My mortgage lender's appraisal involved an in-person evaluation both times on my house (first house purchase - initial mortgage followed by a refinance). In SF

My mortgage lender's appraisal involved an in-person evaluation both times on my house (first house purchase - initial mortgage followed by a refinance). In SF Bay Area, so maybe things are done differently where you are? I'll grant that they largely rubber-stamp the offer price, but if the property has hidden defects it might be good for the bank to try to find that out before lending.