Countrywide Appraisal Services is a company that appraises homes for mortgage lending. An appraisal is a necessary part of securing a mortgage for a new home or refinancing an existing mortgage. Its purpose is to protect the bank from lending too much and you from spending too much on a house. Appraisals take into consideration the style, age and square footage of the house along with other amenities and the current valuation other homes in the area.