When looking to buy or sell a home, it’s important that you know the condition of the roof. Paying for a roof inspection can bring both buyers and sellers peace of mind about the purchase price of a home. As a seller, if you don’t consider the condition of the roof, you could easily overpay for the home. Causing you to end up investing thousands of more dollars than you budgeted.
We’re going to help you understand what a roof inspector can do for your home sale. Read along as we dive into the details of what to expect for your roof.
Do I Need A Roof Inspection?
Your roof is your first and ultimate line of defense from storms, snow, and extreme temperatures. If even a few shingles are damaged, the next time it rains you could have flooding in places you won’t see. That is until it seeps through your ceiling. Depending on the material, a roof’s lifespan is 15 to 30 years, but any external damage from things like extreme weather or storms can shorten that lifespan significantly. (How long do different roofs last?)
Home vs Roof Inspection
Did you know that not every home inspector will investigate the home’s roof? If the home is more than two stories or is exceptionally steep, often the inspector won’t get on the roof. If they feel it’s unsafe for them, they won’t make the attempt, which is a good thing to know when paying for your typical home inspection. Furthermore, both of those are different from a roof certification, which is often required by lenders. Whoever is insuring the home will be looking for at least three years of life left.
Typically, home inspections don’t have one particular focus but instead look at many places in and outside of the home that could potentially be problems. Contrastly, the average roof inspection, provided by a trained professional, is specific to the roof. While they will notice any significant shingle issues, they will also check the gutters, downspouts, and chimneys. It’s also possible that a roof inspector will use drones or infrared technology as well. Drones are perfect for roofs that are just too steep for safety, while infrared helps spot moisture and places that are leaking air.
Why Does This Benefit Me?
As a seller, you are going to be paying either way unless you have an as-is contingency. If the buyer or lender requires a roof inspection and it’s showing its age or signs of damage, you are going to have to replace it or make up for the cost somewhere else.
You may have to reduce the price of your house or concede on closing costs, but, either way, you will be losing money. Instead, you could have a roof inspection.
In the best-case scenario, everything looks great and now you know where to set your selling price. Worst case scenario, you pay for a new roof, and up your resale value by the replacement cost.
There are certain circumstances where all you should have to pay is your insurance deductible. For instance, you can prove that damage from unforeseen acts of nature has injured your roof, and your insurance should pay to have that fixed.
In fact, some companies offer free roof inspections if they know a storm has been through the area causing damage. This is because once they have proof of weather damage, like hail, they know you’re more likely to hire them for the work that your insurance company is going to pay for.
One thing is for sure. The sale of your house won’t be tied up for weeks while you figure out what to do when your buyers demand a new roof. Your home sale will move quicker, and you’re more likely to receive your asking price after having a roof inspection in Wichita.
Get A Roof Inspection Today
Whether you are a buyer or a seller, a roof inspection is an important part of the home inspection checklist. It can save you money and a lot of future headaches. Don’t put off until tomorrow what needs to be dealt with today. If you are in the market for a new roof, contact the experts at Rhoden Roofing right now and we’ll give you a helping hand!