I get why people say always get the inspection, but honestly, I skipped it on my place. The VA appraisal covered enough for me, and the house was pretty new. I just didn’t want to spend more cash upfront. Maybe a risk, but it worked out fine for me.
Title: Does a VA loan require an inspection? What are the VA loan inspection requirements for buyers and spouses?
I get where you’re coming from, but I’d still be careful relying only on the VA appraisal. The appraisal is mainly for the lender’s benefit—it checks that the property meets minimum standards and is worth the loan amount, but it’s not a deep dive into the home’s condition. I’ve owned a few places over the years, and even with newer homes, things can slip through the cracks.
One time, I skipped an inspection on a “move-in ready” place because it looked spotless and had just passed appraisal. Six months later, I found out there was a slow leak behind a wall that cost me way more than what an inspection would’ve run. Not saying everyone will have that luck, but sometimes those upfront costs save you headaches down the road.
The VA doesn’t require a full home inspection—just their appraisal—but personally, I see it as cheap insurance. Even if you’re tight on cash at closing, it might be worth budgeting for next time.
I hear you on the “move-in ready” thing—sometimes those places are just hiding their secrets better. The VA appraisal is definitely not a substitute for a real inspection. I’ve seen buyers get caught off guard by stuff like outdated wiring or sneaky plumbing issues that didn’t show up until months later. It’s tempting to skip the extra step, especially when you’re trying to keep costs down, but in the long run, a good inspection can save your sanity (and your wallet). Even brand-new homes can have surprises... drywall can hide a lot.
Title: Does a VA loan require an inspection? What are the VA loan inspection requirements for buyers and spouses?
- 100% agree on the “move-in ready” illusion. I’ve been burned by that before—thought I was getting a turnkey place, then found out the attic had old knob-and-tube wiring. Not fun.
- VA appraisal just checks if the house meets minimum property standards, but it’s not digging deep. It won’t catch stuff like a leaky shower pan or hidden mold behind drywall.
- Skipping a real inspection to save a few bucks is risky. The cost of fixing something major later can be way more than the inspection fee.
- Even new builds aren’t immune. My neighbor moved into a brand-new place and found out the HVAC wasn’t even hooked up right... took months to sort out.
Curious—has anyone actually had the VA appraisal catch something big that an inspector missed? Or vice versa? I always wonder how much overlap there really is between those two.
You nailed it with the “move-in ready” comment. I’ve refinanced a couple times and every time, I’m reminded just how surface-level some of these appraisals can be. The VA appraisal is really just about making sure the place meets their minimum property requirements—safety, soundness, sanitation. It’s not a substitute for a real inspection, and honestly, I’d never skip the latter.
Funny thing is, during my last refi, the appraiser flagged a missing handrail on the basement stairs, which my inspector hadn’t even mentioned. But in terms of big-ticket items? The inspection caught way more—like a cracked sewer line that would have been a nightmare down the road.
I get why some folks try to save money by skipping inspections, but in the long run, it rarely pays off. Even on newer homes, there’s always something hiding that an appraisal just isn’t designed to catch. It’s a bit of a gamble otherwise.
