Buying an older home can be a fantastic way to own a piece of history but one of the drawbacks of buying an older home is that you could be purchasing a structure that has an older roof. Old roofs can be a deal breaker for many people purchasing a home. As a newer and well-maintained roof can last for more than 30 years, it can be tough to consider the idea of buying a home that has a poorly maintained roofing system. Before you put in an offer on the home and get ready to receive quotes for roofing, you might want to ask about the condition of the roof first.
Purchasing a brand-new roof can be a considerable investment and there are some materials such as architectural shingles that can last up to 30 years, but these may not be possible to install if the structure of the roof is in poor condition. Hiring a home inspector to investigate the overall condition of the roof, asking the homeowner on documentation for the last time the roofers prepared, inspecting the attic spaces yourself, or getting an estimate from a contractor on the cost of the roofing job as a conditional offer could help you determine whether it would be a good decision to invest in a home with a roof in a state of disrepair.
Before you buy a home with a roof that’s fallen into disrepair you’ll also need to consider how long you plan on staying in that new home, if you have the budget to make roofing repairs after you purchase the home, and how it may affect the offer you propose to the current homeowner.
Some of the main signs that you should walk away from home with a roof in a poor condition come down to major structural damage where the roof is sagging, you’ve noticed excessive water damage on interior walls and stains on ceilings or there are patches of algae overgrowth and missing shingles from poor ventilation.
Be sure to consider your future and get a proper inspection before you buy a home with a new roof.
This post was written by Reggie Reed! Reggie is a state-certified roofing contractor and co-owner of Reggie Reed Roofing, one of the best roofing companies St. Petersburg, Fl. He is a 4th generation roofing contractor. RR Roofing offers a wide variety of roofing services for residential homes, apartment complexes, condos, commercial buildings, churches and more. Reggie enjoys dedicating his spare time to helping underprivileged youth in his community and traveling with his family and friends.