Should I buy a house with conflicting roof damage reports?
Getting mixed assessments from contractors makes it difficult to know whether to walk away or proceed with a purchase. This uncertainty leaves buyers unsure if they are making a costly mistake or needlessly passing on a good deal.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- This comes up 35.0× more often in r/Roofing than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Walking away from the purchase2 people mentionedDid this help you?
- 2Getting multiple contractor estimates to compare opinionsDid this help you?
- 3Using a drone for roof evaluationDid this help you?
- 4Hiring a structural engineer for inspectionDid this help you?
- 5Posting photos online for crowd-sourced opinionsDid this help you?
- 6Asking online communities to guess the roof condition or ageDid this help you?
- 7Seeking second opinions from online forums or additional independent inspectorsDid this help you?
- 8Applying minor fixes like caulk to problem areas instead of full replacementDid this help you?
- 9Getting a roofer out to look at the roof during the survey processDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I’m trying to purchase a home and want to make sure I’m making a good choice. There are cracks on the main bedroom wall than leads to the bathroom and another crack on the floor in a separate bedroom, should I be worried?”source ↗
“For context got an offer accepted on this house. I can tell the roof especially at the back probably needs a bit of love but is it a move in and need to repair straight away type thing.”source ↗
“I do plan on getting a roofer out to have a look during the survey process but if there’s anything obvious I’d appreciate knowing in advanced before going to the rabbit hole.”source ↗
“I know the garage roof definitely needs work but it’s more the house itself I’m worried about for now.”source ↗
“I am looking at buying a house, the inspection company used a drone to evaluate the tile roof and did see some damage, but didn’t seem concerned.”source ↗
“I can walk away from the house, just want to be sure it is for the right reason.”source ↗
“I was interested in this house, but wasn't sure about the state of the roof. I was only able to grab a couple of quick pics, so sorry for the lack of pictures. Any help would be greatly appreciated”source ↗
“No, it's for sale by owner, and the owner knows absolutely nothing about the house”source ↗
“Two roofers said it needs to be replaced”source ↗
“but the seller insurance agent and their roofer said it doesn’t need to be replaced, just minor repairs.”source ↗
“What do you think about the roof from these pictures? Are repairs enough or do these findings warrant a full replacement? Any suggestions how to handle this?”source ↗
“I am looking at a house. It’s a fixer, but I may be able to get it for a modest price. The foundation scares me however. The clearance is maybe 12” and zero in places. What say you, should I just walk?”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 3Does my lifted skylight need a professional inspection?
- 44How to tell if a damaged roof needs replacing before winter
- 9Should we renovate our aging home or buy a new construction house?
- 15How to tell if a discounted house has major foundation damage
- 2Is paying for a home reappraisal worth it if you aren't selling?
- 4Last-minute home repair flagged by inspector before closing