Becoming the proud owner of a new home is an exciting chapter in your life. However, there are a few things that new homeowners should know about roofing to make sure their home remains safe.
Remember that the roof is an essential structural component, and any mistake could lead to expensive repair jobs.
Here is what you should know as a proud new homeowner about roofing.
1. Roof Inspection
The importance of a roof inspection cannot be overemphasized. You cannot just take the previous owner’s word for it nor can you let your intuition guide you.
Roofs may develop problems that untrained individuals cannot spot. The roof professional will catch any problem with the roof before it gets any worse, so you can get the seller to fix the damage before you buy it.
A roofing professional can also sight issues that may become full blown problems later on. For instance, improper attic ventilation could seriously damage the roof in the future.
The roof could be at the end of its life and problematic. Thus, you should take the roofers opinion on the roof before buying the house. The roofers advice should be a key factor in your decision to purchase or look elsewhere.
Roof inspections will be necessary both before and after the property purchase. This will help you avoid catastrophic damage to your roof and money on repairs that could have easily been avoided through regular inspections.
2. Inspection Report
Make sure that you get on your hands on the inspection report. Prospective buyers can get so giddy at the thought of buying a new home, that they might forget to check up on the inspection report.
Your roofing expert can check the report to find out if there are any issues with the roof. The professional can estimate how long the roof is expected to last before you will need to replace it. This is a critical fact that you should consider before finalizing the purchase.
3. Documentation
You need to have all necessary documentation in place so that you can claim the roof warranty if it ever becomes necessary. A perusal of the roof documents will tell you how long the warranty is valid for and the expected lifespan of the roof.
4. Home Insurance
Take a look at your home insurance policy and make sure that you meet all requirements of due diligence. If you fail to fulfill the terms and conditions, you could be denied benefits. The roofing professional can show you how to meet all necessary requirements, especially those pertaining to the roof.
You will also need to schedule regular roofing inspections and maintenance since insurers refuse to pay benefits for problems that could be averted through proper care.
5. Old Roofs
If the roof is old, you should not jump the gun and move on without an extra thought. You can use this as a bargaining point to save money. Since the roof is old, you can demand a much lower price on the property from the current owner.
Get your roofers advice on this matter. Depending on the kind of roof you desire, the roofer will give you an estimate of the new roof’s cost.
You should add this cost to the price that you have negotiated to understand whether the deal is worth it.
Buying a new house? We can help you to inspect the roof, estimate its remaining life and the cost of the new roof.
If you have already bought a new house, we can help you to maintain your roof with well-timed inspections.
