When you’re ready to buy a luxury home in the Denver area, chances are good that you will hire a building inspector to ensure that homes’ structures are up to par. Although these individuals can certainly help you, the truth is that their expertise is limited in scope. It’s important to have a roof inspection before you buy your home, too, since many building inspectors do not include the roof.
Reasons You Might Need a Roof Inspection
If you’re buying a luxury home, one of the worst things you can do is assume that everything has been installed properly and well-maintained. Rather than simply take a seller’s word for something – “The roof was just installed a couple of years ago.” – hire a roofing contractor to inspect it. Some of the best reasons to conduct your own roof inspection include:
- Ensuring that the roof and the roofing materials are still within their expected lifespan;
- Estimating the actual age of the roof and the roofing materials;
- Locating any potential problem areas, such as leaks that may be undetectable from inside the home; and
- Looking for signs of proper installation, including the correct installation of flashing.
Although most sellers are honest about the condition of their homes, the truth is that roof issues aren’t always apparent until water is leaking into the home. That’s the number one reason why a roof inspection is a great idea; a contractor can find issues that may not yet have an impact on the home.
Building Inspector vs. Roofing Contractor
You might wonder why you should hire a roofing contractor when you’re already having the property inspected by a traditional building inspector. The truth is that a building inspector can save you time and money, but only to an extent. A roofing contractor, on the other hand, will inspect only the roof. He or she is far more thorough than a building inspector, which means you can rest assured that any potential problems will be uncovered. Roofing contractors typically offer affordable inspection services, too.
What If There Is a Problem?
Most of the time, when a building inspector uncovers a problem, the buyer and seller can negotiate one of two solutions.
- The seller repairs the problem. Oftentimes, when a problem with a home is uncovered either during a building or roof inspection, the seller will assume the responsibility of fixing the problem prior to selling the home.
- The buyer negotiates a lower price. On the other hand, the buyer also has the option of negotiating a lower price with the seller. Following the roof inspection, a contractor should provide you with an estimate or quote for repairing any issues that were found. You can ask the buyer to renegotiate the selling price and reduce it by the amount of the quote, thus freeing up the funds for you to repair the issue on your own.
Although building inspectors play vital roles in ensuring the structural integrity of a home, a roofing contractor takes things a step further. A roof inspection is a great way to make sure you’re getting the best possible value for your money, whether you’re buying a luxury home in Denver or even a commercial property.