I get the hesitation about paying for an inspection, but honestly, I’d be more worried about what you *don’t* see. The VA appraisal is really just a surface-level thing—they’re not crawling under the house or checking every outlet. I’ve seen folks skip inspections thinking the VA covers it all, then get stuck with surprise repairs. Is saving a few hundred bucks upfront worth risking thousands later? I’m not convinced.
- VA only *requires* an appraisal, not a full inspection.
- Appraisal checks value and basic safety stuff, but it’s not thorough.
- Inspection’s extra money, yeah, but skipping it feels risky.
- I tried to save cash once by skipping an inspection—ended up with a busted water heater two months in. Not fun.
- If you’re tight on budget, maybe negotiate with the seller to cover inspection costs? Sometimes they’ll go for it.
Skipped the inspection on my first house because I figured, “Hey, the VA appraisal will catch anything major, right?” Famous last words. Two weeks after moving in, I discovered the world’s most creative plumbing job under the kitchen sink—think spaghetti, but with pipes. Ended up costing way more than an inspection would’ve. Now I treat inspections like insurance: not fun to pay for, but you’re glad you did when things go sideways. If you can swing it or get the seller to chip in, it’s worth it.