Reading the actual guideline text below — never a general AI guess

Here's what the guidelines say about attic access: We need to look at attic spaces if there's a way to get into them, but we're not required to climb inside or move insulation and personal items out of the way. If there's no scuttle hole or other opening to the attic at all, we have no obligation to create one. However, if we can see evidence of problems—like water stains on the ceiling, poor ventilation, or mold smells—we have to report those and make the appraisal conditional on getting those issues fixed or inspected. VA and FHA both say we must report when an attic can't be safely reached, and if we need a third party to look at an inaccessible attic area to make sure the property meets standards, the appraisal stays conditional on that inspection.

Straight from VA Lenders Handbook (Pamphlet 26-7) and HUD/FHA Single Family Handbook 4000.1 — nothing added.

UAD 3.6 Implementation Adds Attic Access to Required Preparation Checklist

UAD 3.6 appraisal reporting requires that attic, crawlspace, garage, and outbuildings be unlocked and readily reachable before the appraiser arrives, reflecting heightened access requirements under the new standard.

UAD 3.6 adoption and FHA guidance on garage conversions

FHA HB 4000.1 (pages 499–500) provides current guidance on treatment of garage conversions in appraisals, with criteria for counting converted space as GLA that do not explicitly require permits—relevant to understanding when to include or exclude unpermitted conversions.