Appraisal

What's it worth? To be legit, an appraiser has to be appraised. That is, they need a kind of degree or license at Appraiser University (doesn't really exist, but should/needs reality series attached as well).

In many states, homes are taxed based on what they're worth. "Worth" is beauty in the eye of the beholder, or rather, the appraiser. In Shmexas, taxes are 1.5% of whatever the home is worth that year, so you can imagine that there exists an entire industry of real estate appraisers who walk through homes with home owners doing the exact opposite dance of what they would do were they in fact selling the home. These cracks in the wall? Yeah, we bet they're structural. That stain on the floor? Oh, it must be from the plumbing pipe leaks. And that smell? Yeah. Don't ask.

They'll do everything to get the appraiser to value the home cheap so that they can save money on their 1.5%.

Appraisals matter for insurance purposes on things like jewelry, art, and other collectables, and the same rules of gentle corruption generally apply.