Appraisal just doesn’t cover enough for my peace of mind.
Totally get where you’re coming from. The VA appraisal is really just about making sure the place meets their minimum property requirements, but that’s not the same as knowing if your roof’s about to leak or if there’s mold hiding in the basement. I’ve seen folks skip inspections to save a few bucks, then end up paying way more fixing stuff later. Is it really worth the gamble?
Honestly, the VA appraisal just checks basics—like if the roof is shot or there’s no heat—but it won’t tell you if the water heater’s about to die. Here’s what I did: got a separate home inspection, even though it wasn’t required. Cost a few hundred bucks, but caught a leaky pipe I’d never have noticed. For me, that peace of mind was worth way more than rolling the dice.
I had the same debate when I bought with a VA loan. The appraisal felt pretty bare-bones—checked for heat, roof leaks, basic safety stuff—but didn’t dig into the nitty gritty. I ended up hiring my own inspector too. They found some old wiring that could’ve been a headache down the line. Honestly, the extra cost was worth avoiding surprises. VA’s process is fine for minimum standards, but it’s not a deep dive.
That’s a really good point about the difference between the VA appraisal and a full inspection. I’ve seen a lot of folks get tripped up thinking the VA appraisal is basically a home inspection, when in reality it’s just checking if the property meets the VA’s minimum property requirements—stuff like safe heating, no major roof leaks, and basic structural soundness. It’s not meant to uncover things like outdated wiring or hidden plumbing issues.
I’m curious—did your lender explain the distinction clearly, or did you have to figure it out on your own? Sometimes I wonder if buyers are getting enough info upfront about what the VA process actually covers. I’ve had clients who were surprised by what the appraisal missed, especially when it comes to things that could cost a lot down the road.
Also, for anyone else who’s gone through this: did you find the extra cost of a private inspection was worth it in the end? Or did you feel like it overlapped too much with what the VA appraiser looked at? I’ve heard mixed feedback—some people say their inspector found stuff that saved them thousands, while others felt like it was just an extra bill.
One thing I’ve noticed is that some regions have stricter appraisers than others. Ever run into that? I had a client in Texas whose appraiser flagged a bunch of little things, while another in Colorado barely looked past the basics. Makes me wonder how much is just luck of the draw.
Anyway, do you think there should be more guidance from lenders or agents about what buyers should expect from these different inspections? Or is it just part of the learning curve when buying with a VA loan?
It’s wild how many people assume the VA appraisal is all they need. I learned the hard way—my lender didn’t really spell out the difference, just handed me a checklist and said the appraiser would “make sure the place is good.” Only after moving in did I realize the electrical panel was ancient and the inspector would’ve caught it. Ended up costing a few grand to fix.
Honestly, the private inspection felt totally worth it for me, even though it was another expense. The VA appraiser just checked the basics, but my inspector spent almost three hours poking around everywhere and found stuff I never would’ve thought to look for. I guess it depends on the house and how risk-averse you are. I’ve heard from friends who felt like their inspection was a waste, though, especially in newer builds.
About stricter appraisers, yeah, I’ve seen that too. My brother bought in Florida and his appraisal flagged chipped paint and a loose handrail, while mine barely mentioned anything beyond the roof and heater. Makes you wonder how much is just luck.
Seems like agents and lenders could do a better job explaining this stuff up front. It shouldn’t be something you have to figure out after you’re already under contract, right?
