Whether you are buying your first home or your fifth, the process always seems to be equal parts exciting and confusing. One of the more confusing and often forgotten aspects of the home buying process is the roofing system. Many buyers think that nothing beyond the general home inspection process is needed, but unfortunately that is incorrect.
At All Area Roofing, we help homebuyers dig deeper and ask the right questions so they get an accurate picture of their new home’s roofing system and any problems they may encounter. To help you do the same, the All Area Roofing team is sharing the 5 questions every homebuyer should ask about the roof before signing on the dotted line. Keep reading below to learn what they are and why the answers matter!
5 Roofing Related Questions Every Homebuyer Should Ask
1. What materials is the roof made out of?
This is one of the most important questions you can ask because it will tell you a lot about the roof and maintenance issues you may encounter. Different materials have different lifespans with asphalt shingles lasting 20 – 30 years while clay tiles, slate, and metal can outlast them by decades.
Not only does material impact lifespan, but material can also impact things like cost to repair (asphalt shingles are less expensive to replace than the other materials listed above) and the way the home retains heat.
2. How old is the roof?
You need to know how old the roof on your new home is to budget for future repairs and replacements. As we discussed above, different roofing materials have different lifespans so an asphalt roof that is 20 years old is going to be much different relative to a clay tile roof that is 20 years old.
You should also think carefully about how long you expect to live in the home and how the age of the roof might impact your future resale value.
3. Who originally installed the roofing system and who has made necessary repairs?
Not only is it absolutely critical that you know exactly who installed the roof, you also need to know who made every last repair on the roof, and see proof if possible. If you find that anyone other than a reputable, licensed, and insured contractor worked on the roof at any point, we would advise you to run the other direction.
Roofing work that is completed by unqualified roofers is not only a safety risk, but it can also cause issues with warranties and homeowner’s insurance policies.
4. Is there a warranty and if so, is it transferable?
Although not every single roof will have a warranty and not every single warranty is transferable, the vast majority of roofs that were installed and repaired by reputable contractors will have transferable warranties.
We would never tell someone not to buy a home based on a roofing warranty or lack thereof, but having a warranty is a huge perk. Depending on the type of warranty that is transferred to you, you might be able to receive protection for either material defects, workmanship errors, or both.
5. Does the seller have a roof report and if so, will they share it?
If the seller has been keeping up with routine roofing maintenance and inspections (a good sign to look for as the buyer!) they should have a roofing report to share with you. The report should disclose the current health and age of the roof, along with recent repairs or any potential issues.
If the seller claims to have one, but will not disclose the report, this is a red flag. In the past we have seen this result in the seller either not actually having a report to share or that they were hiding damage from the potential buyer.
Buying a house is daunting enough and the last thing you need is added stress over the roof. If you are in the Central Florida housing market and are in need of assistance with roofing questions, the All Area Roofing team is here to help. Give our team a call today and we can prep you on exactly what to ask, how to ask it, and what answers you should listen for!
