Make Arrangements For The Cleanup And Disposal Of All Materials Before The Final Payment
Before signing the roofing contract and allowing anyone to work on your home, discuss the job cleanup. The roofer should be able to tell you how the old roofing material will be collected and removed from your property and how the nails and other debris that litter your property during a roof replacement will be cleaned up. Do not give the final payment to the roofing contractor until all old roofing material and debris have been cleaned up and removed from your property.
Roof Insurance Claim Well File For You
Not sure whether your roof repair or replacement will be covered? We will negotiate with the insurance companys employees so you receive a settlement
Also, make sure that the contractor has enough insurance to cover all of the employees and subcontractors who will be working on your roof. Each contractor
Learn how to negotiate a roof replacement, who should pay for it, insurance company refuses to cover the home until repairs or replacement are made.
Prepare To Negotiate With Your Insurance Company
Prepare your documents such as receipts of any previous work or repair done on your roof, home inspection reports, a copy of your current policy, and before and after photos of the roof.
The insurance company will send an adjuster to assess the damage and determine what should be done. Having as much documentation as possible will help you get the best outcome.
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Reasons To Negotiate A New Roof
If the roof needs to be replaced on a house youre considering buying, that is a major expense to you. The damage would have occurred before you were the owner. In many cases, paying for the damage to the roof could therefore be the responsibility of the seller of the house. Its a good financial decision for you to bring up the roof damage and to either negotiate with the seller for a discounted price on the house or for the seller to replace the roof before you close on the house.
Find A Reputable Roofing Contractor
If you didnt do this as part of the step above, now is the time.
Your best ally in a fight over roof repair will be a licensed roofing contractor, not an attorney. Make sure they have:
- A stellar reputation
- Experience dealing with insurance claims
A good roofer will help with the next few steps before repairing the roof.
Prevent Further Damage!
Most homeowners policies require you to cover the damaged roof immediately.
Did you know?Claims for secondary damage are usually denied when the necessary steps have not been taken to protect the roof.
Heres a common and unfortunate scenario:
Storm 1 blows a bunch of shingles off a roof.
Storm 2, a week later, brings wind-driven rain that gets into the unprotected home and destroys everything it touches ceilings, walls, flooring, electronics and more. This is why many homes must be gutted or demolished after hurricanes.
Bad storms damage hundreds or thousands of homes in their path. This makes it impossible for roofers to make quick repairs.
Instead, your roofing company will get the damaged areas tarped and secured to protect your home and your wallet. Once this is done, the roof should be OK until repairs can be made.
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How To Protect Yourself
The two best ways to ensure that you protect yourself as the home buyer is to work with a reputable real estate agent and home inspector in your area. However, you can also get a warranty for a new roof from the roofing company that installs it. In some cases, the new roof warranties are non-transferable.
You might not be able to get a warranty from the roofing company unless you are the one making the purchase. In this case, you can have the cost of a new roof removed from the home value, essentially getting the cash from the seller to now handle the new roof purchase on your own.
Getting all of your negotiations and transactions put in writing by your real estate agent is a great idea. As you are negotiating with the seller for a new roof or a reduced price so that you can afford the new roof, it is always best to get all agreed-upon transactions in writing. This includes any future warranties.
Convince The Seller To Pay For The Roof
The first step is to convince the seller that they should pay for the costs of replacing the roof. Your case will be helped by the home inspection, which will identify any problems with the roof. If youre using a real estate agent, they should be able to help you negotiate. Your realtor may suggest to the seller that with the known roof issues, theyre unlikely to sell the house for as much without negotiating on the roof. This deep into the selling process, the seller probably wont want to start over with a new buyer since the roof would still be an issue with another buyer.
Step 2
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Know The Types Of Roofing Materials That Appropriate For Your Home And Climate
Before approaching roofers, research the kinds of roofing material that can be used on your structure and in your climate. Also, research the cost of purchase and installation of it. With that information, discuss roofing jobs using different materials with the potential roof contractors. You may be able to buy one of the materials on sale or use a rebate to lower the purchase cost.
How To Choose A Roofer
There are no surefire ways to hire a roofing contractor, but there are some definite ways to not do it. Dont hire the first contractor who gives you an estimate and pressures you to sign a contract. So, if you dont do that, what are some things you can do to find the best roofing contractor for you? Consider the following suggestions:
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Ask For An Extended Warranty
When possible, get an extended warranty on your roof replacement. Sometimes contractors do not correctly install the roof, and the homeowner may not know until months or years after the roof replacement. In such cases, the homeowners insurance company may not cover the costs to correct the problem, the contractor may no longer be in business, and/or the contractors warranty for workmanship may have expired. As a result, the homeowner must pay to fix a problem created by the contractor. To avoid this, try to work with a Master Elite Contractor and request a Golden Pledge Warranty. The Golden Pledge Warranty is one of the most extensive warranties that a contractor can give a homeowner. It guarantees the work done by the contractor on the roof.
Tools To Remove Roof Shingles And Nails
You really only need a couple of tools to remove roof shingles and nails. A small pry bar and a claw for pulling nails should be enough for small repairs. For larger repairs, you need a tear-off shovel. Shingles can bond together over the years, so whatever tool you use needs to break that bond.
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How Much Does Repairing Or Replacing A Roof Cost
The cost of repairing or replacing a roof can vary greatly depending on a number of factors
- Location
- Materials
- Shape and complexity of the roof
The breakdown of roofing costs is about 40% for materials and 60% for overhead and labor. For example, if you spend $8,000 replacing your roof, about $4,800 will go to overhead and labor and about $3,200 will be spent on materials.
The average price to repair a roof is about $885.
However, depending on where you live, the average price of replacing a roof is from $8,000 to $12,000. The actual price can be much higher.
Lets look at the details of why roofing costs can be so different.
Roof Inspection
A roof inspection should be performed by a licensed roofing contractor. The inspector will be looking at several areas in order to determine the condition of your roof:
- Materials how old are the roofing materials, is the wear and tear normal for that age, is there any damage from debris or weather such as hail?
- Structure are there any sagging or uneven places in the roof?
- Leaks is your roof performing its intended purpose?
The inspection will include exterior and interior reviews of the top and underside of your roof.
Inspections typically cost between $120 and $300. They can cost more, up to $600 or $700 if your roof is larger or more complicated.
In some parts of the country, roof inspections cannot be conducted in the winter months, so prepare to have your inspection done before then.
Repair Permits
Roofing Materials
Labor
Reach Out To Your Insurance Company
Some active insurance policies tend to take effect from the date of closing. These will allow you to make repairs for as many as 30 days while offering the coverage you needed when closing. So, if you have homeowners insurance, start by reaching out to the insurance company you pay premiums to. Inquire whether its coverage extends to replacing your roof.
Your roof may be covered so long as it has been damaged by Mother Nature or has experienced an accident. However, insurance may not cover it if your roof has normal wear and tear due to old age, so be prepared for that.
Be sure to have compelling evidence to improve your ability to claim your compensation. The evidence should be in the form of clear photos of the entire roof or damaged parts if possible. You can also take videos.
Your home inspections report will also come in handy. Insurance companies prefer working with professionals. So, submit your home inspection report because it can help your case.
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Be Familiar With Your Roofing Material Choices
Review the types of roofing material that can be used on your home and in your area. You also should consider how the roof will look after it is replaced. Your choice of roofing material may increase or decrease the value of your home. When you are getting estimates, the contractors should give a few roofing material choices. Be wary of any roofer who does not give you bids that include different roofing materials.
Buying A House That Needs A New Roof
Buying a new home can be complicated, confusing, and chaotic, with a lot of cooks in the kitchen. Its easy for some things to fall between the cracks. But if someone is selling a house that needs a new roof it could complicate matters slightly. Any roof issues should definitely be addressed before closing on your new home.
You see, needing a new roof doesnt have to be a deal breaker. A homes roof needs to be replaced about every 20 to 25 years, depending on the type of roofing materials and the quality of the installation. While minor repairs may be needed before that time, replacing a roof is inevitable for any homeowner planning to stay in the home for more than 15 years. Most home buyers looking at houses older than 25 years will almost certainly need to replace the roof if it has not already been done.
If the home you are purchasing is in need of a new roof, the best time to do that is at the closing table. Not only is this a convenient option from an installation standpoint, as the property is unoccupied, and your belongings protected, but it is also the most cost effective for your family. There are some caveats that you should be aware of.
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What Should I Do If The Seller Is Unwilling To Pay For A New Roof Or Compromise
Ultimately, you have to decide whether taking on the cost of the roof is worth it. Kaminsky shares, There are cases in which a seller doesnt have the equity to cover even 50% of the roof replacement. The buyer has to decide if $10,000 is too much or if its still getting a fair deal You need to try and remove emotion from the situation and look at it financially.
In this case, consider working with your agent to offer slightly below the asking price to make up for some of the cost.
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Get Multiple Estimates And Compare
Let the prospective roofing contractors youre talking to know that youre getting multiple estimates. In this way, it will spark competition and one contractor may attempt to beat the price of a competitors, saving you money on your next roof repair. But beware of verbal agreements, because quoted estimates may come with hidden charges and fees. Make sure to have all estimates in writing and ask if there are other miscellaneous expenses or extra charges involved in roof repair.
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Why You Should Negotiate A Roof Replacement When Buying A New Home
Buying a new home is often a hectic, stressful time. From finding a home you like in the first place to making offers to having the home inspected. There are a lot of things going on at once and the process can take a long time. This means it can be even more devastating if youve fallen in love with a house only to find upon inspection that there are problems with the roof.
Roof problems dont mean that you have to give up on your dream home, however. You can use the damage to the roof to negotiate with the seller before you actually close on the house.
If youre putting on an offer on a home with damages, you have two options in your negotiations:
Disposal Of Roofing Material
Removing the roof is not the only cost the contractor has to consider when giving you a quote. The contractor must factor in the costs of disposing of the old roofing. Some roofing materials, like asbestos, require special, expensive disposal. Other materials, while not toxic, may still require higher disposal fees. Other materials can simply be taken to the local dump and be disposed of based on their weight. Ultimately, you need to know what will be removed and if it requires special disposal procedures. If so, get an estimate on the cost of waste disposal and add it to your roofing estimate.
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Disadvantages Of Selling A Home With A Bad Roof To An Investor
Because of the cost of repairs, and in order to ensure the profitability of their investment, an investor will often pay less than market value for a home like yours.
However, when you consider the repair costs, closing costs, time, and uncertainty of a traditional sale, a sale to a real estate investor may be your best choice.
Inspections And Your Rights As A Buyer In Colorado
Inspections are a must when youre thinking about buying a house. At your expense, an expert appraiser will assess the property and report back to you on any minor or major defects.
Do bear in mind, however, that a standard appraiser will only assess the roof from the ground.
To get a full roof inspection, youll need to contact a roofing specialist. It will give you leverage when thinking about how to negotiate a new roof when buying a home.
As per the standard Colorado real estate purchase contract, youre then well within your rights to stipulate that the seller remedy any housing conditions that these inspections flag as unsatisfactory. After all, if the damage is severe, it may affect your ability to secure a mortgage or home insurance, in which case, the seller can kiss your offer goodbye!
In fact, as the climate in Colorado swings between extreme heat in the summer and lots of snow in the winter, roofs in our Centennial State often fall into disrepair, so it shouldnt come as a shock to the buyer if the inspector finds some damage up there.
Whether the seller will agree to your terms is another matter entirely, but a new roof doesnt necessarily have to be a dealbreaker if you know how to negotiate in these kinds of situations lets run through some key tips.
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B& m Roofing And New Homes
Knowing how to negotiate a new roof when buying a home can add more layers to an already tricky situation, but with the right tools and experts involved, youll not only have the house of your dreams but a nice roof to keep you cozy.
If youre interested in purchasing a property in or around the Denver area, whether residential or commercial in nature, contact B& M Roofing today. Well send out a highly-experienced member of our team to inspect the roof and provide you with a quote for repairs, or, if necessary, a full replacement.
Our expert opinions, detailed reports, and great prices may be just the bargaining chip you need to get a new roof included as part of the sale on your soon-to-be dream house.
Who Would Buy A House With A Leaky Roof As Is
So far weve talked about the difficulty for a homeowner to buy your home as-is with a bad roof. They wont be able to borrow money for the purchase and they wont want to fix someone elses problem.
So, to sell your home as-is, youre looking for a buyer who:
- will buy your house for cash,
- is able to deal with a bad roof and other potential problems, and
- is not buying the property to live in it.
Youre looking for a real estate investor to buy your home.
Real estate investors are professionals who actively look for houses that need repairs or updating. Their investment works best when they buy homes needing work for less than market value and do the work themselves.
They will make many carpentry related repairs themselves. For other work that involves licensed tradesmen or special skills, they have sub-contractors that they use regularly.
Investors act as their own construction managers. This enables them to do home repairs and upgrades for much less than the general public.
Some investors are house flippers who fix the property and sell it immediately. Others are long term investors who will rent the house after repairs.
Larger real estate investment companies search nationwide for suitable properties. Your potential buyer may be located on the other side of the country.
Read our article about selling your house to a real estate investor to educate yourself on this solution much deeper. And now, lets discuss the benefits and drawbacks of going this route.
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