- Totally agree, the appraisal isn’t nearly as thorough as people think.
- When I bought my place, the VA appraiser missed a leaky roof—didn’t catch it until the first big rain.
- I’d never skip a home inspection now, even though it’s not required.
- The “minimum property requirements” are just that... minimum.
- Curious if anyone’s ever had the VA appraiser flag something that actually saved them from a disaster? Or is it usually just cosmetic stuff?
Not sure if I just got lucky or what, but my VA appraiser actually caught a busted furnace at the place I was looking at. The thing was ancient and apparently not even safe to run. Saved me a headache (and probably a few thousand bucks) since the seller had to replace it before closing. But yeah, I get what you mean—most of the time it’s just stuff like chipped paint or missing handrails.
The “minimum property requirements” are just that... minimum.
Couldn’t agree more with that. The bar is pretty low, honestly. I wouldn’t trust an appraisal alone to spot anything major. It’s kind of like thinking a quick oil change means your car’s ready for a cross-country road trip... you’re probably missing something important.
I always tell folks, get your own inspection even if it feels like overkill. The peace of mind is worth it, especially when you’re about to drop serious cash on a place.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I’ve seen VA appraisers catch some pretty big stuff more than once. Sure, the “minimum property requirements” aren’t super strict, but sometimes they do flag things that would cost a fortune to fix later. That said, I agree—
Appraisals aren’t meant to be full inspections. Still, I wouldn’t say they’re totally useless for catching major issues either. Guess it just depends on the appraiser and the house.I wouldn’t trust an appraisal alone to spot anything major.
It’s definitely true that VA appraisers sometimes catch big-ticket stuff—my cousin’s roof was flagged for being near the end of its life, and that saved him a headache later. But from what I’ve read (and what my lender told me), the VA doesn’t actually require a full-blown home inspection for the loan itself. The VA appraisal is mandatory, but it’s really just to make sure the place meets those “minimum property requirements” and is worth what you’re paying.
If you want a deeper look at things like plumbing, electrical, or foundation issues, you need to get your own home inspection done on top of the appraisal. That’s not something the VA or lender requires, but honestly, it seems like a smart move—especially if you’re new to this whole process. The appraisal can give you some peace of mind, but it won’t cover everything that could go wrong in an older house.
Just my two cents... I wouldn’t skip the inspection even if it’s not required by the VA.
You nailed it—people mix up the VA appraisal with a real inspection all the time. I’ve seen buyers skip the inspection to save a few bucks, then get blindsided by stuff like old wiring or leaky pipes. The appraisal’s just not that thorough. If you ask me, spending a little extra for a real inspection is worth every penny, especially if you’re not a DIY type.
