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If you're selling a home to a buyer using an FHA loan, the appraisal does more than determine the home's value — it also evaluates whether the property meets the FHA's minimum property standards.
That can come as a surprise to many sellers.
Unlike a conventional loan, an FHA appraisal may require certain repairs before the lender will approve the financing. If those repairs aren't completed, the transaction can be delayed or, in some cases, fall through altogether.
What Is an FHA Appraisal?
An FHA appraisal serves two purposes:
- It estimates the home's market value.
- It confirms the property meets basic safety, security, and soundness standards established for FHA-insured loans.
The appraiser isn't performing a full home inspection, but they are looking for conditions that could affect the home's habitability or the lender's risk.
Common FHA Repair Items
While every property is different, some of the most common repair requirements include:
- Peeling or chipping paint on older homes where lead-based paint may be a concern
- Missing or damaged handrails on stairways
- Broken windows or damaged exterior doors
- Roofing issues that could allow water intrusion
- Exposed electrical wiring or missing outlet and switch covers
- Safety concerns such as trip hazards or deteriorated steps
- Missing or inoperable smoke and carbon monoxide detectors where required
Many of these repairs are relatively minor, but they can still prevent a loan from moving forward until they're completed.
Why It Pays to Address Repairs Early
One of the biggest mistakes sellers make is waiting until the appraisal is complete before thinking about repairs. At that point, the closing timeline may already be under pressure.
Taking care of obvious safety and maintenance issues before listing your home can:
- Reduce the chance of unexpected delays
- Help keep your closing on schedule
- Give buyers greater confidence in the property
- Eliminate last-minute scrambling to coordinate contractors
How MDKennedy Real Estate Development Can Help
At MDKennedy Real Estate Development, we regularly help homeowners complete repairs that are identified during the selling process.
Whether it's replacing damaged handrails, repairing steps, addressing peeling paint, fixing roofing concerns, or completing other lender-required work, our goal is to help keep your transaction moving forward.
We understand that timing matters in real estate, and we work to complete repairs efficiently without compromising quality.
Planning to Sell?
If you think your home may need a few updates before hitting the market, don't wait until the appraisal uncovers them.
A walkthrough before listing can identify potential concerns early, giving you time to make repairs on your schedule instead of under a contract deadline.
Thinking About Selling to an FHA Buyer?
Let MDKennedy Real Estate Development walk your home before you list — we'll spot the safety and repair items an FHA appraiser looks for, and complete lender-required work efficiently so your closing stays on track.
Schedule a pre-listing walkthroughEvery home is different, and not every FHA appraisal results in repair requests — but knowing what's coming keeps you in control.
Once your home is market-ready, The Kennedy Real Estate Team can help you price, market, and sell it for maximum value.
By
Matthew Kennedy
3 min read
