What to Compare

Why commercial property owners choose O'Connor for aggressive tax appeal representation.

The property tax appeal process is complex and often requires multiple levels of appeal to fully pursue available tax savings. O'Connor takes an aggressive, full-service approach to commercial property tax appeals and is prepared to pursue relief beyond the county level, including judicial appeals when warranted. You only pay if we are successful in reducing your property taxes.

What sets O'Connor apart

Strong commercial property tax representation requires more than filing paperwork and waiting for a result. O'Connor is built to support property owners with the resources, strategy, and representation needed to pursue savings at every stage of the appeal process.

Fee Structure

Ask whether the fee is fully contingent, capped, fixed, or paired with additional costs. A lower advertised fee may not show the full picture.

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Appeal Depth

Determine whether the firm stops at the county level or can pursue judicial appeals, arbitration, state commissions, or other review avenues when warranted.

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Evidence & Data

Strong appeals depend on property-specific research, market data, valuation analysis, and the ability to identify savings opportunities others may miss.

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Expert Coordination

For complex commercial properties, legal coordination and MAI-designated appraiser support can help strengthen the appeal strategy.

Fee Structures

How fee structures can affect representation and savings

Not all property tax consultant fee structures work the same way. Before signing with a property tax consultant, it is important to understand how the fee model may affect representation, scope of service, and overall savings opportunity.

O'Connor's Approach

Full Contingency Fee

You only pay if savings are achieved.

How it works

The consultant is paid a percentage of the tax savings achieved, so the fee is directly tied to the outcome of the appeal.

Why it matters

Because compensation is based on actual tax savings, the fee structure remains aligned with pursuing the highest available savings opportunity for the property. This can help keep the focus on maximizing potential tax savings rather than limiting the appeal strategy based on a flat fee or capped return.

You only pay if O'Connor is successful in reducing your property taxes.

What to Consider

Capped Contingency Fee

Contingent fee with a set cap or limit.

How it works

The consultant is paid based on the tax savings achieved, but the fee is capped at a certain amount.

What to consider

A capped fee may sound appealing upfront, but property owners should understand how the cap works and whether it changes how the fee structure aligns with larger savings opportunities. Once compensation is capped, the fee structure may no longer remain fully aligned with pursuing additional reductions or more involved levels of appeal that require more time, resources, or effort.

What to Consider

Fixed / Hybrid Fee

Flat fees, retainers, or separate charges.

How it works

The property owner may pay a flat fee, retainer, or separate charges for certain services, whether tax savings are achieved or not.

What to consider

With a fixed or hybrid fee, property owners may still owe fees even if the appeal does not result in meaningful tax savings. It is also important to understand what is included in the fee, what may be billed separately, and whether more involved work such as additional appeal levels, legal coordination, or valuation support may come with added charges.

What to understand before choosing representation

Choosing a property tax consultant involves more than comparing a contingency fee. Property owners should understand what level of representation is included, what resources support the appeal, and whether the firm is prepared to pursue additional levels of appeal when warranted.

Compare	Discount Firms	Other Firms Law, Accounting, Real Estate	Premium Firm O'Connor & Associates
Fee Structure	May advertise low contingency fees May charge additional fees for legal, appraisal, expert witness, filing, or other services Some fees may not be fully tied to results	May have higher overall cost structures May charge fixed fees or separate fees regardless of outcome Total cost can be harder to compare upfront	All-inclusive contingency fee structure Covers legal, appraisal, expert witness, litigation, and arbitration costs when needed No upfront or hidden fees. You only pay if taxes are reduced
Scope of Representation	Often limited to local or single-state appeals May focus on quick administrative-level settlements May have limited or no judicial appeal capability	Property tax may be a secondary service offering May focus only on larger assets or select opportunities Representation may vary depending on internal resources	Full-service platform across the U.S. and Canada Aggressively pursues all levels of appeal when warranted, including administrative, judicial, and state-level options Built to pursue tax reductions, not just quick settlements
Client Service	Limited staffing can lead to delayed responses Communication may be inconsistent Support may be limited after the initial filing	Large organizations may have layered communication systems Clients may experience delays or limited direct access Property tax support may depend on the size or priority of the account	Dedicated account support for every client Ongoing updates, document management, and year-round support Single point of contact helps ensure accountability and responsiveness
Data & Analytics	May have limited access to reliable market and property data Weak evidence can limit the strength of appeal arguments May miss opportunities due to limited analysis	Data may not be tailored specifically to property tax appeals May overlook viable appeal opportunities Potential savings may be missed when appeals are not filed	Best-in-class data platforms and enriched data sources Strong, data-driven valuation arguments Specialized teams use research and analytics to identify savings opportunities
Experience & Focus	May have limited years of property tax appeal experience May have limited innovation in valuation methods Smaller teams may have less capacity for complex commercial appeals	Experienced in their core business, but property tax may not be the primary focus Property tax divisions may be smaller or less specialized Resources may be split across multiple service lines	More than 50 years in property tax representation Creator of the proprietary O'Connor Approach Commercial property tax focus backed by experience, data, and full-service execution

Bottom line

Lower advertised fees may look attractive, but the real value of representation comes from what is included behind the appeal: the fee structure, scope of representation, client service, data, analytics, and experience supporting the case.

How O'Connor approaches representation

Our representation includes legal coordination, valuation support, appeal strategy, and no upfront or hidden fees. We only charge when tax savings are successfully achieved.

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