- Totally get where you’re coming from. I’m all about saving a buck where I can—moving is expensive enough without tossing extra cash at stuff you might not need.
- VA appraisal does catch a lot, but I’ll admit, I once skipped the extra inspection on a “practically new” place and ended up discovering a leaky dishwasher two weeks after moving in. Not the end of the world, but still annoying.
- If the house looks solid and the VA appraiser isn’t raising red flags, I’m usually good with just that. But if it’s older or has that “lived-in” vibe (aka, suspicious creaks), I might cough up for the extra check.
- At the end of the day, I’d rather spend my money on pizza for moving day than on a list of scuffed baseboards. Just my two cents...
Honestly, I’m right there with you on the “pizza over baseboards” thing. Every dollar counts when you’re moving—between boxes, truck rentals, and that first grocery run in a new place, it adds up fast. I’ve always felt like the VA appraisal is pretty thorough, at least for the big stuff. They’re not gonna let you buy a house with a caved-in roof or anything wild like that.
But yeah, those little surprises can sneak up on you. My last move, I skipped the extra inspection because the place was only five years old and looked spotless. Three weeks in, I found out the bathroom fan just vented straight into the attic instead of outside. Not dangerous, but now I get to climb up there and fix it myself... good times.
I guess for me, it comes down to how much risk you’re cool with. If the house is older or has that “grandma’s house” smell (you know what I mean), I’ll shell out for a home inspection just for peace of mind. But if it’s newer and nothing looks off, I’d rather keep that cash for takeout and maybe some new curtains.
VA doesn’t actually require a full-on home inspection—just their appraisal, which checks for safety stuff and livability. If you’re comfortable rolling the dice a bit, you can probably skip the extra inspection. But if you’re like me and have zero skills fixing random leaks or electrical weirdness, sometimes paying upfront saves headaches later.
In the end, it’s kind of a coin toss depending on your comfort level and how much you trust your gut (and your nose). Either way, moving day pizza is non-negotiable.
- Been there with the “looks perfect, but surprise!” stuff. When we refinanced, the VA appraisal flagged a missing handrail but totally missed the leaky dishwasher.
- I get wanting to skip the inspection to save cash, but man, those little things add up if you’re not handy.
- For us, the peace of mind was worth it—especially since I’m not about to crawl under the house to check pipes.
- VA’s appraisal is solid for big issues, but it won’t catch everything. If you’re cool with a few DIY surprises, maybe roll the dice... but I’d rather spend my pizza money on not having to fix stuff right away.
Yeah, the VA appraisal is more about making sure the house meets their minimum standards, not a deep dive like an inspection. We almost skipped the inspection to save a few bucks, but honestly, I’d rather know what I’m getting into before signing anything. Found out our “perfect” house had some sketchy wiring that the appraiser never even looked at. For me, that peace of mind is worth every penny, especially since I’m not exactly Mr. Fix-It.
Yeah, skipping the inspection might save a few bucks upfront, but it’s a gamble. I’ve been through this process a couple times now and every time, something pops up that the VA appraiser just doesn’t catch. Like you mentioned,
That’s exactly why I always do a full inspection—peace of mind is huge, especially if you’re not handy.“Found out our ‘perfect’ house had some sketchy wiring that the appraiser never even looked at.”
Here’s how I usually approach it: First, I get the VA appraisal done since that’s required for the loan. Then, even though it’s optional, I schedule my own independent inspection. That way, if anything big turns up (like foundation issues or major electrical stuff), I can try to negotiate repairs or even walk away before getting in too deep.
Has anyone here actually had the VA appraisal catch something major? Or does it mostly just flag stuff like peeling paint and missing handrails? Curious if anyone’s had a different experience with what the appraiser actually looks for versus what an inspector digs up.