the appraiser isn’t crawling around in the attic or checking the plumbing for leaks
Exactly—I've had clients think the VA appraisal is some kind of super-inspection, but it’s really not. Here’s a question I always ask: would you rather pay a few hundred now for peace of mind, or risk a surprise five-figure repair bill later? I’ve seen folks skip the inspection and regret it big time. Even if everything *looks* fine, there’s just no substitute for a pro poking around where you wouldn’t think to look.
Title: VA Appraisal ≠ Home Inspection—Big Difference
- It still surprises me how many people think the VA appraiser is checking every nook and cranny. Honestly, they're just making sure the house meets the VA's minimum property requirements—not hunting for hidden issues.
- From my experience, skipping a real inspection is just rolling the dice. I've picked up properties where the previous owner relied on the appraisal alone... then I found everything from old knob-and-tube wiring to a busted sewer line. That stuff doesn't pop up on an appraisal report.
- The few hundred bucks for an inspection is almost always worth it. I've seen folks try to save that cash, only to get hit with a $12K roof replacement or find out the HVAC is shot right after closing. Not fun.
- Just to clarify, the VA doesn't *require* a home inspection—it's optional. But the appraisal is mandatory. Big difference in what you get for each.
- I'm curious—has anyone here ever had an inspector find something that made you back out entirely? Or maybe you found something after closing you wish you'd known about? Always makes me wonder if people think they're saving money up front, but losing big later.
For my own deals, I won't skip an inspection, even if it's just a quick walk-through with someone who knows what they're doing. Too much risk otherwise. Anyone else have horror stories or close calls?
The few hundred bucks for an inspection is almost always worth it. I've seen folks try to save that cash, only to get hit with a $12K roof replacement or find out the HVAC is shot right after closing.
Couldn’t agree more. I’ve seen people skip the inspection thinking the VA appraisal covers it all, then get blindsided by stuff like foundation cracks or ancient plumbing. The appraisal just isn’t that thorough. I’d rather pay up front than gamble with a money pit.
Honestly, I’ve seen too many folks get burned by thinking the VA appraisal is a full inspection. It’s really just to make sure the place meets minimum property standards for the loan, not to catch every issue. I had a client a while back who thought skipping the inspection would save him a few bucks—ended up with a sewer line problem that cost way more than the inspection ever would’ve.
I get that it feels like just another fee, but in the grand scheme, it’s cheap insurance. Even if nothing major turns up, you get peace of mind. And if something does, you’ve got leverage to negotiate or walk away before you’re stuck footing the bill. The appraisal and inspection serve different purposes—one’s for the lender, one’s for you. I’d rather know what I’m buying up front than roll the dice and hope for the best…
Title: Does a VA loan require an inspection? What are the VA loan inspection requirements for buyers and spouses?
I get where you’re coming from about the inspection being “cheap insurance,” but I’ll admit, when I first bought my place with a VA loan, I was skeptical about all these extra fees. It felt like everyone had their hand out—appraisal here, inspection there. At the time, I figured the VA appraisal would be enough, since it’s supposed to check if the house is livable and up to code, right? But after living through a refi and seeing what got missed, I’ve changed my tune.
Here’s how it played out for me: The appraiser flagged some chipping paint and a missing handrail. That was it. But two months after closing, we found out there was some old water damage in the crawl space that nobody caught. Turns out, that kind of thing isn’t really on the appraiser’s radar—they’re just focused on whether the property meets those minimum standards so the lender’s covered. It cost us way more to fix than what an inspection would’ve run.
I get why people want to skip it (especially if money’s tight), but honestly, the appraisal and inspection are totally different animals. The VA doesn’t *require* a full-blown home inspection for buyers or their spouses—just their own appraisal with those basic checks. But if you’re actually going to live there, having someone poke around for hidden issues is worth considering. Even as someone who likes to question every fee on the list, I’d say it’s one of those things you regret not doing only after something goes sideways.
Long story short: VA appraisal is for the lender’s peace of mind; home inspection is for yours. Learned that one the hard way...
