Whether it’s your first time buying a home or your fourth, the process of home buying is extremely exciting. While it can be easy to get distracted by all of the excitement of a new home, overlooking potential issues, like a dilapidated roof, can cost you huge sums of money in the future. Here are five things that every new homeowner should know about roofing. The inspection report is incredibly important. Having a home inspection has become a no brainer for home buyers. It’s something that has to get done and can save you money down the line. The problem is that many new home buyers are so distracted by the emotional rush when buying a house, they decide that problem areas are “not that bad”. It’s understandable because the previous home owners might have known about the issue, and agreed that these minor problems could be overlooked for now. If you have any issues, large or small, hire a professional to examine your roof immediately and give you a cost estimate for repairs. You should hire a roof inspector. Home inspectors are good at what they do: inspecting your entire home. They are trained to spot some major problems from the ground, but their word about any roofing issues (or lack there of) should be taken with a grain of salt. If you see no immediate red flags in your initial home inspection, schedule an appointment with a roofing expert within six months of your purchase. Roofing experts will climb onto your roof and give it a thorough inspection that simply couldn’t be done from the ground. Remember that these are trained professionals and it’s unsafe and unwise to climb onto your roof and try to perform the inspection yourself. It’s important to collect prior roof replacement documentation. Collecting the documentation about your roof’s prior replacement(s) is very important if your new home is already several decades old. Ask the previous owners for the date that the home’s roof was last replaced, what materials were used in the process, and what manufacturing warranty is being used. Also find out the name of the contractor who worked on that project. This will help you create a file about your roof’s health. A document like this will help you down the line when planning your roof’s next replacement. Installing a new roof isn’t necessarily deal breaker. When looking at new homes, an outdated kitchen or atrocious bathroom tiling are seen as deal breakers while the quality of the roof is simply overlooked. It’s important to know that having to replace the roof doesn’t mean having to give up your dream home. In fact, an aged roof gives you the opportunity to negotiate your home’s price. Have your roof inspector write up an estimate for the cost of repairs/replacement to use in the negotiation process. Depending on the size and style of the roof, a new install can range from $6,000 to $30,000. If the roof is already 15-20 years old and showing signs of damage, ask yourself if you could seriously afford to make that investment within the next 5 years. If the answer is no, then you may have to continue your search. Know your insurance policy. Your roof is constantly under attack by harsh winds, heavy downpours, and unpredictable snow storms. Many homeowners’ insurance policies cover damages due to severe weather and vandalism. Most insurance agencies will send a roof inspector to make sure that there has been no foul play. The insurance company will not foot the bill if they discover that many of these damages could have been prevented with proper roof maintenance. No matter if you’re selling your home or purchasing it, be sure to take care of any small problems as they occur. A neglected roof will cause water damage, which may negatively affect your home’s future resell value. Too many water damage claims may make your home difficult to insure because insurance companies don’t want to risk taking on a property that is prone to water damage. See Original Post Here
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