What benefits come with having a home with a bad roof? Actually, some buyers may have a chance to negotiate the price of the home. For most people, mention of roof damage is enough to turn them away—but is it worth it? If a buyer is looking for a fixer-upper, a shoddy roof can be costly to repair. But should you base your decision on this alone, or consider other factors?
Roof damage is concerning to most home shoppers, but it can actually be a good thing. There are many factors to consider before making a decision. You need to weigh the opportunity cost of a faulty roof against the costs of repairing it. Whether it’s a home or an apartment, what you should really be looking for is quality. Those looking for a fixer-upper are usually trying to nab a house with the best possible condition, and roof damage can be really costly to repair.
How badly is the roof damaged?
The extent of roofing damage is one of the many factors you should take into consideration when determining if you want to buy a house. There are many things that can happen to the roof, and roofing damage is one of them.
Be aware that a bad roof could lead to other issues such as ceiling drywall, insulation, or even structural replacement. This can add more costs to the repairs, which can make buying a house more costly than originally planned.
Are You Getting a Laon
A Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan is a popular option for those who have less than perfect credit and have been turned away by their bank before. But there are some requirements you need to meet in order to be approved for this loan. For example, the property must be livable and insurable, and you must have secured property insurance before closing. With these two guarantees in place, you generally only need a 3.5% down payment. (I think I heard someone say student loans are almost 6%?
It would be a waste of time and money to go through the inspection and appraisal process only to be denied a loan. You should not even attempt to buy a house with roof damage unless you’re okay with its condition and have a solid estimate on what it will take to get it repaired correctly. “Otherwise, buyers should really ensure the roof is in good condition before buying the house,” he concludes.
Can Home Insurance Help?
If damage to a roof is severe, a licensed roofer could submit a claim to the roof’s insurance company. This would relieve the property owner of the responsibility for paying for the repair. But, this is where the headache comes in. Depending on where the damage is and how much it costs, the roofer may have to submit a number of claims to the insurance company before enough money is available to cover the cost of the repairs. And if you’re a buyer who doesn’t plan on getting an FHA loan, you’re still going to need a good inspection and insurance. For the best results, home construction consultants advise having a certified engineer inspect the property and review details with the seller.
The seller needs to disclose if something is wrong with the roof or if there have been leaks. In most cases, the seller also has to get the roof repaired before the closing. If the roof has to be repaired before closing, the seller is required to pay for the repairs up to $500, and the buyer has to reimburse him. If the roofing company makes a claim to your insurance company and they don’t pay, then the seller is responsible for paying the roofing company the difference.
“If you are buying in a market that is really hot, you’re going to find a lot of sellers who will want to sell even if they have significant structural damage to their home and they know they will have to fix that. They’ll sell it as is, and that’s going to be more appealing to them.
