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Inspecting a Roof When Buying a Home

Inspecting a Roof When Buying a Home

by Mabel Obrien

Buying a home is extremely stressful, especially if there are unforeseen problems. Pre-owned homes are expensive and you don’t want to have any problems before moving in, especially with the roof.

Take a look at these facts:

  • A typical roof repair can cost $350 to $2,000+
  • A roof replacement can cost $6,000 to $45,000 depending on the type of roof.

Yowza!

Let’s be clear: This is a guide for roof inspections. It will help you avoid buying a house with a poor roof, or paying too much for one. There are multiple ways to fix this problem, including spray foam insulation, roof cement, vent boots, and more.

Inspecting a Roof When Buying a Home

Check For Signs of Water Infiltration Before You Accept the Offer

In order to best decide on the offer you would like to put down on the home, keep an eye out for potential roofing problems when you see the house for the first time. At times, if a home has one or more of these problems, the home won’t sell!

There are many things that you can search for, whether it’s an open or private showing.

  • Ceilings stained by water: This is a sure sign that there is a leak.
  • Fresh ceiling paint: This can indicate a roof leak or that someone tried to cover up water stains.
  • Curled Shingles: Curling at the edges of asphalt shingles and cedar shakes homes are signs that they have reached the end of their useful life. 
  • Tiles and shingles missing: RED ALERT – If tiles or shingles have been missing for some time, there could be water damage.
  • Water Stains beneath the roof: Look around the attic for signs of water infiltration.
  • Fascia boards damaged by water: Check for cracks or discoloration on the fascia boards surrounding the roof. This could be an indication of an old roof.

It’s easier to spot potential problems with shingle or flat roofs because they are more visible. While tile roofs may look great from the outside, they can conceal serious problems such as leaks and cracks. When you feel that the underlayment has become brittle and you can see that the roof’s waterproofing layer is worn over time, it needs to be replaced and it is best to do so every 12-20 years. Ask the seller when the last time the underlayment was replaced. You may want to reconsider your offer if they begin sweating profusely! This is something that should have been taken care of when preparing for the home sale.

Inspecting a Roof When Buying a Home

During Escrow, Listen to Your General Inspector

Buyers often ask if they are required to have a separate inspection of their roof.

Answer: Yes, provided that the general inspector requests it.

Home inspectors are qualified to spot potential problems. They aren’t roofing experts. They will recommend separate inspections if they spot a problem.

Inspecting a Roof When Buying a Home

How to Handle a Problem

Let’s say that a reputable roofing company discovers a serious issue with the roof. What should you do?

There are a few choices:

  • Ask the seller for the completion of the roof repair/re-roofing.
  • For roof repairs or replacements, ask for credit.
  • Keep going without ever negotiating.
  • Resign from the deal
atlanta real estate

5 Reasons Why Your House Won’t Sell

by Mabel Obrien
Real estate is hot right now. Houses are selling in unprecedented numbers, and yours is still sitting on the market. It looks great, you put a lot of work into it, but it won’t sell. We took a look at why houses have trouble selling
 

Your Price Is Too High

 
We know you love your house, but it’s not worth what you want for it. (well, if it’s not selling, anyway). Those upgrades you made? They look great. The $15 thousand dollar kitchen is a real head-turner, but it isn’t adding $15 thousand in value to your home.
 
Did Zillow tell you it was worth $350K? Well, Zillow was wrong. Zillow may very well have the worst algorithm in the history of algorithms, because 9 times out of 10 Zillow is wrong on price. Get an appraisal. That’s your price.
 

Your Photos Are Bad

 
99.9% of your searches are going to start online, and bad photos are a surefire way to lose someone’s interest. If your Realtor shows up with an iPhone to take photos, fire them. It’s a couple of hundred dollars to get professional photos for your listing. Don’t lose the battle before it’s even begun by going cheap on your photos.
 

Your House Is Ugly

 
Let’s call it what it is. You didn’t feel like messing with the upkeep, and now nobody wants to buy it. Ugly houses are going to draw investors and flippers that aren’t going to give you top dollar for your home. Put a fresh coat of paint on if it needs it. Spend the money to get the roof fixed. You don’t have to do a total overhaul, but it does need to look presentable.
 

Your Realtor Is Terrible

 
They’re out there. They can’t show your house during the day because they have a day job. They take iPhone photos. They used a home printer to make your flyers. They’re bad Realtors.
 
You don’t have to pick the Realtor with billboards on every local highway. Pick someone reliable with good references. If it’s a “friend of a friend” that’s fine. Make sure it’s their full-time job.
 

Time Of Year

 
January isn’t the time to sell a home. People don’t move in January. Now, sometimes you don’t have the option when to move, but if you do, avoid winter months if you can. According to Realtor, the first week of April receives 14 percent more views than any other time of year. Spring gets people in a good mood. It makes sense that people would want to buy a home then.
 
If you don’t have an offer in 30 days you need to reevaluate the items on this list. Homes are flying off the market right now and yours should too.
Preparing for a home sale

Preparing for a home sale

by Mabel Obrien

Preparing a Home For Sale

When it’s time for a homeowner to offer their house for sale, there are many things that must be considered in order to get the best home prices available. Getting a home ready for the marketplace requires focus and attention, as today’s real estate market is a highly competitive place.

Buyers today look at properties with a high level of scrutiny, which is why a seller has to do everything they can to prepare their home. Just as actors and job applicants have to realize they make the most impact within the first few seconds of a meeting, so will a home’s look and feel make the most impact in the first few moments of a walk through. All of this is why preparing carefully is the very best policy for a home seller who wants to do well.

 

How To Sell a Home in Today’s Competitive Real Estate Market

People who want to buy a home in today’s real estate market are looking for many things, and part of what they are looking for will be geared to their own specific needs. Couples with children will have different needs than older couples or single people. They will be concerned about the local schools and that the area is welcoming to families. All of this should be kept in mind when preparing a house for sale.

If the home being offered is in a good area for families, this should definitely be highlighted in the communications about the property. If there is a good play area for the children, that area should be cleaned and landscaped before it is shown.

An unkempt yard will definitely bring down the value of a home, so it’s important to pay careful attention to how the yard looks on the first impression. This is especially true of the front yard and walkway. Adding bright flowers to the walkway or around the front door is an easy job that will add a lot to a positive first impression of the home.

 

Staging the Property For Those Who Want To Buy A Home

Again, the first impression a buyer has of a home is huge. Along with taking in the first impression of the home, a buyer will also study the neighborhood and the condition of the home, including the roof, plumbing, and foundation. Still, the first walk-through of a home is the time when a person falls in love with it and that’s why it’s so important to carefully prepare the home in advance.

The home should look immaculate and clutter-free for the open house walk through. If new furnishings are needed, they should be brought in in order to make a great first impression. Any clutter or threadbare carpets or furniture will take away from the price a seller can ask for a home, so all of the details must be attended to.

There are interior design experts who can be brought in to help with staging a home and their expertise is worth the price. A homeowner can also consult interior design magazines and websites for ideas on how to stage a home beautifully. Extra touches like vases with fresh flowers and scented candles add a lot of the welcoming feel of a home.

Cosmetic touches, like staging a home with new furniture and flowers might seem inconsequential, but ultimately, a home sale is an emotional experience. That’s why the more a seller can do to make a home look and feel like a “dream house,” the better chance they’ll have at getting the price they really desire.

Selling a house takes focus and hard work, but ultimately, a successful home sale is worth all the trouble involved.  For more information about how to make your home beautiful for selling, contact your local trusted Real Estate agent today.