Okay, I am Canadian, and operate in the Canadian market, perforce. However, I work as admin for a real estate appraisal company. Translation: We provide an unbiased opinion of market value for your home, without which you rarely get financing. 
Our client base includes a lot of banks and credit unions. We often get very frustrated with the CU clients, as they are fairly demanding and high-maintenance. But after watching one of my colleagues go through the process at one of the Major Five (Canada has 5 nationally operative chartered banks), I have a lot more patience with our CU clients. Why? Well, my colleague had to light a big fire under the ass of her lender, to get things moving. At least her appraisal was covered. It was just everything else that she did all her own hoop-jumping for.
When Joe at the CU places an appraisal request, he is very careful to ensure he receives that report as soon as humanly possible, and sometimes sooner. When he gets it, he goes through it with a fine-tooth comb, so as to clearly understand what we are saying about the house you want to buy, and whether it is worth the mortgage you are trying to get to do so. If he thinks you’re going to get buggered by this deal, he does what he can to get you reliable information to that effect. And he hollars long and loud about the costs that you will pay, so as not to spend more of your money than is necessary.
I essentially answer to Joe at the CU. But he answers to you, and he knows it. So it’s okay when he’s a pain in my ass. Most days.