A homeowner calls her real estate agent and asks what the house might sell for; the agent pulls a handful of recent sales nearby, drives by a couple of them, and has a number back within a day or two, often for free. A few miles away, a couple going through a divorce needs a value their judge will accept, and their attorney tells them a broker's opinion won't cut it, and that they need a certified appraisal instead. An appraisal and a broker's opinion are honest, professional