When looking for a new place to hang their hats one of the first questions people ask is how old is the roof? In our office we have been wondering why that is. Why the roof? Why not ask instead when the plumbing was last checked or what the utility bills are for the year?

Maybe it is because the roof is something that everyone can see and it is the first line of defense in maintaining a home and an old roof just can’t be a good roof. Right? But we have decided it is because people think replacing a roof is very expensive, when really it is not that expensive. When looking to purchase a $300,000 the cost to replace a roof can be as low as $4000.00 -5,000.00, a little over 1.25% of the purchase price. So if the roof is old and actually needs to be replaced it should not be a huge deal.

 The better question to ask is “Is this home in the condition it should be for its age if it has been maintained properly”?. Almost every week buyers set out to purchase a home and panic when they see an inspection report with something marked deficient. The thing that all must keep in mind is that every year building codes are updated to reflect the latest standards and if you are considering purchasing a home that is even 5 years old-something will be marked deficient. Why? Because even though it has been maintained well and is in good shape, even a 5 year old home cannot meet the current electrical standards that have all kinds of new “arc-fault switches”  etc etc.If it does not meet the very latest standard it must be marked deficient. Yet that does not mean anything is wrong…just not up to the latest!

 Now apply that to a grand ole home that is 80 years old. Imagine how things have changed! So while the question about how old is the roof is valid- maybe the place to start is to look at the home as a whole and ask is this home working as intended? If it generally is and things have been taken care of you don’t have to let the inspection report scare you. Instead use it as a tool to see what you should look at that may need repair. You might just realize that the older home you love so much is doing well just the way it is…unless of course it really does need a new roof!