5 signs your Cook County home is over-assessed

Most Cook County homeowners never check whether their assessment is fair. Here are five signs yours might be too high — and what to do about each one.

1. Your assessed value per square foot beats your neighbors'

This is the big one. Assessments should be uniform: similar homes in the same neighborhood should carry similar assessed values per square foot. If yours is 5% or more above the median of comparable homes nearby, that's the classic over-assessment argument — and it's exactly what our free check measures.

2. Your assessment jumped but your home didn't

No renovation, no addition, no new garage — but a noticeably higher assessed value? Reassessment years can produce increases that outpace the homes around you. Compare, don't just accept.

3. Similar homes nearby sold for less than your implied market value

The county's implied market value for your home is roughly ten times your assessed value. If recent sales of similar homes in your neighborhood came in well below that number, your assessment may be out of step with the market.

4. Your home has issues the county doesn't know about

An unfinished basement counted as finished, the wrong square footage, an extra bathroom that doesn't exist — property record errors are more common than you'd think, and they directly inflate your assessment. Check your home's record on the Assessor's site.

5. You've never appealed

Homeowners who appeal regularly tend to pay less over time than those who never do. If you've owned your home for years and never filed, there's a real chance you've been overpaying.

What to do next

Start with the free check on our home page. If your home looks over-assessed, our $79 DIY kit turns your numbers into a ready-to-file appeal with the comparables, the argument, and step-by-step filing instructions. And if you file and get no reduction, our 12-month refund policy has you covered.

NeighborComp is a private company and is not affiliated with the Cook County Assessor, Board of Review, or any government office. We do not provide legal advice and do not file appeals on your behalf. Savings shown are estimates, not guarantees.