Yeah, I totally get where you’re coming from. We went through the VA process last year and I was surprised by how much the appraisal missed too. Honestly, if we hadn’t paid for our own inspection, we’d have been stuck with a bunch of hidden repairs. It’s tempting to skip it to save a few bucks, but man, it’s worth every penny for peace of mind.
Yeah, it’s wild how much the appraisal can miss. We had a similar thing happen—VA appraiser checked the basics, but our own inspector found some serious plumbing issues hiding behind a “fresh” coat of paint. It stings to pay extra for an inspection, but honestly, that upfront cost saved us a major headache (and probably a lot more money) down the road. I get why folks want to skip it, but I wouldn’t risk it... not after what we saw.
Title: Does a VA loan require an inspection? What are the VA loan inspection requirements for buyers and spouses?
It stings to pay extra for an inspection, but honestly, that upfront cost saved us a major headache (and probably a lot more money) down the road. I get why folks want to skip it, but I wouldn’t risk it... not after what we saw.
That’s a pretty common scenario, unfortunately. The VA appraisal is really just a surface-level check—it’s meant to make sure the property meets the VA’s minimum property requirements, but it’s nowhere near as thorough as a full home inspection. I’ve seen a few deals fall apart after buyers skipped the inspection, only to find out later about things like faulty wiring or hidden water damage. Those surprise repairs can add up fast.
I know people sometimes balk at the extra few hundred bucks for an inspection, especially when budgets are tight. But in my experience, it’s almost always worth it for the peace of mind alone. I had a duplex under contract last year where everything looked fine on paper. The appraiser barely spent twenty minutes walking through. Our inspector, though, found a cracked main sewer line—completely invisible unless you knew where to look. That repair would’ve cost more than the inspection ten times over.
I get the temptation to skip it, especially if you’re already dealing with all the other costs of buying a place. But honestly, the risk just isn’t worth it. Even if the VA doesn’t require a full inspection, I’d always recommend getting one. It’s not about nitpicking little things—it’s about making sure you’re not walking into a money pit.
At the end of the day, no appraiser is going to catch everything. The “fresh” paint trick is classic... and it’s wild how many sellers still try to get away with it. Better to know what you’re dealing with upfront than get blindsided months later.
You nailed it with the “fresh paint” trick—sometimes I feel like sellers must buy that stuff in bulk. I can’t count how many times I’ve walked into a place, sniffed the air, and thought, “Ah, the scent of hidden problems.” The VA appraisal is really just a first pass, like checking your car’s oil by looking at the dashboard light. It’s not going to tell you if there’s a family of raccoons living in the attic or if the water heater’s about to quit.
To answer the original question a bit more directly: No, the VA doesn’t require a full home inspection. What they do require is an appraisal that checks for the VA’s minimum property requirements (MPRs)—think heat, safe wiring, no major roof leaks, that sort of thing. But, and it’s a big but, that’s not the same as an inspection. The appraiser’s job is to make sure the place is basically safe and sound for occupancy, not to hunt down every little (or big) thing that could go wrong.
I’ve seen buyers get confused about this, especially when they hear “VA inspection” thrown around. There really isn’t a VA-mandated inspection for buyers or spouses—just the appraisal. If you want to know what you’re actually buying, you’ve got to hire your own inspector. That’s where you’ll find out if the foundation has issues or if there’s mold lurking in the crawl space.
And yeah, I get it—the cost stings when you’re already shelling out for earnest money, closing costs, movers, takeout for three weeks straight... But skipping it is like trying to save money by skipping the dentist. You might be fine, or you might end up paying ten times more to fix a problem that could’ve been caught early.
Had a couple last year who were dead set on skipping the inspection because “the VA checks everything.” We convinced them otherwise—turns out there was an active leak behind the shower wall. Would’ve cost thousands to repair after closing. Instead, they got it fixed before they moved in and still send me thank-you texts.
Long story short: The VA appraisal isn’t a substitute for a real inspection. It’s worth every penny for the peace of mind alone... unless you enjoy expensive surprises and impromptu home repairs.
- 100% agree on the “fresh paint” thing—if I had a dollar for every time I saw that, I’d probably cover my next refi fee.
- VA appraisal is just a surface-level check. It’s not going to spot the weird stuff, like that time we found a squirrel skeleton in our attic (true story).
- Inspection isn’t required, but skipping it is risky. Think of it as paying for peace of mind... or at least fewer headaches down the road.
- The cost stings, but surprise repairs sting way more. Trust me, I learned that the hard way with a busted sewer line.
