When an appraisal is completed with conditions, the appraiser may be required to return to the property to verify that certain repairs or improvements have been completed before the lender can finalize the loan.

This most commonly happens when an appraisal is completed “subject to repairs” or “subject to completion.“ Examples might include peeling paint, missing handrails, unfinished construction, required safety repairs, or other items the appraiser identified during the original inspection.

The appraiser cannot simply take someone’s word that the work was completed. They must physically revisit the property, verify the repairs, take updated photographs, and complete a final inspection report for the lender.

Because the appraiser is performing an additional service that requires scheduling, travel time, inspection time, documentation, and report preparation, an additional fee is typically charged for the completion inspection.

While the extra cost can be frustrating, the final inspection helps ensure that the property now meets lender, FHA, VA, USDA, or conventional loan requirements and allows the loan process to move forward toward closing.

The good news is that completion inspections are usually much faster than the original appraisal and can often be completed within a few days once the required work is finished.