VA Ready Check: Stop Losing VA Buyers to Failed Appraisals

You found the perfect home for your VA buyer. They love it. You write the offer. Seller accepts.

Then the VA appraiser shows up and flags:

• Peeling paint on the fascia
• Missing handrail on the back steps
• No GFCI outlets in the bathroom

Deal dead. Seller won't fix. Buyer devastated. You lost 3 weeks and a commission.

Sound familiar?

Why VA Appraisals Kill More Deals

VA appraisers don't just check value—they enforce Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs). These are safety and habitability standards that conventional loans ignore.

The problem? Most agents don't know these requirements exist until the appraisal comes back with red flags.

Common VA deal-killers that agents miss:

The VA Ready Check: Catch Issues Before You Write

We built VA Ready Check so you can walk a property with your phone and check every item a VA appraiser will scrutinize—before your buyer falls in love.

How It Works

1. Enter the Address

Search any property. We pull the Street View photo so you know you're at the right place.

2. Walk Through the Checklist

Mark items as Pass, Fail, or N/A as you inspect. The checklist covers:

• Exterior Paint & Surfaces (5 items)
• Exterior Wood & Structure (6 items) — includes termite damage check
• Exterior Safety (6 items) — handrails, trip hazards, deck structure
• Drainage & Grading (5 items)
• Roof & Exterior Systems (4 items)
• Interior Safety (6 items) — smoke/CO detectors, GFCI, exposed wiring
• Interior Systems (6 items) — HVAC, plumbing, windows/doors
• Interior Condition (4 items) — paint, floors, mold
• Utilities (4 items)

That's 47 items based on actual VA MPR guidelines.

3. Get Your Score + Report

Instantly see your VA Ready Score (0-100%) and rating:

• Excellent (90%+): VA Ready! Minor issues only.
• Good (75-89%): A few items need attention.
• Fair (50-74%): Several issues. Discuss with seller first.
• Poor (<50%): Significant problems. VA appraisal will flag.

Download a PDF report with:

• All failed items listed
• Suggested fixes
• Estimated repair costs
• Professional formatting you can share with seller or buyer

Pro Tips: Using VA Ready Check in the Field

Before the Showing

Pull up the listing photos. You can often spot peeling paint, missing handrails, or obvious drainage issues before you even leave your office.

During the Walkthrough

Use Guided Mode to focus on unchecked items. It auto-advances to the next category as you complete each section.

With the Seller

If issues exist, share the report before your buyer writes. Frame it as: "Here's what the VA appraiser will flag. Let's address these now so we can close smoothly."

In Your Listing Presentation

If you're the listing agent and the seller might attract VA buyers: "Let's do a quick VA Ready Check so we can market this home as VA-approved from day one."

The Numbers

• 5 minutes to complete a full check
• 47 items covering all VA MPR categories
• PDF report with fix costs you can share immediately
• Unlimited checks on Pro plans

Don't Lose Another VA Deal

Every year, thousands of VA buyers lose their dream home because the listing agent didn't know about MPRs and the buyer's agent didn't check first.

Be the agent who catches issues early. Your VA buyers will thank you—and actually close.

Try VA Ready Check →

VA Ready Check is available now in CMAForge. The checklist is based on official VA Minimum Property Requirements and updated for 2026.