Home Inspection Headaches and How to Avoid Them: Part 1-The Roof

The two most important elements of a home inspection, and the ones most often called out by home inspectors, are the roof and the HVAC system. These are also probably the two most expensive items to fix. I’m always reassured when either or both of these are new, but more often they are not. Home Sellers can side-step complications related to both, with regular maintenance and a quick check-up before the Home Buyer orders their inspections.

We’ll address HVAC systems in a future article, but today’s post will focus exclusively on the roof. There’s a lot to consider besides the fact that you may never have had an issue with your roof. While you’re examining your roof from the attic space, do a cursory review of the insulation. If there has been undetected roof damage in the past, there may have been disruption of the insulation as well.

Some roof issues are simple to evaluate and correct, others more complicated. Meghan Belknap of RIS Media explains:

By Meghan Belnap

Although it’s easy to forget about while you own your home, you can be sure that your roof won’t be overlooked when it comes time to sell. There are steps you can take to avoid nasty surprises for future buyers. Here are a few things that you should focus on:

Missing Shingles
Petty as it sounds, if you have missing shingles, you can expect it to have an influence on your home’s value. Even if the shingles haven’t been out of place long enough to cause any water damage, missing shingles can communicate to buyers that you don’t take pride in your home. It’s important to inspect your roof before you sell your home and make sure that any missing shingles are replaced.

Roofing Material
Although people like their homes to be unique, one home feature that this doesn’t always extend to is the roof. Unique roofing materials such as metal, slate or wood tend not to be used as often. You may want to consider sticking with the popular options of tile or asphalt (depending on your location). If you have a unique material on your home’s roof, be aware that your potential pool of buyers may be limited and ultimately this can affect your home’s resale value. The good news is that for a buyer who’s looking for something uncommon, your home might become their must-have.

Age
One simple factor that impacts your home’s resale value is the age of the roof. Since most shingle roofs have about a 20-25 year lifespan, a roof approaching that age could affect your home’s value. Since replacing a roof can be a big expense, a buyer may ask for some concessions or a compromise to help cover the cost of a new roof, which will reduce your profit from the sale. If you can get a good deal on roof replacement, it might make sense to go ahead and replace the entire roof before you list your home for sale.

Roof Lines
Although there is little you can do about your roofline short of major construction, the roof lines of a home can add a lot of character to its exterior appearance. Inexplicably, if your home has modern or even complicated roof lines, you may be able to fetch a higher selling price than if the roof lines appear mundane or dated. There are timeless silhouettes such as gable or that seem to have eternal appeal , but no matter the profile make sure your roof presents it self in the best light by coordinating material and color with contour and conformity.

A great way to avoid surprises when you sell your home is to properly maintain the roof while you own your home. By having it inspected every few years, you’ll be able to stay on top of any potential problems so that they don’t become deterrents to potential home buyers. This will help make your selling process easier and help you to achieve a higher selling price. Maintaining your home is maintaining your value.

Feature photo by Alex McCarthy via Unsplash. Meghan Belnap is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her family. She finds happiness in researching new topics that help expand her horizons. For more information on roofing services, please visit Homestyle Roof Painters. This article first appeared on RISMedia’s blog, Housecall.Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2020. All rights reserved.