Buying a home is an exciting event. If it’s your first time buying a home, you’re probably especially anxious to sign on the dotted line and get the keys to your new home. But buying a home isn’t a decision you want to rush in. You want to make sure that you’re aware of any potential repairs that the home will need. One of the areas commonly in need of repair is the roof. Depending on the condition of the roof, these repairs can be quite costly. You’ll definitely want to know about any problems with the roof before you inherit those problems.


Questions to ask

When buying a home, ask these questions to find out whether you need to worry about roofing problems:
·         When was the current roof installed? The older it is, the sooner it will need to be repaired or replaced.


·         Is it the original roof? Has it been repaired or replaced? Is the existing roof installed on top of the older roof? If the roof is older but patched up, or if new shingles have been laid on top of old ones, expect to have more problems with your roof down the road.
·         Are there any known leaks? If so, is there any damage in the home resulting from leaks? If the answer is yes, these will need to be repaired immediately.
If you’re really serious about buying a home, you may even want to consider having the roof looked at by a professional roofer who can look for any other roofing problems such as gaps by the chimney or vents, damaged flashing, or damaged rain gutters.


Should you buy?


Of course, if there’s no major issues with the roof, you can feel more confident in buying the home. But if, on the other hand, there are some problems with the roof, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to pass up on the home. Work with the current homeowner to have any roofing problems taken care of or estimate the cost of these repairs and agree on a lower price for the home to compensate you.


Just remember that the homeowner’s main concern is to sell the home. Often, homeowners go with the lowest bid when it comes to fixing the roof since they don’t have to live under it. It might be a good idea to work with the homeowner in selecting a roofing contractor with plenty of experience and a good reputation in the community.


Home improvement news brought to you by bartonroof.com
Source: the-daily-record.com/local%20news/2015/01/16/new-homebuyer-s-checklist-to-id-costly-repairs