Buying A Home With A Damaged Roof

Real Estate Blog

The roof is one of the most expensive parts of a house, so it makes sense that many people are apprehensive about buying a home with a damaged roof. Take these precautions when looking at real estate listings and buying a home with a damaged roof to avoid buyer's remorse:

Determine the Extent of the Damage

The first thing to do is to determine the extent of the damage. There is a big difference between a dirty roof and a roof full of broken and curled shingles; a proper washing can easily renew the former. The best way to go about this is to have the roof inspected to determine whether the damage is merely cosmetic or it has affected the structural integrity of the house. That way you don't risk passing over a house merely because some of its parts "looked" damaged even though they weren't.

Get a Repair or Replacement Estimate

In addition to inspecting the roof, you also need to get repair estimates from actual roofing contractors; get more than one estimate to get an accurate idea of the replacement (or repair) cost. Don't assume that any damage would be costly to fix because it looks extensive or that it would be cheap because only a section of the roof looks damaged. Looks can be deceiving; a roofing contractor is the only person who can tell for sure how much repair or replacement cost you are looking at.

Negotiate a Solution

Once you know the extent of the damage and its estimated repair cost, it's time to use the information to negotiate with the seller. In this case, you are basically looking at three major targets; that is, you can try and:

  1. Get the seller to shoulder the whole cost of the replacement
  2. Split the replacement with the seller
  3. Get the seller to lower their asking price in proportion to the damaged roof and its replacement cost

Whereas the first option would be the best, it is also the most difficult to get, but there is no harm in trying.

Take a Renovation Loan

If the seller doesn't budge, then you can either terminate the purchase process or shrug your and proceed. It depends on different factors such as how much the house fits your needs, the prevailing real estate market, and the pricing of the home as compared to similar houses in the neighborhood. If you decide to buy the house anyway, then you can take a renovation loan so that you can replace the roof immediately you purchase it.

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