Whether you are buying or selling real estate, or just trying to decide about your own roof replacement, there are a few things you should know about a roof. As I look out of my window, 95% of the neighbors have a composite shingle roof. So let’s talk about those.
When you are buying or selling a house with a composite shingle, do the math. The house next door to me has a 20 year shingle. The house next door to that one has a 30 year shingle. It is easy to tell a 20 year shingle, because the shingles lay flat, with almost no “definition”. As the shingles get thicker on a 25 year, 30 year, 35 year and up shingle, there is definition and a “layered” look. Even some of the best home inspectors can’t tell a 30 year from a 35 year shingle, so if you are a seller, and know you have a 35 year shingle, it would be good to tell your agent to highlight that feature, and you should also put it on your Seller Disclosure Form.
Sellers: Don’t forget to put GOOD things on the Seller Disclosure form, so it is not merely a highlighting of “bad” things. Add a list of good things, as an attachment if needed, and have the buyers initial the attachment too.
It took me about a week in the real estate business to learn the simple lessons of “roof math”. When I was selling my own home in Cherry Hill NJ, the home inspector went up the ladder to the roof. He came down and told the buyer that the roof was about 18 year’s old and may need to be replaced in 2 years, because it was a 20 year shingle. I said, “The house was built 8 year’s ago. Are you saying they found some 10 year old shingles to put on the roof of a new house?” I really wasn’t trying to be “flip” or nasty, it just popped out of my mouth like that in true “Philly” style.
Everyone should know how to do the simple math of a roof without relying on the inspector. Not because the inspector will be wrong, but because a roof can be just fine and still be “due” for replacement soon. I’m not going to go into second shingles and third shingles, because something tells me these will be obsolete in the future, given most roofs are no longer flat enough to go that way. I will mention roof color briefly. Mr. Cherry Hill Home Inspector was somewhat correct, in that it was a black shingle. Often black shingles will not make it to 20 years, while gray or tan ones can go to 23 or 25. Heat absorption issues. You see very few black roofs in year round sunny climates, like Florida and CA.
Buying a condo? Think you don’t need to look at the roof? Not so. A few weeks ago I attended a home inspection of a condo built in 1986. I walked across the street and climbed up on something to see the roof. The inspector and buyer said “What the heck are you doing over there?” I said I’m checking out the roof. The inspector said “Why? That is the condo association’s problem.” By then both the buyer and inspector joined me under my “perch”. I said look, it’s flat, it’s a 20 year shingle, right?” Inspector said yes. I said “This place was built in 1986. 1986 plus 20 equals 2006. When I get the resale certificate, I need to check to see if they have enough money in reserves to replace the roof, or warn the buyer about a possible special assessment. I need to check the Reserve Study for cost of replacement. I need to check the dollar amount currently in reserve for all replacement items. If there is not enough money there for all things, I need to divide the shortfall by the number of units, or prorate per total square footage of complex by unit size, and give a range of possible special assessment amount.
Buyers note: The condo association is YOU. There is no Fairy Godmother, named HOA, with a magic wand.
I’ll end with this “red flag” for both buyers and sellers. I ask the owner or listing agent, “How old is the roof, especially when I can’t do the math well on a 1917 built home…too many roof changes to do simple math. Owner responds: “I just had the roof checked and it’s fine.” Big red flag! That is not the correct answer to “How old is the roof” 🙂
Ardell
Just a general comment here but I would strongly advise any agent to refer their seller to a competent RE atty before “disallowing” them to complete a disclosure form. I hope also that the buyer’s inability to rely on reps by the seller was incorporated into the purchase and sale agreement and that provision was drafted by a lawyer so that the language was appropriate to protect the seller in case of a future dispute.
Remember, under our agency law, a seller’s agent MUST advise the seller to “seek expert advice on matters relating to the transaction that are beyond the agent’s expertise.” IMHO, no court in the land would conclude that such actions were within the expertise of a real estate licensee.
-Russ
My blog stats show which articles people read more than others or at least which catefories they visit more than others. I was curious if the articles that have the most comments on RCG is an indication of which posts people have read most?
They are definitely related, but not always…
For example, the article you wrote on Flip This House only had three comments but was the 2nd most clicked on article of this past month. (It was picked up by two very popular message boards: A&E and Television without Pity).
I was thinking I would list the most popular and the most commented on articles again this month, but the post got kinda long as it is. Besides, I think it would be more interesting to have these two options constantly displayed on the sidepanel in a “running total” fashion (as in “most popular post of the past 7 days”). I’ll look into installing a plugin that would do just that!
Dustin,
Congrats on the surge in traffic over the past few months!
Luckily my new Single Family Development blog isn’t in the same readership category as RCG or I would reallllly be getting my butt whipped.
Also I couldn’t agree more that thinking long term in your RE marketing is the way to go. RCG will definitely bear fruit down the road. But just like farming crops this is something that takes persistence and perseverance. You have to stay solid on your efforts.
keep up the good work!
Dustin, thanks I seriously love your posts on blogging. they’re really helpful. I have been blogging for 2 months now and Im pretty stoked with the 1100 hits I have clocked so far. Most of my traffic comes from craigslist.org, google or MSN search. I use sitemeter.com because its free and simple. I like that it monitors the outclicks and refferal pages. P.S who went to burning man and took all the cool pictures pictures in the art section? Raincity camp next year?
Brian
http://tracyrealestate.blogspot.com
Oh, I don’t know — Rain Zity Guide has a certain ring to it.
I think I might have to take down some of those stat sites you’ve linked to for experimentation. That’s very nice. (as is that hit surge you’ve experienced!)
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Dustin, congratulations on the outstanding increase in traffic over the past few months.
I just started my own real estate blog for the Houston area and numbers like these are a big inspiration for me. (So much so that I mention your site in my second blog post!)
Keep up the excellent work!
– Jim
I use Google Analytics which is an incredibly thorough stats program that I absolutely adore. Though a small word of caution, don’t adopt the program unless you have loads of free time to waste!
Hi,
Congratulations on your traffic growth!! I just found your site today through an article posted on a social network site. There’s definitely some good articles on this blog. I ‘ll be adding it to my “Useful Links” page shortly on my own blog (FollowSteph.com).
Regards,
Stephane Grenier
FollowSteph.com
Founder of LandlordMax Property Management Software
How we can create a real estate bolg?
There are so many options I’m not sure where to begin. If you just want to test out a blog, Google offers a great solution that happens to be free.
Jim- Dustin certainly pointed you in the right direction. Google offers some very good solutions. If that doesn’t work for you, I might be able to help you out.
What stats are the most important Visits or Hits?
Visits or hits?
Neither… Leads!
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