The VA appraisal is really just a surface-level check to make sure the place isn’t falling apart or unsafe.
That’s been my experience too. Had a place once where the appraiser didn’t even notice the back porch was basically held up by hope and rusty nails. The inspector, on the other hand, nearly fell through it—talk about a wake-up call. Anyone ever had an appraiser flag something weird that turned into a bigger issue? Sometimes they surprise you...
Honestly, I’ve actually had the opposite happen once—our VA appraiser flagged a tiny patch of peeling paint on a window frame. It felt nitpicky at the time, but when we went to scrape it, turned out there was some hidden rot and water damage underneath. Guess sometimes they catch stuff you’d never expect, even if they’re not as thorough as an inspector. Just goes to show you can’t really predict what’ll pop up during these checks...
Yeah, I’ve had a VA appraiser call out something that seemed minor, too—cracked tile in a bathroom. At first, I thought it was overkill, but when we pulled it up, there was a slow leak underneath. Makes me wonder how often the little stuff is actually a sign of bigger problems. Still, I wouldn’t rely on an appraisal to catch everything. The VA just requires an appraisal, not a full inspection, right? Personally, I always get my own inspection anyway... too much risk otherwise.
I hear you about not trusting the appraisal to catch everything.
That’s how I understand it too—appraisal checks value and basic safety stuff, but it’s not a deep dive into the house’s guts. I always get my own inspection as well, just in case. Out of curiosity, has anyone had an inspector find something major the appraiser totally missed? Or is it usually just little stuff?The VA just requires an appraisal, not a full inspection, right?
has anyone had an inspector find something major the appraiser totally missed?
Yeah, actually—my inspector found a cracked main beam in the crawlspace that the appraiser never even looked at. Appraisals just aren’t thorough enough for peace of mind. I’d never skip a real inspection, even if it’s not required.