One, you will need a professional appraisal to show to the buyer. Home appraisals are needed by the buyer for his mortgage company, bank and title company to close the sale. Second, you need a professional appraisal yourself to find out approximately what your home is worth, and to complete your own taxes.

I'm sure if you've been thinking to yourself, "What is my home worth?" Home values can be tough to figure out. Sometimes prices go down just down the street, so don't go by your neighbors value, get a professional appraisal.

What Appraisals Measure
A professional appraiser will take many things into consideration. Professional appraiser look at your appliances and judge how old they are. He or she will check out your plumbing, your bathroom and kitchen fixtures, and take note of any special assets your house may have, such as a jacuzzi bath, a dishwasher, a sub-zero refrigerator, a pool, etc. 

Finally, you can talk to your appraiser to get a good sense of how much you can put your house on the market for. 

Finding a Professional Appraiser
Simple, just look under your local Yellow pages. Online appraiser will usually contact a local appraiser, you can do it yourself and save money!