I was the borrower so I did pay for the “appraisal,” as did many others who paid for a five-minute drive-by. The appraiser did not see the gopher-populated backyard. He also missed the pitted and dinged hardwood floors, which were scratched with what looked to a dagger-like tool whilst the scratcher was on crystal.

I’d say appraisers miss 85% of the house by depending just on the front and what is in the neighborhood. That said, I think we will be returning to the old-fashioned way of a walk-through in times to come.