A Kansas homeowner challenged a sharp property-value increase and ended up with a much smaller appraisal, after gathering neighborhood data and questioning how the county reached its number.
Haysville homeowner John Eichelberger received a 2026 property tax assessment showing a 24% increase, according to The Sentinel. He said his home had no improvements and believed the value was being driven by replacement cost rather than market value based on comparable sales.
Eichelberger appealed with questions, records, and a spreadsheet, then won a $60,000 reduction from an appraisal increase of more than $90,000. He also reviewed other homes in Timberlane North HOA and said 13 of 15 homeowners who appealed had their valuations reduced.
A valuation notice should be checked before the deadline passes, especially when the number jumps sharply and does not line up with nearby sales, the home’s condition, or recent changes to the property.
The Homeowner Compared His House to Nearby Properties
Eichelberger told The Sentinel that valuation increases in the HOA ranged from 14% to 30%. He created a spreadsheet and said 10 properties received reductions ranging from $20,000 to $73,480.
That does not mean every appraisal in the county was wrong. It does show how neighborhood-level evidence can help during an appeal, including comparable sales, recent appraisals, photos of condition issues, repair estimates, and clear notes about the home’s actual features.
Higher Valuations Had Already Frustrated Local Homeowners
The dispute followed a broader rise in 2026 valuations across Sedgwick County. The Wichita Eagle reported in March that 88% of property owners were expected to see increased values, with an overall median net change of 9.3% and an average increase of 13.5%.
KWCH also reported that some homeowners saw valuation increases of more than 20%. County officials said many increases reflected market conditions, while one commissioner encouraged homeowners who believed their property was overvalued to appeal.
Appeal Windows Can Close Quickly
The Kansas Department of Revenue says homeowners can appeal a spring Notice of Value by contacting the county appraiser’s office within 30 days from the date the notice was mailed.
Sedgwick County says Kansas property owners have two ways to appeal, but a property value can only be appealed once per tax year. Homeowners who miss the valuation-notice deadline may still have a payment-under-protest option later, depending on the rules that apply to their property and tax year.
Before an informal meeting, homeowners should save the notice, check the county property record for errors, compare nearby sales, photograph outdated or damaged areas, collect repair estimates, and organize the evidence so the appraiser can see why the value should be adjusted.