Why are roofs so important? Well, if you’re a real estate investor in Colorado, they should be very important. With the climate and conditions we experience in Colorado, our roofs take a beating. I sat down with guest Dennis Miller from Best Roof Roofing to let us in on some trade secrets, so you’ll know what to look for when a roofing issue arises…and who to call when the shingles hit the fan.

Avoid These Roofing Mistakes to Protect Your RE Investments

The one thing everyone should be doing with their roofs when selling or buying is to have a professional go out and inspect the roof. It costs nothing to inspect the roof, so if there has been weather–high winds, hail, storms–just have a professional go and inspect. It helps to have a relationship with a roofing company, so they will prioritize your properties and go check them all out for you. Best Roof Roofing offers a roof certification, which is a 5-year certification based on their professional opinion that there is at least five years of life left in it. If there are minor repairs, they’ll do those on the spot. A typical roof certification runs between $250-350. The difference between pricing depends on the repairs needed to be done. 

Pre-Listing Inspection

Seller-side transactions should begin with a pre-listing inspection. It’s very similar to the buyer-side inspection because the roof can be certified based on this pre-listing inspection, which can help the transaction go smoothly. The cost for a pre-listing inspection is 100% free of charge through Best Roof Roofing. And, if a need for repairs is discovered, Best Roof Roofing can typically knock them out right away, or next day. 

Start From the Ground Up

The first exposure to any roofing issues for many investors is immediately following the inspection. After the home is inspected, there may be some questions that only a pro can answer. On the buyer side, you look at the general condition of the roof from the ground level. Buyers do not go up on the roof, so the roof needs to look good from the ground up. You can check for granular loss, missing shingles, and if there’s drip edge. The presence of drip edge will tell the age of the roof. Starting in 2015 there is a requirement to have drip edge all the way around the house. If it’s a newer roof and this isn’t present, that’s a sign that corners were cut to save a buck. Also check for staining on HVAC pipes–that’s another clue to the age of the roof.

Quality Check from the Top

If everything checks out from the ground level, then your next step is to climb on the roof to see it up close and personal. Look for granules in the gutters. Lift the shingle right at the eave to be sure there are ice and water shields. This prevents moisture from hitting the wood decking. Certain areas have different code requirements regarding ice and water shields, so double check your local code. When in doubt–install ice and water shields. It’s a cheap insurance policy so you don’t get called out for a leak. You’ll also look at the overall condition of the shingles while on the roof. 

Red flags include:

• Nails popping out of the shingles
• Hail damage
• Thermo-cracking
• Blistering
• Wind damage

Report Roof Damage in a Timely Manner

When a roof is replaced in Colorado, the majority of the time it will be due to hail damage. For homeowners who are looking to sell, a storm might come through but they don’t call in a claim. They’re thinking their roof is okay and won’t need a full replacement, plus they’re on their way out, so who cares? The issue can be, depending on who the carrier is, you have one year to file a claim from the date of loss. 80% of inspections result in a roof issue. If you can trace it back to a hail storm that has happened within the last 365 days, you’ll have a 90% chance of having the insurance company cover the cost of the roof replacement. Now we know why roofs are so important, it’s always worth it to report storm damage in a timely manner.

Connect with Best Roof Roofing

Best Roof Roofing company specializes in working with real estate professionals. Established in 2020, they focus primarily on residential investment properties. They offer same-day inspections and complimentary 5-year roofing certifications for real estate professionals. Best Roof Roofing does most repairs same day and can install a new roof as soon as the next day. Dennis and his team know that with real estate transactions that timing, response, and cost are the main factors. Connect with Best Roof Roofing through their website.

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