Are you shopping for a new house?  One of the most important keys is to evaluate the state of the home - are you fine with it 'as is,' or would you need to make changes to get what you want?

You might not want to pay the full asking price for a home that you have to put a lot of time and money into. This could be anything from putting on a new roof to finishing the basement.   You want to make sure that what you have in mind is something that can be done right so that you do not have to worry about it later on down the road.

Asphalt roof replacement is one of the most expensive fixes buyers face when purchasing an older home.  If you want close the deal for a cheaper price, then consider looking at these key factors regarding the roof of the home you're considering, and then using them to bargain with.

Buying a Home?  Thoroughly Check the Roof First The roof is one big ticket item that you can bargain with. What condition is it in?  Make sure that you have this inspected prior to purchasing the home. You're investing your money in a major purchase, so you want a roof that is going to last.  If you find that the home you’re considering needs a new roof within a short time, use that to your advantage to get a lower price on the home.  It could be worth your while to have it professionally inspected before you submit an offer.

Make sure to check for cracks and other problem areas around the roof such as missing or buckling shingles.  Clumps of roofing granules at the base of the downspouts indicates a problem as well.  You need to know every little detail and what needs to be fixed. You want something to bargain with, which means finding these small things can save you a lot of money in the long run.

In addition to the roof, the gutters should also be checked out. You want a home that has not been damaged because the gutters are not performing like they should. You want a home that is able to stand up to the weather. With a bad roof or defective gutters, the home is not going to be able to do that.

Keep in mind that even if you cannot get the seller to go down on price, make it known that you would like the roof fixes to be made by them within a specified amount of time if you’re going to purchase the home from them. With this being said, you’re then able to save yourself some headaches in the future.

While personal inspections can do a lot when it comes to finding small problem areas, you still want to make sure that you speak with a professional about what needs to be done. Have a full roof inspection to ensure that there are no underlying problems that perhaps you did not know before.  If you’re not a roofer, then you probably do not know them - and that is okay.  Having a report from a roofing professional can give you the ammo you need in price negotiations.

We are a leading roofing company in the Minneapolis and St. Paul area, and we do professional roof inspections.  In addition to evaluating the condition of a roof, we can  give you an estimate of what it is going to cost, so you can then provide this to the seller.  As you're house shopping, be prepared and have a MN exterior remodeling contractor like Quarve behind you every step of the way. Call us today! In the meantime, check out some of our asphalt roofing projects shown on our Pinterest page.