Just don’t expect the VA appraisal to catch every little quirk—like that one time I found a squirrel living in an attic... which the appraisal totally missed.
That’s wild about the squirrel! I totally get what you mean about newer homes sometimes not needing a deep dive, but as a first-timer, I found the inspection super helpful for peace of mind. Even small stuff like loose outlets or weird plumbing came up—stuff I wouldn’t have noticed. If you’re handy, maybe it’s less of a worry, but for me, it was worth it just to know what I was getting into.
Funny you mention the outlets—when I refinanced last year, I realized the VA appraisal didn’t flag a single one of my old, loose sockets. I get that the appraisal checks for minimum property standards, but it’s not nearly as thorough as a real inspection. For me, the inspection report was eye-opening. Found out my water heater was on its last legs, which the appraiser just breezed right past.
I’ve always wondered—does anyone here know if there are cases where the VA actually *requires* a full inspection? Or is it strictly optional unless you’re buying in certain areas or getting specific types of properties? I keep seeing people mix up the appraisal with an inspection, and it seems like a lot of folks skip the extra step unless their lender insists. Curious how common that is.
Title: Does a VA loan require an inspection? What are the VA loan inspection requirements for buyers and spouses?
Yeah, I’ve noticed a lot of confusion between appraisals and inspections too. In my experience, the VA only requires the appraisal—not a full inspection—unless there’s something unique about the property, like it’s new construction or in a flood zone. I learned that the hard way when I bought an older duplex; the appraisal missed some serious plumbing issues that only came up in the inspection. Honestly, skipping the inspection feels risky, but I get why folks do it to save cash upfront.
Honestly, I think a lot of folks mix up the VA appraisal with an inspection. The VA appraisal really just checks if the place meets their minimum property requirements and is worth the loan amount. It’s not a deep dive into the house’s bones. I refinanced a few years back and the appraiser barely glanced at things like the roof or plumbing. Even if the VA doesn’t require it, I’d never skip a full inspection—found out about a bad foundation crack that way once. The upfront cost stings, but it’s saved me way more in the long run.
Yeah, totally agree—the VA appraisal is just a surface-level thing. I’ve seen folks get burned thinking it’s a substitute for an actual inspection. Even with “move-in ready” homes, I always budget for a separate inspection. Found a hidden water leak once that would’ve cost thousands if I hadn’t caught it early. VA’s minimum property requirements are decent, but they’re not digging into the nitty gritty. Worth every penny for peace of mind, honestly.
