Need help with home appraisal/HCAD

My wife and I bought our first home in May 2021. Last year we had protested the value increase using the purchase price and were able to settle. This year, they appraised at an absurd $62k over what we had paid for it in 2021.

We protested, and I went to the informal hearing to ask for our price to be appraised at the original 2021 purchase price. We were told by a few people that because our home was purchased within two years of appraisal, they would have to appraise it at the purchase price. Obviously that was completely false, as the agent told me the complete opposite. Had I known what I was walking into I would have prepared comps, justification, etc.

What are my options here? I am not embarrassed at all to admit that I am utterly clueless when it comes to this stuff. We just now filed for homestead exemption this week, but I'm not sure if that affects our appraisal. To be honest, I couldn't even explain what the homestead exemption is if I tried. Blame it on the TX educational system emphasizing molecular biology and Shakespeare over how to do your taxes.

I requested a hearing in front of the board and fully intend to protest with all necessary evidence as we have made no improvements to the home since purchase. However, am I better off hiring a firm to take care of this at this point? I've read mixed reviews on some of the common big names here on the subreddit.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I know I'm an idiot, we can get that out of the way now.