Unless the home is new or a couple of years old this question comes up quite often. I always handle it the same way.

 

The Question:

Hi Jeffrey,

We really like the home at __________________________ but we have one area of concern. We had an issue with the roof when we sold our home in New York. We ended up replacing it so that we could close the sale. How old do you think the roof is on this home? If it is more than a couple of years old we would like a new one.

Let us know.

John and Mary

 

My Answer:

Hey John and Mary,

I am expert in neighborhoods, floorplans, negotiation, staging, functionality and more...but I am not an expert in roofing. I sent you a sellers disclosure on the home and the seller claims the roof to be 6 years old. I suggest if you like the home to have the roof fully inspected by a professional certified inspector. They can not only help verify the condition of the roof...they can also let us know if it is in good shape and give an estimate of remaining life.

I want you to keep something in mind...if the roof was 6 months old instead of 6 years old the seller would likely ask more for the home. If you ask for a new roof and your inspector says it does not need one I would assume the seller will say no.

Please keep in mind that if the home you sold needed a roof then it was appropriate to put one on. If it did not need a roof but you felt that putting one on helped close the deal...that is fine. The motivation to sell is based on the market conditions as well as the sellers personal need to move on. I assume your Realtor gave you advice based on your specific situation and motivation.

Best regards,

Jeffrey

The FYI:

Kind of an interesting situation here...they sold the home in NY FSBO but the buyer had a Realtor. The roof was only 6 years old but the buyer asked for a new roof and they put one on (even though they and the buyers inspector felt it did not need one). They let me know that will be the last time they ever do a real estate transaction without a Realtor!

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Jeffrey DiMuriaSouth Brevard Beach Homes   Jeffrey DiMuria  

  Phone:
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24 Comments on Email Questions: How Old Do You Think the Roof is?

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

SEP
17
185,526 Points Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Great Answer, Jeffrey. If they'd had proper representation in NY their roof would likely not have been replaced! Looks like they've learned a lesson the hard way.
Good Luck with them to a quick closing.
Bruce

 
10:06am • #5
419,470 Points 22 Featured Posts Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Guess selling FSBO in New York didn't really save them any money, then, did it?
10:23am • #6
654,570 Points 56 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

When I see folks who think they save money with FSBO it saddens me. Even those who sold quickly probably left money on the table because they can never be sure who much a strong marketing campaign might have yielded them.
10:39am • #7
535,758 Points 71 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

The buyer in New York got a heck of a deal, at the seller's expense. Good luck replicating that on the other end!
10:43am • #8
901,131 Points 19 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
Jeffrey, that definitely is a new one. Although roof issues are importants and come up quite frequently, who has heard of replacing a roof just for the sale of replacing it?
10:56am • #9

Jeffrey,

Excellent advice for your clients!  Thanks for the post!
11:23am • #10
388,620 Points 27 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Jeffrey: I've had roof questions, but no one has ever asked to have it replaced as a condition of sale. That's what the sales price is all about.
11:50am • #11
654,570 Points 56 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Helen...I think it comes down to the bad decision they made going FSBO...and then trying to burn the seller back for the place they are buying
12:18pm • #12
429,805 Points 1 Featured Post

Never guess.  You can really get burned on this one.
12:37pm • #13
2 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Love it, Jeffrey!  Thank you so much for sharing.  6 years old and they want a new roof . . . FSBOs can make up the commission they pay their agent just by having someone knowledgeable and not emotionally attached to the house negotiating for them!!
12:52pm • #14
226,166 Points Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Jeffrey -- last time I checked most rooves had minimum 20 year life for them.  Six years isn't even 1/3 into the life of the roof.  They really lost money by going FSBO.
1:26pm • #15
103,484 Points 1 Featured Post

As an inspector, I can gove you a pretty good idea of the age of the roof.  In many cases, I can tell you exactly if the permit information is available.  What I cannot do is to help you if someone wants a 6 year old roof replaced???
3:47pm • #16
298,950 Points

Congratulations on the feature, what a day at the office. But you handled it well and all ended well
8:23pm • #17
125,032 Points

I often ask the roof how old it is but they never reply. I've seen very old roofs not leak and have seen newer roofs have large sections blow off. They are usually never looked at till there is a sale or a problem. Seems like this is what those people ran into. They take a large amout of resources to produce and put in to the dump. It's a waste to replace a roof untill it needs it.
8:54pm • #18
1,348,164 Points 41 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
Jeffrey - your answer made perfect sense which putting the new roof on the previous home did not.
9:14pm • #19
SEP
18
174,506 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Sorry...but I can't stop laughing...sure... let's save money on a realtors commission and then waste it on on new roof.

Gosh, the buyer probably could have gotten all the furniture, too.

Your response was good!

Eve in Orlando

 
4:02am • #20
111,533 Points 7 Featured Posts

Great response and great lesson for them. You get what you pay for, or don't pay for in some cases.
5:56am • #21
985,634 Points 49 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Jeffrey - Inspections are a must, but recently we had an inspector who questioned the age of the roof, not the condition, so I ended up pulling the permit through our Village to get the exact age since the sellers were not the ones to install it.  Installing a new roof is an expensive lesson to learn. 
6:28am • #22
SEP
19
619,769 Points 8 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I can understand they are a bit overly cautious when it comes to roof situations now, however you approached their concern directly and appropriately. 
8:46am • #23
SEP
20
509,528 Points 2 Featured Posts

i hate guessing... LOL  I certainly would not want to be the one that put a number on a roof... not my job!!!  Good post
11:50am • #24

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Jeffrey DiMuria www.SouthBrevardBeachHomes.com

Melbourne, FL

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Coldwell Banker Sun Land Realty

Address: 1920 Hwy A1A, Indian Harbour Beach, FL, 32937

Cell Phone: (321) 223-6253

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