David Butler, San Diego County’s assessor/recorder/clerk, has issued a statement advising local homeowners to be wary of a private company that charges customers for filing a Homeowner’s Property Tax Exemption claim and obtaining information about sales of comparable properties. These services are free through the Assessor’s Office. Butler said that the claim form is mailed to every new homeowner. With the exemption, homeowners receive $7,000 off the assessed value of their home, which reduces their annual property tax by $70. For more information about the exemption, or to get information about sales of comparable properties, visit www.sdarcc.com.