I'm in the middle of buying my first house and we're going through the FHA appraisal process right now. The seller's agent keeps saying not to worry, but I've heard FHA can be super picky about little things like chipped paint or loose railings. Um, anyone had experience with this lately? Just trying to figure out if I should brace myself for a laundry list of nitpicky repairs or if it's usually not that bad.
Went through FHA appraisal about a year ago, and yeah, they can be picky—but it's usually for safety stuff rather than just cosmetic. In my case, here's what popped up:
- Chipped paint on exterior trim (had to scrape and repaint)
- Loose handrail on basement stairs (tightened it myself, easy fix)
- A cracked window pane in the garage (seller replaced it)
Honestly, none of it was major or expensive. FHA mainly cares about safety hazards and structural integrity—think peeling paint (potential lead hazard), broken railings, exposed wiring, etc. If your seller's agent is relaxed about it, maybe they've already scoped out the property and feel confident nothing big will come up. But I'd still mentally prepare for at least a couple minor fixes. Better to be pleasantly surprised than caught off guard...
Had a similar experience with FHA appraisal a couple years back. They flagged some minor electrical stuff—like an outlet cover missing in the laundry room and a junction box without a proper cover in the attic. Easy fixes, but it was interesting they didn't mention a few other things I thought they'd catch, like uneven patio slabs or some older plumbing fixtures.
I guess it really depends on the appraiser and what they personally consider safety-related. I've heard stories from friends where FHA appraisers were super strict about railings and stairs, while others barely glanced at them. Makes me wonder if there's some regional variation or if it's just luck of the draw with who you get assigned...
Did anyone else notice FHA appraisers overlooking something you thought for sure they'd flag?
