If you are planning to buy a home, an appraisal is an important step in the process. It’s a professional evaluation of the market value of the home you’d like to buy. In most cases, an appraisal is ordered by the lender to confirm or verify the value of the home prior to lending a buyer money for the purchase. It is also a different step in the process from a home inspection, which assesses the condition of the home before you finalize the transaction. Here is the breakdown of each one and why they’re both important when buying a home.