Honestly, I’ve never seen anyone regret getting an inspection—if anything, folks usually wish they’d dug even deeper. The VA appraisal just isn’t enough. You’re right, it’s wild how many people skip it to save a few hundred bucks, then end up with a five-figure problem down the line.
The VA appraisal just isn’t enough. You’re right, it’s wild how many people skip it to save a few hundred bucks, then end up with a five-figure problem down the line.
That’s exactly what I was thinking about when we refinanced last year. The lender only required the VA appraisal, but I kept wondering if we should’ve gone for a full inspection anyway. The appraisal felt pretty surface-level—like, they checked the basics, but didn’t really dig into stuff like the roof or plumbing.
Has anyone actually had the VA appraiser catch something major? Or is it usually the home inspector who finds the real issues? I get that the VA has their “minimum property requirements,” but those seem more about safety and habitability than the nitty-gritty details.
I’m also curious if there are any situations where the VA actually *does* require an inspection, not just an appraisal. Like, maybe for older homes or if there’s a well or septic system? I’ve heard mixed things from different lenders. It’s kind of confusing, honestly.
If you’re buying with a spouse, does the VA care if both of you are on the inspection report, or is that just between you and your agent? I never really thought about that angle before.
Just trying to figure out if we missed something important by not doing a separate inspection during our refi, or if that’s mainly a concern for initial purchases.
The appraisal felt pretty surface-level—like, they checked the basics, but didn’t really dig into stuff like the roof or plumbing.
That was my experience too. The appraiser just did a quick walkthrough, barely looked in the attic. I’ve never heard of them catching anything serious—my inspector found a leaking pipe that the VA guy totally missed. Has anyone had the VA actually flag something major? Or is it always up to the home inspector to find the real problems?
I’ve bought a handful of properties with VA loans, and honestly, the VA appraisal is really just that—an appraisal, not a true inspection. They’re mainly checking if the place meets the VA’s minimum property requirements, but it’s not a deep dive into the guts of the house. I’ve seen them flag obvious stuff like missing handrails or broken windows, but I’ve never had one catch anything major with plumbing, electrical, or the roof. That’s always fallen to the home inspector in my experience.
It can be frustrating because you’d think a government-backed loan would mean a more thorough check, but that’s just not how it works. The home inspection is where you’ll find the real issues—leaks, bad wiring, foundation cracks, all that. The VA appraiser is more about making sure the house is basically safe and habitable, not perfect. If you’re buying, don’t skip the inspection just because you’re getting a VA loan. It’s worth every penny for peace of mind.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had a VA appraiser catch some bigger stuff before—like a roof that was in way worse shape than I realized. Maybe it depends on the appraiser? They flagged it and made the seller fix it before closing, which saved me a headache. I still agree the inspection is crucial, but sometimes the VA process does catch more than just the basics. It’s not perfect, but I wouldn’t write it off entirely.
