Property Tax Addendum

Last updated November 6, 2024

The Abode Property Tax Addendum (the “Property Tax Addendum”) is incorporated into the Terms of Service (the “Addendum”) between you and Abode. All capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed in the Addendum. PLEASE READ THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PROPERTY TAX ADDENDUM CAREFULLY.

  1. PREAMBLE. As part of the Services, Abode may assist you in managing expenses related to homeownership, including without limitation by monitoring your property tax assessments and facilitating your representation by a third-party tax consultant for the purposes of appealing property tax assessments. This Addendum applies to you to the extent that you access the Services for the purpose of lowering your property tax assessment.
  2. AUTHORIZATION.
    1. You authorize Abode and/or a third-party tax consultant to attempt to lower your property tax assessment on your behalf. YOU GRANT ABODE AND/OR SUCH TAX CONSULTANT THE AUTHORITY TO ACT AS YOUR PROPERTY MANAGER AND/OR AGENT FOR THE PURPOSES DESCRIBED IN THE ADDENDUM. THE AUTHORITY EXTENDED TO ABODE AND SUCH TAX CONSULTANT DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY OTHER PROPERTY MANAGEMENT DUTIES. 
    2. The authorization is confined to activities performed for the purpose of obtaining a lower property tax assessment from the relevant government agency or tax office, including but not limited to: i) obtaining information about you, your property, and your property tax from relevant property tax assessment or appraisal authorities; ii) evaluation of your property tax assessment for errors and available exemptions, iii) performance of a comparative market analysis, iv) preparing and filing on your behalf and with the applicable government agency or tax office evidence supporting a property reduction, vi) appealing your property tax assessment, vi) representing you at related appeal hearings, vii) negotiating a reduction of your property tax with the relevant government agency or tax office, viii) monitoring of future assessments for appeal, and x) assistance with future property tax appeals. The authorization does not include providing support to you in any binding arbitration or representing you in any appeal to a state or federal court.
    3. As part of the Services, you grant Abode the authority to appoint a tax consultant as the agent for you and the applicable property and to do so by executing and submitting to applicable authorities an “Appointment of Agent” form (or any similar agent authorization forms required by the relevant property tax assessment or appraisal authorities, including a revocation of any previous property tax agent) on your behalf, including without limitation as your “property manager” or the "other person authorized to act on behalf of the owner other than the person being designated as agent” under Section 1.111 of the Texas Tax Code.‍
  3. SERVICES. Pursuant to the Addendum and Sections 1 and 2 of the Property Tax Addendum above, a tax consultant acting as your agent may:
  • Perform an analysis of your property tax assessment for accuracy and available exemptions;
  • Prepare and file evidence supporting a reduction of your property tax assessment;
  • Represent you at applicable hearings in relation to filings described above; and
  • Monitor on an on-going basis future yearly assessments and continue to provide the Services described above.
  1. PAYMENT. Pursuant to the Addendum, Charges for the Services may be calculated and charged to you as either a flat fee or a Success Fee expressed as a percentage of the difference between your property tax assessment for the specified year and the lowered property assessment achieved for the same year, if any, as a result of the Services. 
  • If you select payment by flat fee, the annual flat fee shall be $___.
  • If you select payment by Success Fee and a lower property tax assessment is successfully obtained on your behalf, you will be charged a Success Fee of ___% of the first year’s savings obtained. If you select payment by Success Fee, you will not be charged a fee unless your property tax bill is reduced. 
  1. REGULATORY. Pursuant to the Addendum, Abode partners with third-party providers, including but not limited to licensed tax consultants. ABODE IS NOT A LICENSED PROPERTY ASSESSOR, LEGAL ADVISOR, OR TAX CONSULTANT. Abode does not provide any services deemed to be legal, advisory, or brokered services nor is Abode licensed by any state for these purposes. To the extent any such services are described therein, they shall be provided only by licensed third-party tax consultants or other third-party professionals. 
  1. DISCLAIMERS. PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THE ADDENDUM, ABODE DOES NOT GUARANTEE OR WARRANT THAT YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES WILL RESULT IN A LOWERED TAX ASSESSMENT.
  1. TERM AND TERMINATION. This Property Tax Addendum auto-renews on an annual basis and may be terminated pursuant to the terms of the Addendum.

YOU HAVE AGREED TO BE BOUND BY THE ADDENDUM, INCLUDING THE PROPERTY TAX ADDENDUM.