Mark Nothaft, The Republic, January 2016
A home’s roof requires inspection more than nearly any other part of a house and remains something of a wild card during any real estate transaction, professionals say. “You can have a roof that looks perfect, but will leak during the first big storm,” says a historic home specialist. “On the other hand, you can have one that shows poorly but is water-tight.” “It’s one of the most difficult determinations to make since we don’t get a lot of consistency (in the desert),” she says. An inspection from a licensed home inspector is the first place to start, and if a detailed assessment cannot be determined, then a licensed roofer should be called in.
Prime Roofing agrees. “I’ve seen deals fall apart because of roofing,” they said. “A seller will wait until roofing comes up during the inspection” rather than be proactive, “and run the risk of buyers getting jumpy and canceling the contract.”
Adjusting the asking price may be a solution to a roof in poor condition. If sellers don’t make known roof repairs ahead of time, then it may become a negotiated item during the sale and the asking price will need to be adjusted to allow for repairs. It’s the inspector’s job to find all the things wrong with a home, including the roof, and sellers need to reduce those items.
A roof service call before subjecting a home to inspection is recommended, and includes replacement of cracked or missing tiles or shingles, and resealing any roof penetration. Prices for the service range from $600-$2,000, depending on the size of the home.
But what if the home needs a completely new roof? It can be a good selling point and offers peace of mind to buyers.
(Editor’s note – Real estate agents are required by law to disclose any material facts they know about the house. If the realtor observed water staining on the ceiling before the house was painted then this should be disclosed. If the seller has received an opinion from a licensed roofing contractor that says the roof needs replaced then it needs to be disclosed. There is no more “let the buyer beware” in our litigious society. It is now disclose, disclose, disclose and disclose in several ways.)