VA Appraisal - Window Screens?

[Tom McDowell]

The VA has Minnimum Property Requirements (MPR's.)

Lenders Handbook Pamphlet 26-7 - Guaranty or Insurance of Loans to Veterans...GI Loan Programs

Chapter 12

"VA Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs) provide general acceptability criteria for properties which will become the security for VA-guaranteed loans. In existing and new construction cases, the MPRs provide a basis for determining that the property is

·safe, structurally sound and sanitary, and
·meets the standards considered acceptable in a permanent home in its locality."

The appraiser is not to call for cosmetic repairs. Window screens may not be cosmetic and could fall under the sanitary portion of the MPR's. They keep out insects.

The second part would also apply. It is like landscaping, if all the other houses in the area have window screens then it would be a MPR.

 

[Ted Martin]

The VA requirements would be subordinated to the local building, health and occupancy codes. I can't imagine that with the bugs in Florida that screens wouldn't be a local health code. Regardless of the codes, what are the expectations of the "Typical buyer" in this market. I don't know about your market but in a similar situation I'd probably make a negative adjustment on the sales grid equal to double the cost of installing the screens.

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

I concur, Ted. But the issue was..."does the VA require screens?". I can't imagine living without them here in Colorado. 7 windows with screens on my house, the cost to replace would be less than $350...I would not make an adjustment for such a small amount.

 

[Sam22]

I have been on the VA panel for 10 years, I do not know of any such requirement.