This is the scenario: your property has just been the subject of a contract and the buyer is financing with a VA loan. Soon after, hopefully, the appraiser will visit his property to complete the interior/exterior inspection. That’s right, it’s a visit, not an inspection. The home inspector is a different person, but we’ll save that for another article. Okay, let’s get back on the road. So the appraiser takes a few measurements, takes notes, lots of photos, turns a few lights on and off, turns on a faucet or two, flushes the toilet, asks you a few questions about recent improvements, thanks you, and hurries off to the next one. appointment. Now, a few days or weeks later, he receives a call from his real estate agent informing him that his property does not meet the VA’s minimum property requirements due to defective paint. They inform him that since his house was built before 1978, the defective paint must be repaired for the buyer’s loan to proceed. What does that mean? Well first, let’s address what defective paint is and why it’s such a big deal.

Defective paint is any previously painted surface that is now flaking, peeling, flaking, bubbling, or chipping. Before 1978, lead was added to paint. You’ve heard of lead poisoning, right? Lead poisoning can cause many health problems, including mental problems, seizures, coma, and even death. Children were most at risk, as they are more likely to put things in their mouths; however, lead could get into the air (dust) or contaminate water sources.

Okay, now you know lead is bad, but maybe you’re thinking, “Hey! I repainted my house just a few years ago. The paint used was made without lead, so this shouldn’t be a problem.” It’s a good try, but since there is still a chance that lead was initially used in your home, no one is going to take any chances. Defective paint will have to be remedied. So, go get a brush and apply some paint over the bad areas, right? Wait, not so fast! It must be done correctly, or the appraiser may still reject the repairs.

There are several ways to fix the problem of bad paint. First, you can complete a lead-based paint test, which is not cost-effective and is therefore rarely done on 1-4 unit residential real estate transactions. In fact, in over 20 years working in this industry, I have not seen a single case where this has been done instead of remediating defective paint. The next option is to hire a professional painter who specializes in lead-based paint remediation. The last option is to repair the defective paint yourself. In either remedial option, defective paint must be properly removed from the surface and all debris must be thoroughly cleaned without leaving any marks on the floor. The surface must then be repainted.

If the problem of defective paint is widespread, it is recommended to have a professional company that specializes in lead-based paint removal to complete the remediation project. If done incorrectly, lead could contaminate the surrounding air or water and expose other people to this poisonous substance. If you are working with a real estate agent, they should have the knowledge and experience to advise you on your plan of action.