4 Things to Know About Home Appraisals

Louisiana REALTORS • June 17, 2019

When you decide to sell your home, the appraisal process is big deal.  The appraisal is the evaluation of your home and property that is used to determine its value.  It is an unbiased opinion used by mortgage lenders to assign an objective worth to the home, ensuring that the amount that they lend to your buyer is appropriate.  Working with a knowledgeable, professional REALTOR® can help to not only sell your home, but to help through each stage of the process, including the appraisal.  Here are four important things to know about your home’s appraisal.

What does an appraiser do?

The appraiser assesses the property and provides an unbiased, objective judgement that is meant to validate the contract price of the home.  These findings are used by the lender.  The visit includes measuring the living space, taking pictures, performing a visual inspection of the interior, exterior, and surrounding area of the home. 

Can any improvements I’ve made impact the appraisal?

While making updates, improvements, and renovations to your home can enhance its appeal, it may not always result in a higher appraisal.  The cost of your updates will not result in an equivalent increase in appraised value.  While they may make your home more attractive to prospective buyers, they’ll have marginal impact on your appraiser’s valuation.

How does the appraised value compare to market value?

It is not uncommon for the market value of a home to be higher than the appraised value.  Working with a REALTOR® will help you price appropriately, but when financing is involved, if the appraised value is lower than the asking price, it can make a purchase at that price less likely.

What other factors influence the appraised value?

There are other factors involved than simply what the appraiser collects during their visit.  Comparable properties are a significant element that is used.  These are other homes in your area that are similar in size that have sold recently.  These sale prices will influence the appraised value of your home, in addition to the other data collected.

 

By Louisiana REALTORS® May 27, 2026
From the Louisiana Department of Insurance: During a press conference today with Governor Jeff Landry, Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple announced that registration for the next round of the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program (LFHP) will open at 8 a.m. on Monday, June 1, and will include 3,000 grants. The registration period for this lottery will be open for three weeks, closing at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 19.  During the press conference, Gov. Landry signed HB 1187 by Rep. Paul Sawyer, which will allow Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation to transfer $50 million in additional Katrina bond assessment funds to the LFHP. Combined with the $30 million in funding the program will receive through taxes and fees on insurance entities, the LFHP will receive a total of $80 million this year. “By lowering overall losses, we can reduce insurance and reinsurance costs, draw more insurers into the market, motivate existing companies to write additional policies and lower insurance premiums,” said Commissioner Temple. “That is exactly what the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program is designed to do.” The list of coastal parishes that are eligible to participate is expanding to include Acadia, Jefferson Davis and Lafayette parishes. Additionally, homeowners who live in the portions of Ascension, Calcasieu, Iberia, Livingston, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Vermilion parishes that were previously not included in the program will now be eligible to participate. A map showing the full list of eligible parishes is available on FortifyHomes.La.Gov . “Louisiana is the fastest growing state in the country for Fortified roofs, and that growth is not by accident—it is the result of strong support from Governor Landry and legislators like Chairman Talbot, Chairman Firment and Representative Sawyer, targeted program design, and a clear recognition that strengthening homes is one of the most effective ways to reduce insurance losses,” said Commissioner Temple. “At the end of the day, this program is about more than just roofs. It is about protecting families, it is about strengthening communities, and it is about putting Louisiana in a stronger position—both physically and economically—to face the challenges ahead.” To participate in the lottery, homeowners must register during the June registration period. Homeowners who registered for a previous round but were not selected must register again to participate. People who register on the last day of the registration period have the same chance of being selected as those who register on the first day, so there is no need to rush to register as soon as the period opens. When registering, homeowners will need to upload their homestead exemption, insurance policy declarations page that includes wind coverage, and flood insurance declarations page if the residence is in a flood zone. Homeowners who need assistance obtaining a copy of their homestead exemption should contact their parish tax assessor. Homeowners can contact their homeowners and flood insurance companies or agents for a copy of their policy declarations page. Homeowners are required to create a profile in the LFHP system before registering for the lottery and may do so by visiting the LFHP website and clicking the Login button. Homeowners who previously created a profile may use the same one for this and future rounds. Once the lottery registration period closes, the LFHP will randomly select 3,000 participants and send email notifications to registrants about whether they were selected to participate. These selection notices will be sent via email beginning on Monday, June 22. There are several program requirements that homeowners should be aware of before registering. Those interested in the program are encouraged to review eligibility information and frequently asked questions at FortifyHomes.La.Gov to determine whether their home meets the requirements for the program. If selected to participate in the grant program, homeowners will be financially responsible for having the home evaluated by a FORTIFIED-certified Evaluator as well as costs for the roof upgrade including permits, inspections and construction costs beyond the amount of the grant The LFHP provides grants of up to $10,000 for homeowners to upgrade their roofs to standards set by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. The program helps Louisiana homeowners strengthen their roofs to better withstand hurricane-force winds.
Work with an experienced real estate agent to prepare for your home purchase
By Louisiana REALTORS® May 25, 2026
Learn how to lower your debt-to-income ratio before buying a home in Louisiana and why working with an experienced real estate agent can help.
By Louisiana REALTORS® May 22, 2026
NAR is pleased to share the latest new consumer guide, “Overcoming Roadblocks to a Sale or Purchase,” which helps buyers and sellers prepare for the most common potential pitfalls so their transaction closes smoothly. As a reminder, all guides in this series are available for download—in both English and Spanish—on facts.realtor . Please allow up to two weeks for the Spanish version of the latest resource to be translated and uploaded. For ease of reference, below is a list of the most recent guides: NEW: Overcoming Roadblocks to a Sale or Purchase How Solar Impacts a Real Estate Transaction Navigating Interest Rate Shifts Financing a Renovation When You Buy Staging Your House for a Sale Thank you for your continued engagement with the “Consumer Guide” series and for sharing the resources with prospective clients to ensure they have the information they need to find success in their home buying or selling journey. Remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. On June 3, we’ll have a new consumer guide on unpacking after a move and a refreshed guide in the value of MLS.
Show More