candidate’s sale date, price, and open-market status before relying on it.
The 2026 informal decline-in-value review window ran from January 2 through March 31, 2026. The separate 2026 formal regular-roll appeal window runs from July 2 through September 15, 2026. An informal review does not preserve the right to a formal hearing, so confirm the current rules with the City.
San Francisco’s stated 2026 filing fee for a formal property assessment appeal is $120 and nonrefundable. That City fee is separate from Appeal Prepper. The historical 2025 report and current 2026 preview are free today. Appeal Prepper expects to make the current-year report paid later and does not take a percentage of savings.
The 2025 report uses the historical closed roll. The 2026 preview uses current, time-bounded comparison evidence and a clearly labeled provisional assessment estimate carried forward from the 2025 closed roll. You do not need your current notice to start. The estimation method is provisional while we refine it.
Assessment appeals can take many months to reach a hearing. Saving the PDF preserves the comparison set and the evidence context you used when deciding to file. Before a hearing, verify every sale fact and update the packet with any additional evidence.
If a paid report cannot find any comparable properties for your home, Appeal Prepper will automatically refund the full purchase price. If you are unhappy with the service for any reason, contact us for a full refund and we will process it within 24 hours. Your bank or card provider may take additional time to post the credit.
Reply to your order confirmation or use the support contact provided with your receipt. Include the property address or order number so the purchase can be located. Online ordering is not active yet, so no paid orders or refund requests are currently being accepted.
Yes. A formal appeal asks the Assessment Appeals Board to determine fair market value; the Board can lower or raise a property’s assessed value. Review both favorable and unfavorable evidence before filing.
No. Appeal Prepper is a self-service evidence product. It does not file an appeal, sign forms, monitor deadlines, give legal or tax advice, provide an appraisal, or represent a homeowner before the Assessment Appeals Board.