FHA loans and appraisals have guidelines that are more stringent than a conventional appraisal. Many times, when we do an FHA appraisal inspection, we find that the homeowners have not been told how to prepare for the inspection-- which often leads to a second inspection to verify that simple items have been taken care of , and more money out of your pocket for your appraisal!
We want to help avoid that, and for that reason we've put together a list of easily met FHA requirements that are commonly missing:
- CO Detector
If you have an attached garage, or any of your appliances run on gas, you are required to have CO detectors installed. You can purchase a plug in detector for $20 here or at Home Depot. Just follow the manufacturer's instructions, it's really very simple!
- Double Strapped Water Heater
California Earthquake code require water heaters to be double strapped for safety.
This water heater meets FHA requirements! 
This water heater is unstrapped and would qualify as an FHA Deficiency. - Attic and Crawlspace Access
Although we don't need to fully enter your attic and crawlspace (if you have one), we do need to look inside and take photos like these:
A typical crawlspace in the Sacramento area 
We bring a ladder to get an attic picture like this one. - All systems on and functioning.
If you currently live in the house, this may seem like a no brainer, but if you are a real estate agent selling a vacant property, this is a "deficiency" (that's what FHA issues are called) we frequently run into. We need to check the hot water, gas, electricity, electrical outlets, the heating and air system and all appliances to make sure they are functioning property.
Why do these things matter in an FHA appraisal?
The main reason we are looking for these things is to ensure the Safety, Security, and Soundness of the property. When you purchase a home with an FHA loan, a bonus is that there should be no repairs needed. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but these are the most common deficiencies we see. For a full list, please contact us!
