Don't want to fail appraisal safety inspection

[applety]

I have made an offer using a conventional loan on a home which has a bad deck. The home is bank-owned, so they aren't going to fix the deck so I have figured the replacement cost into my offer.

I am worried about the appraisal failing for a safety issue because the deck is definitely not safe to walk on. My real estate agent believes that removing the deck prior to the appraisal (with the owners permission) would solve the problem, but then it occurs to me that I would have to secure all doors leading out onto the deck in a way to make them safe. So then I have to ask myself, do I really need to remove the deck, or just secure all entrances and exits to the deck?
For the sliding doors, would a sill block screwed into the sill suffice? For standard doors, should I just lock them or do I need to drive a nail into them?

I really don't know what to expect from this appraisal, so any advice would be helpful. Thank you.

 

[ctapraser]

The appraisal is not a pass fail type inspection and is not the same as the home inspection. However the appraiser should note any safety issues and a cost to cure. IMO, The doors that open to the dect should be secured shut. If this is FHA, the report will be completed "subject to" fixing the deck.

 

[Mountain Man]

Most lenders won't allow you to do repairs or alterations on REO property before closing. If it won't work going conventional, your best bet is FHA 203B with a repair escrow for the deck.

 

[applety]

The appraisal is not a pass fail type inspection and is not the same as the home inspection. However the appraiser should note any safety issues and a cost to cure. IMO, The doors that open to the dect should be secured shut. If this is FHA, the report will be completed "subject to" fixing the deck.

Thank you for the response. The loan is definitely conventional. I shouldn't have any problem getting the seller to secure the doors, and possibly put a 2x4 across any of the deck stairs, but I guess ultimately it is valuation of the property 'as is' that will matter?

 

[applety]

Most lenders won't allow you to do repairs or alterations on REO property before closing. If it won't work going conventional, your best bet is FHA 203B with a repair escrow for the deck.

I wish I could do FHA, but they consider my wife's student loan debt whereas conventional does not. If its minor stuff, I am sure I can get the broker to do the work to fix.