Everyone needs a roof over their heads, which is why the quality of the roof on a home is one of the most important things to check before buying a new residence. Roofing damage can cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair in some cases, so make sure any new piece of real estate you buy isn’t also coming with expensive roof problems that take you by surprise.
Check for difficult to see issues. Walk around the home and use your eagle eye to look for difficult to spot issues. Check for cracked caulking and rust spots. Look for buckling shingles that may also be blistered or curling. Look for any broken or completely missing shingles. What is the condition of the rubber boots surrounding vent pipes? Are there any visible issues related to the chimney? Are there any clear signs of decay, like mold, moss or lichen growing on the roof?
Price out the cost of repairs. If you notice any problems, you’ll want to figure out how much it’s going to cost to fix them. Simple, surface-level issues might be relatively inexpensive to fix, like $100 to $150 for a broken shingle. However, a 10-square-foot area of roof could be anywhere from $200 to $1,000 to repair.
What if the whole roof needs replacing? An entire roof could cost you anywhere from $7,500 to tens of thousands of dollars to fix. Make sure you price out a major job like this from multiple contractors who have been recommended that you feel you can trust.
Buying property can feel overwhelming for the average Texas resident. There are just too many details and legal issues to keep track of. If you want to be certain you’ve covered all your bases and won’t run into a legal jam later on down the road, learn as much as you can about Texas real estate law before you purchase any kind of real estate.
Source: Houselogic, “Inspecting Your Roof to Get Ahead of Problems,” accessed April 06, 2018