FHA appraisal repairs for home buyers and sellers
FHA loans come with minimum property requirements, and when the appraisal flags a defect, the clock starts ticking toward your closing date. We fix the flagged items fast so the sale stays on schedule.
What FHA appraisers look for
FHA appraisers check that a home is safe, sound and secure before a lender will fund the loan. The most common flags we see in older Ogden and Davis County homes are all squarely in handyman territory: peeling or chipping paint on homes built before 1978, missing or loose handrails on stairs and decks, broken windows and doors that will not secure, damaged drywall, trip hazards on stairs and walkways, missing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and minor roof-adjacent items like loose flashing the appraiser can see from the ground. If the appraiser wrote it on the report, bring us the list. We do the repair work, the appraiser or lender confirms the result.
For sellers: fix it before the appraisal
The cheapest time to fix an FHA flag is before the appraisal, not after a re-inspection delay costs you a buyer. Sellers across Ogden, Layton, Kaysville and Salt Lake City call us for a pre-listing walkthrough: we walk the house the way an appraiser will, hand you a prioritized punch list of the safety and soundness items that typically get flagged, and fix them on the spot or schedule the work before you list. One afternoon of repairs now beats three weeks of repair negotiations later.
For buyers: repair deadlines met, not missed
When the appraisal or inspection comes back with required repairs, the lender usually gives you a short window to document the fixes. We work to closing deadlines all the time: send us the repair list from your lender or appraiser, we quote each item, and we schedule the work fast so your agent can get the re-inspection done before your financing deadline slips. Standard handyman rates apply, quoted up front, with no emergency dispatch needed for scheduled repair-list work.
Handyman scope, honest lines
We are not appraisers, lenders or home inspectors, and we never promise a loan outcome. The appraiser decides what is required. Our job is the repair work itself. Most FHA flags are handyman-scope items: paint, drywall, handrails, doors, windows, trim and safety fixes. When a flagged item needs a licensed trade, such as electrical panel work or plumbing repairs, one of our many trusted partners will give you a separate quote for that specific item, so nothing on your repair list stalls.
Common questions
What are FHA minimum property requirements?
FHA appraisers evaluate homes for three things: safety, soundness and security. Common safety flags include peeling paint on pre-1978 homes, missing handrails and non-functional smoke detectors. Soundness covers structural items like roof condition, and security means the home locks up and protects occupants. Your lender or appraiser can give you the exact list for your home.
Who usually pays for FHA required repairs?
It is negotiated in the purchase contract. Sellers often handle repairs before closing to keep the deal alive, and buyers sometimes take on the list for lender-required items. We work for whichever side hires us and document the completed work clearly so your agent and lender have what they need.
How fast can you complete a repair list?
Punch-list repairs are usually scheduled within a day or two and most lists take one visit. If your closing is at risk, tell us the deadline when you call and we will tell you straight whether the list fits the schedule.
Do you guarantee the appraisal will pass after your repairs?
No, and no honest contractor will. The appraiser makes that determination. What we do is complete the specific items on the repair list so the re-inspection has nothing left to flag. If something on your list falls outside handyman scope, we say so and refer you to the right licensed trade.
Can you fix peeling paint on an older home?
Yes. Repainting over sound surfaces, scraping and priming flaking areas and restoring window and trim paint are core handyman work and among the most common FHA repair items on homes built before 1978.