Buying a new house is a big life event for most people. It’s an exciting time, but it’s stressful as well. The market is highly competitive, and with so many things you have to think about and so many deadlines you have to meet, it’s easy to get lost. But even if you’re up to your neck in paperwork, you want to make sure that the place you’re buying is in good condition. And truth be told, most homebuyers check their wiring and plumbing. However, they don’t pay much attention to their roof, which could be a costly mistake. As a matter of fact, there are many reasons why you should get a roof inspection before buying a home. Today, we’ll tell you about them all. 

Not All Roofs Last the Same

Right away, you need to understand that all types of roofs have a shelf life. That said, the roof will last longer if you maintain it properly. So, if the previous owner has been taking care of it, it might still have five or ten years of life, even though it’s ten years old.

On the other hand, a poorly maintained roof might have to be replaced even after just five years. Thus, you can’t use the age of the roof to determine its condition. If you want to make sure there’s nothing wrong with it, you’ll have to call an expert roof inspector to check it out. 

Keep in mind that significant roof repairs could set you back anywhere between $5,000 and $15,000. It’s money that first-time homebuyers usually don’t have laying around, so you want to ensure there are no problems before you sign the contract.

Won’t the Home Inspector Check the Roof?

A home inspector will go through your house and look for obvious and objective flaws. So, if your roof has apparent issues, like missing shingles, water damage, or structural integrity, they will come up in the report. But they won’t go any further than that.

If your home inspection reveals any of the things we mentioned, ask the seller if they did some repairs. Maybe they know if the owner before them did anything. Any info you get here is valuable. 

Of course, if there are signs of a more significant issue, your inspector will advise you to call a roofing expert to look at it. But even if they don’t, it’s wise that you do it, especially if you’re buying your house from afar. 

For example, if you’re moving in from Georgia, even finding long-distance movers will be a big task to complete. You’ll have a lot on your mind, and if you don’t find someone to organize everything for you, your move will drain lots of your energy. In this scenario, the last thing you need is a $10,000 invoice and weeks of work right after you get to your new home. It’ll stress your budget and nerves, and you can avoid it all if you learn why you should get a roof inspection before buying a home. So, let’s get into the reasons.

Why Check the Roof?

It Could Save Your Money in the Long Run

You’re buying a home where you’ll live in the years to come, so you have to think of the future. And even if the roof looks good, you can’t expect it to last forever. The inspection will identify all the minor issues with your roof and allow you to tackle them before they turn into those large, costly problems. 

The Inspection Will Give You Peace of Mind

Now that you know how much replacing your roof could cost you, you’ll want to ensure that you don’t have to deal with it after buying a new home. Of course, it’s just one of the areas you want to check before sealing the deal, but it’s one of the vital ones.

Think about it this way. If your roof leaks, it could ruin your walls and ceilings and even cause trouble with your electrical system. Hence, you might end up with a repair cost beyond what you thought was possible.

Luckily, a roof inspection will bring you peace of mind. You’ll know that you’re buying a good house from top to bottom, making you enjoy it even more. 

It Could Reveal Hidden Damage

Not all roof damage is easily noticeable. You may look at your roof from the sidewalk or even climb the ladders to take a closer peek and still miss the issues that will cost you thousands of dollars. 

Problems like water and hail damage aren’t as apparent if you don’t know what you’re looking at. Plus, the termites love to hide in spots you’d never think to look at if you aren’t a roofing contractor. Of course, a professional roof inspector will reach all these places. You’ll get a report telling you if there are any hidden issues you should know about. 

A Roof Inspection Could Lower Your Homeowner’s Policy

If you’re buying a home, contact your insurance company and check if a roof inspection could impact your homeowner’s policy. In essence, you’ll prove to them that your roof is in good shape, so they’ll know there’s less chance of damage happening in the future. More often than not, it’ll decrease your premiums, which can’t be a bad thing. 

A House With a Damaged Roof Will Be Hard To Sell

Americans move a lot. On average, we move once every five years. Thus, it makes sense for you to think about how easy it’ll be to resell the house if you ever decide to do it. And, of course, if your property needs a roof repair or replacement, it’ll be tough to sell it.

Furthermore, it’s safe to assume that anyone looking to buy your home in the future will carry out a roof inspection before they sign the papers, so you should do the same now. 

Conclusion

Roof damage causes structural damage, and it’s not a thing to play with. As we explained, standard home inspections aren’t thorough enough to give you an accurate picture of what’s going on. That’s one of the reasons why you should get a roof inspection before buying a home. It’s a couple of hundreds of dollars expense that could save you tens of thousands in the long run.