Anyone else wonder if the inspectors just have a checklist they’re half-following? I get that chipped paint is technically a lead hazard, but it’s wild to me how some obvious stuff gets ignored. Like, my inspector spent forever on the windows but barely glanced at the basement stairs, which are so steep I’m convinced they were built for mountain goats. Is it just luck of the draw with who you get, or is there some rhyme and reason to what gets flagged? I’m still not sure if I should be prioritizing cosmetic fixes or actual safety issues. Has anyone had something weird pop up on their FHA inspection that made zero sense? Just trying to figure out where to focus before closing...
It really does feel like the inspector’s just making it up as they go sometimes. I had one who flagged a missing handrail but didn’t care about the fact that the garage door was hanging on by a thread. With FHA, they’re supposed to focus on health and safety, but what counts as “safety” seems to depend on the mood of whoever shows up. I always tell people—fix the obvious trip hazards, peeling paint, and anything that could injure someone or let water in. Don’t sweat stuff like ugly tile or weird paint colors... unless you want an excuse to redo them anyway.
Honestly, I’ve scratched my head over some of these FHA inspections too. One time, they flagged a cracked window pane but didn’t even mention the ancient electrical panel that looked like it belonged in a museum. It’s wild how subjective “safety” can be—seems like it depends on what the inspector had for breakfast. Your advice is spot on though: focus on the stuff that could actually hurt someone or cause damage. The rest is just cosmetic, and honestly, buyers stress way too much about that.
Yeah, I’ve noticed the same kind of weird calls during inspections. My last place had a loose doorknob flagged, but nobody blinked at the fact that the water heater was leaking. I get that they have a checklist, but sometimes it feels like common sense gets left out. I try to just focus on what’ll cost me real money down the line… the rest? Meh, I’ll fix it myself or live with it till I can. No sense getting worked up over paint chips when the roof’s what matters.
No sense getting worked up over paint chips when the roof’s what matters.
Totally get where you’re coming from, but sometimes those little things can trip up the FHA process. I’ve seen loans delayed over chipped paint or a missing handrail, even if the big stuff’s fine. It’s frustrating, but I always tell folks to budget for both—fixing the obvious and the silly. Sometimes it’s the “meh” stuff that holds up your closing, not the leaky roof. Just part of the red tape, I guess.
