Title: Does a VA loan require an inspection? What are the VA loan inspection requirements for buyers and spouses?
- Totally agree, the VA appraisal is more like a “does this place basically work?” check, not a deep dive.
- In my experience, inspectors always find more stuff. Had one VA appraiser note a missing smoke detector once... but the inspector found a leaking water heater and some sketchy wiring.
- Honestly, I’d never skip a real inspection, even if the house looks like it’s straight out of HGTV.
- Curious—has anyone had an inspector miss something obvious that the appraiser actually flagged? Or is it always the other way around?
I was surprised how basic the VA appraisal was, honestly. Ours just checked for heat, water, and that the roof wasn’t caving in. The inspector, though, found a bunch of little things I never would’ve noticed. I’d never trust just the appraisal... feels like rolling the dice.
- Totally get where you’re coming from. The VA appraisal on our refi was quick—checked for the basics, but didn’t dig deep.
- I wouldn’t rely on it either. We had an inspector catch a leaky valve and some weird wiring that the appraiser never mentioned.
- It’s wild how different the two are. Appraisal = “is it standing?” Inspection = “can you live here without surprises?”
- Honestly, spending a bit more for a good inspection saved us headaches down the road. Worth every penny, even if it feels redundant at first.
It’s a common mix-up—VA appraisals aren’t the same as inspections, even though folks sometimes expect them to be. The VA appraisal just checks if the place meets their minimum property requirements and is worth the loan amount. It won’t catch every little thing. I’ve seen buyers skip the inspection thinking the appraisal covers it all, then get hit with repairs later. Spending a bit more upfront for a thorough inspection really does pay off, even if it feels like overkill at first. Better safe than sorry, right?
I’ve had a few clients get tripped up by this too. The VA appraisal is mainly about value and basic safety—think “is this house livable and worth the loan”—but it’s not digging deep into the plumbing, roof, or electrical systems. One guy I worked with skipped the inspection to save a few bucks and ended up with a leaky roof three months later. That “savings” cost him way more in the long run. Even if it feels redundant, an inspection just gives you peace of mind.