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New M-D Property Appraiser Aims To Make Office A More Pleasant Place

MIAMI (CBS4) - It may not look like much but Miami-Dade's Property Appraiser's office is in the midst of massive makeover.  Under a catch phrase of "How May I Help You" sign when you walk in, homeowners are actually leaving with smiles on their faces.

"It didn't take very long. They explained everything very well. And I'm very satisfied.  Very happy," Belkys Garcia told CBS4.

Garcia said she was contesting her property value.

The same with Orlando Diaz. He expected to spend hours waiting to deal with a homestead issue on his North Miami Home.

"I came here about 10 minutes ago and now everything is ready." he said surprised.

The changes are not accidental. In just five months, the county's newly elected property appraiser Carlos Lopez-Cantera is changing the experience.

"One of the things that I really wanted to change was the perception that there was an adversarial relationship between this office and the property owners," Lopez-Cantera said.

He's attempting to do that by breaking down walls, literally.  Gone is the old waiting room and wait times and your now can meet face to face with an appraiser who can lower your property value on the spot.

"That evaluator will be empowered to make up to the 15 percent reduction on the spot without a supervisor, so that people can get their answer quickly and get on their way," Lopez-Cantera explained.

The on the spot appeals is his answer to the record number of appeals his office has fielded the last few years. Property owners typically wait years to argue their home was overvalued, thus hiking their tax bill.

"2011 appeals were just finished about 30 days ago and we are in 2013.  And 2012 appeals are just getting underway," Lopez-Cantera said.

Miami-Dade is also making history; offering property values this week online, three months ahead of their typical release.

"Make people's lives easier." Lopez-Cantera said.

Making people's live easier.  You have to wonder what took so long.  CBS4 asked why we weren't doing this when the county had a record 140,000 appeals coming through the door.

Lopez Cantera responded, "I don't know.  I can only tell you what I've done since I've been in this office and I've only been here since January.  Maybe that's one of the reasons why I'm here."

If you would like to see your property value released this week you can see it here: http://www.miamidade.gov/pa/property_search.asp

You can also schedule an appointment to contest the value here:

http://www.miamidade.gov/PaPortal/AppointmentService/AppointmentServices.aspx

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