The journey to finding your new home can be exciting and rewarding. When you have your heart set on specifics like location, size, or cost, you don’t want to waste time when putting in an offer. However, if you have not ordered a roof inspection with your home purchase, it’s best to call our professionals as soon as possible.
Buying a home with a bad roof can be a real estate nightmare, especially with unseen water damage or other issues that may erode your investment.
Here are Roof Pros of Virginia’s top 6 tips to evaluating the roof of your potential new home:
#1 Ask Your Home Inspector For Clarity
Before you sign off on any waivers, it is best to understand how to inspect your roof or find someone who can help, like Roof Pros of Virginia.
Examining the state of your potential home’s roof could save you a lot of time and money in the long run.
If you’re having a home inspection done (highly recommended) ask your inspector exactly what he/she will be covering as far as the roof is concerned.
In most cases, a home inspection will only cover a visual inspection of your roof. For a more comprehensive assessment, you’ll need to consider a roofing contractor.
#2 Get a Comprehensive Roof Inspection
A professional roofing company like ours will be able to provide you with comprehensive details about your roof’s condition including whether or not you have any missing shingles, mold growth, or other problems commonly found in the initial stages of a home purchase. For home purchase plans, a roofer can tell you about:
- gutter systems for shingle fragments
- water-draining capabilities
- discoloration, moss, dents, cracks, peeling, lichen, and algae
- soffits, fascia, and flashing
- insulation and ventilation
- signs of moisture or mold
- cracks, holes, and structural deformities
- integrity and wear of the roof valleys,
- evidence of ice shields or dams
#3 Ask the Homeowner for Documentation To Support Any Work Done on the Roof
On average, roofs of slate, copper, and tiles can last up to fifty years. Wood shakes last about thirty years, fiber cement shingles about twenty-five years, and asphalt shingles roughly twenty years. If the previous owner repaired the roof, they should be able to provide a valid roof inspection report.
#4 Get A Free Quote For Any Estimated Roof Work Needed
If your potential new home’s roof is needing repairs, factor this into the cost estimates. A professional roofing company like Roof Pros of Virginia will be able to help you make an informed decision by answering these questions:
- What kind of shape is the roof in?
- Does it need replacing or repair?
- When should this work be completed?
- Will the roof’s condition impact us being able to move into the home?
#5 Get an Estimate on How Much the Repairs Would Cost and When They Will Be Needed
After the initial roof inspection, you should ask for an estimate of the repair costs if there are issues to fix. You may want to add this to your budget as it could affect the offer you place on the property. Knowing when to do the repairs is also useful.
#6 Evaluate the Budget Implications
Besides the physical discomfort that roof repairs have on the family, the cost is a consideration as well. How long will you live off the property during repairs, and how much will it cost?
If your home needs a new roof you can plan to spend at a least $10,000 right away. This is big money and not always readily available to you especially in the final stages of financing where your mortgage company could red flag any premature debt you incur before your closing date.
If the current home owner has severely neglected the roof, there could be hidden issues behind the walls forcing you to make the tough choice of walking away.
As the saying goes, “compromise makes a good umbrella, but a poor roof.” Roof Pros of Virginia never compromises on quality—call us today at (800) ROOF PROS (766-3776) for all your roofing needs.
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