Prior to the settlement of every intestate estate in which there is a surviving spouse, and in which appraisal has not been waived by the surviving spouse and all the heirs of the decedent, the court, upon application of the personal representative, the surviving spouse, or any of the heirs of the decedent, shall appoint three competent disinterested appraisers to appraise the estate and to make their report to the court, at the time as the court may direct by order, unless the court, after notice, finds further appraisal unnecessary. In the appraisement, the homestead, if any, shall be appraised separately.