The following is a list of some of the services we provide. We also outline a brief description of each of the services specified.

Appeal Assessment
Obtain MPAC Records
Inspection of Your Property
Conduct Sales Analysis
Executive Summary
Settlement Negotiations
Apply for Refund of Taxes
Attending to Preliminary Procedural Matters
ARB Hearing

APPEAL ASSESSMENT

• we prepare the necessary Authorizations to act on your behalf
• we prepare and file an appeal with the Assessment Review Board ("ARB")
• we absorb the entire cost of filing an appeal
• we attend to all preliminary procedural matters leading up to a hearing
• accordingly, it would not be necessary for your company personnel to attend these preliminary procedural proceedings
• we act as your agent throughout the entire appeal process

OBTAIN MPAC RECORDS

• we prepare the necessary Authorizations to obtain the assessment records for the subject property from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation ("MPAC")
• upon receipt of the MPAC records, we conduct a full review and a detailed analysis of the MPAC information and data
• we conduct re-calculations of your assessment to identify potential reductions

INSPECTION OF YOUR PROPERTY

• we arrange with you a mutually convenient time for us to attend to conduct a detailed inspection of the subject property
• the information obtained during our inspection is compared in detail with the information contained in the MPAC records
• in the vast majority of cases, our physical inspection of the property will reveal significant potential reductions in the property assessment
• we idenify all potential apportionments to reduce the assessment/taxes

CONDUCT SALES ANALYSIS

• Prestige has access to extensive information data banks relating to sales of properties in the market place throughout Ontario
• we conduct an extensive sales analysis of properties similar to the subject property
• we include our analysis of sales of similar properties in the documentation submitted to MPAC officials
• we conduct ongoing reviews of the latest market trends to ensure your property assessment/taxation remains fair and equitable
• we conduct ongoing comparability and feasibility studies

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• we provide an Executive Summary quantifying all potential tax reductions
• we will prepare and file Reconsideration Requests with MPAC

SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS

• Prestige personnel have developed and maintained excellent liaisons with numerous MPAC personnel throughout the Province of Ontario
• we conduct direct and strategic negotiations with assessment officials to arrive at a fair and equitable assessment
• we also conduct negotiations with municipal officials, if and when necessary
• we ensure that the assessment values remain fair and equitable with changing economic conditions
• we maintain effective liaison practices with MPAC and municipal officials

APPLY FOR REFUND OF TAXES

• we prepare the necessary documentation to obtain tax rebates/credits from the municipality
• we prepare the necessary applications and supporting documentation to apply for tax rebates relating to a number of issues including vacancies, demolitions, exemptions, change in use, etc.
• we resolve any tax disputes with the municipality
• we ensure all tax reductions are processed by the municipality and applied to your account

ATTENDING TO PRELIMINARY PROCEDURAL MATTERS

• after filing an appeal, the ARB may schedule a number of preliminary procedural matters such as Pre-Hearings, ARB Telephone Conference Calls, etc.
• we will attend on our clients behalf at each of these procedural occurrences
• we will prepare and file all documentation required in the appeal process including the all important Statement of Issues, valuations report, sales analysis, etc.

ARB HEARING

• we will attend to conduct a full Hearing (if such a Hearing is required)
• Prestige is one of the very few property assessment firms that has in-house counsel
• therefore ALL matters that proceed to a hearing, will be handled by counsel and not by paralegals or staff as is done by many other firms
• Prestige's counsel has over 30 years experience in property assessment/taxation law
• counsel will prepare valuation reports and all briefs necessary to litigate a matter and counsel will conduct the litigation on behalf of the client
• recognized assessment experts will be available as witnesses at the Hearing to support our valuations
• full preparation for hearing presentation and a full review of case law will be conducted