Sedgwick County appraiser's office explains annual appraisal updates; appeals due March 31

A presenter from the Sedgwick County Appraiser's Office said the office updates property valuations every year even though it physically inspects each property only once every six years. The presenter said staff supplement those exterior inspections by reviewing building permits and recent home sales to keep valuations aligned with fair market value.

The presenter described the kinds of permit activity the office tracks — new dwellings, major remodeling, new decks and detached garages — and said inspections of existing homes are done from the outside. "We haven't been inside your house," the presenter said, and noted that major interior damage that remains unrepaired could change a home's assessed value.

The presenter added that the office reviews "thousands of homes sold" in the county each year to help determine fair market values; the recording did not give a precise number. Homeowners who disagree with their valuation were urged to file an appeal: the presenter said to fill out the back of the valuation notice and return it to the appraiser's office by March 31 so an informal appeal can be scheduled to review the property's fair market value.

The recording emphasized that the informal appeal is intended as a collaborative review between the homeowner and staff to ensure assessments reflect current conditions. The presenter encouraged residents with interior damage or other information that might affect value to contact the appraiser's office ahead of the appeal deadline.