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 people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Walking away from the purchase
- 2Getting multiple contractor estimates to compare opinions
- 3Using a drone for roof evaluation
- 4Hiring a structural engineer for inspection
- 5Posting photos online for crowd-sourced opinions
- 6Asking online communities to guess the roof condition or age
- 7Seeking second opinions from online forums or additional independent inspectors
- 8Applying minor fixes like caulk to problem areas instead of full replacement
- 9Getting a roofer out to look at the roof during the survey process
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“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 ↗
“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 ↗
“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 ↗
“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 ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 24How to tell if a damaged roof needs replacing before winter
- 7Should we renovate our aging home or buy a new construction house?
- 4How to tell if a discounted house has major foundation damage
- 3Should I finish an unfinished garage before selling my house?
- 2How to estimate home repair costs before buying
- 2Should I file a homeowner's insurance claim or pay out of pocket?