The real estate market in Omaha is really hot right now. According to Trulia, the median cost of a home has increased by about 8% over the past year and the demand/sale of homes has increased overall by about 7.6%.

With homes bidding at extremely competitive prices and in short windows- it’s important not to overlook the “major” stuff when it comes to the home- namely the foundation, HVAC, and roof.

As an Omaha Roofing Company, we can only advise you on the roof portions of buying a home. Here’s the criteria that you should be looking for before you commit to buying a home:

Insurability

The surprising thing that few prospective homeowners realize is that the age of the roof on the home you’re purchasing matters. Of course, you know that the younger the roof, the better, but did you realize it can affect your coverage?

Generally speaking, we estimate that about 75% of roofs in Omaha are the 30-year architectural type. And generally speaking again, many insurance carriers may not insure a roof that is over the 15-year mark.

Why?

The climate in the midwest and particularly Omaha is so extreme. Our highs are high and the lows are low. With a swing of about 100+ degrees in a given year, the asphalt roofs start to wear down significantly.

Your insurance company has a 3 month period after you purchase your new home to inspect the roof and decide the coverage. They may exclude or limit the coverage to a non-replacement policy.

Your best bet is to find a home with a roof that is 5 years old or less. This is often stated as a selling point in the general description of a home- otherwise, we advise you to ask.

WaterTight Roof

Nothing would be worse than moving into your new home and finding that the roof has a leak after the first rainstorm.

We hope to help you avoid that. Or at the least, avoid having to pay for it when it’s discovered.

One of the best ways is to read your seller’s disclosure carefully. Assuming you have an agent, they should be able to look that over with you and guide you in the legal matters of purchasing a home.

Additionally, your home inspector should be able to find any spots in the ceiling that might indicate water damage. This is especially concerning any discoloration in the paint or mismatched areas.

Water Management

This relates to your roofing system in the sense of gutters and water flow, but it also means looking at your home foundation as a whole.

For instance, if you notice cracks in the foundation as you walk through the basement then you may want to walk outside. Evaluate how the home was graded and see how the slopes of the surrounding homes funnel into the backyard.

Additionally, check the gutters and their placement and drainage. It may be near impossible to know exactly, but if you happen to stop by during a rainstorm (or shortly thereafter) then you’ll have a better idea.

Again, much like the water tight point previously, always check the seller’s disclosure statement to be aware of any concerns they list.

Summary

Any real estate agent will tell you that you want to make sure the major things are good before placing a bid on a home. This is especially true of the roof which can be so hard to detect.

In that case, it’s important to check the disclosure, look for water spots, and inspect water management (as evidenced by the yard) before purchasing a home.

Good luck as you search and buy your dream home during this competitive time. If you need us to inspect your existing home before selling, please give us a call at (402) 889-3381.