Yeah, FHA can be a stickler for repairs, even the little stuff. I’ve seen buyers have to fix peeling paint or loose railings before closing, but then something bigger sneaks up after you move in. It’s frustrating—sometimes feels like the process focuses on the wrong things. That roof situation sounds rough... inspectors miss stuff more often than people think.
Yeah, the FHA checklist can feel a bit backwards sometimes. I once had a deal stall over a missing downspout, but the inspector barely glanced at the 25-year-old furnace. It’s wild what gets flagged versus what slips through... I always tell buyers, budget for surprises, even after closing.
I once had a deal stall over a missing downspout, but the inspector barely glanced at the 25-year-old furnace.
This is exactly what tripped me up, too. I had a similar situation where the appraiser was laser-focused on peeling paint on the garage, but didn’t even mention the ancient water heater that looked like it belonged in a museum. It’s funny how the checklist priorities sometimes feel out of sync with what actually matters for safety or longevity.
I agree, “budget for surprises” is wise advice. I thought I had everything covered, but after closing, I ended up replacing a bathroom fan and fixing some old outlets that somehow passed inspection. It’s not always the big-ticket stuff that gets you—sometimes it’s just a bunch of little things adding up.
Honestly, I wish there was a bit more consistency in what gets flagged. But I guess that’s just part of the process with FHA. The best you can do is stay flexible and keep a little cushion in your budget for those unexpected repairs.
It’s wild, right? I remember my FHA appraiser flagged a missing handrail on the basement stairs, but totally ignored the fact that half the outlets sparked when you plugged stuff in. It’s like they’re playing bingo with the checklist sometimes. Definitely learned to expect the unexpected... and keep a little “fix-it” fund handy.
It’s like they’re playing bingo with the checklist sometimes.
That’s honestly the perfect way to describe it. I had an FHA inspector get super worked up about a cracked window pane in my garage, but then just breezed past an old, leaky water heater that looked like it belonged in a museum. It’s hard not to wonder if they just pick whatever’s easiest to spot and call it a day.
I keep hearing stories about stuff like this and it makes me question how much of the inspection actually keeps buyers safe, versus just ticking boxes for paperwork. Did you end up having to fix the outlets yourself, or did you push back on the seller for those? I only ask because I tried to negotiate repairs once and the seller basically laughed me out of the room… apparently “as-is” means “you’re on your own.”
