Honestly, I get what you mean about the VA appraisal catching the “big stuff,” but I’m still not convinced it’s enough.
When I was house hunting, there were a couple places that looked fine on paper and passed the VA appraisal, but my inspector found things like a leaky roof and old wiring that would’ve cost a fortune later. I’d rather know too much than too little, even if it feels like overkill at the time.The VA appraisal isn’t meant to protect the buyer from every possible issue—just the big stuff that could impact livability or safety.
Honestly, I get what you mean about the VA appraisal catching the “big stuff,” but I’m still not convinced it’s enough. When I was house hunting, there were a couple places that looked fine...
Yeah, I hear you on wanting to know too much rather than too little. I’ve seen houses that looked like a dream on the VA appraisal, but then the inspector comes in and it’s like, “Surprise! Your attic is basically a swimming pool.” The VA folks are mostly checking for deal-breakers—stuff like broken furnaces or missing handrails. But those sneaky things like old wiring? That’s where a good inspector earns their keep. It might feel like overkill, but trust me, it beats discovering your “new” roof is more patch than shingle.
I totally get that feeling—when I bought my place, the VA appraisal said everything was fine, but the home inspector found a leaky pipe hiding behind a wall. That would've been a nightmare to fix later. The appraisal covers the basics, sure, but it doesn't dig deep. Spending a bit more upfront for a thorough inspection honestly saved me thousands down the road. Sometimes it feels like overkill, but peace of mind is worth it when you're already stretching your budget.
The VA loan doesn’t actually require a home inspection, just the VA appraisal—which, like you said, is pretty surface-level. I refinanced last year and skipped an inspection the first time around, but honestly, I regretted it. The appraisal missed some electrical issues that cost me later. If you’re buying, I’d always recommend getting your own inspector, even if it feels like an extra expense. It’s way better than dealing with hidden repairs after you move in.
I refinanced last year and skipped an inspection the first time around, but honestly, I regretted it. The appraisal missed some electrical issues that cost me later.
That’s a good point about the appraisal missing things—VA appraisals are really just there to make sure the property meets minimum standards and is worth the loan amount. They’re not digging into wiring or plumbing unless it’s super obvious. I’ve seen buyers surprised by issues after closing, especially with older homes. Out of curiosity, did your lender mention anything about pest inspections? In some states, that’s actually required for VA loans, but not everywhere. Always seems to trip people up...
