There are many red flags for you, your home inspector and your agent (who better be me!) to be looking for in a home you are purchasing. But, there is one red flag that is priority number one....the roof. A great number of homes here on the Crystal Coast, in towns like Emerald Isle, Pine Knoll Shores, Swansboro and Cape Carteret, were rendered uninhabitable after Hurricane Florence because water gained access to the interiors via failed roofs; many remain uninhabitable more than a year later. To be sure, the 100 MPH winds and 31 inches of rain in 72 hours didn't help but neither did deferred maintenance on the part of some homeowners.
Another potential red flag is paint. A fresh coat of paint is to be expected in many homes on the market. But if the paint only covers a small section of the wall or is dotted around the ceiling, that could mean the owner is trying to hide water damage. Depending on how extensive the water damage is, it could cost hundreds or thousands of dollars to remedy the situation.
In the same vein, things like candles and air fresheners are also expected during home showings. But if you notice that the scents are a little too strong, then the seller maybe, just maybe is trying to cover up mold or mildew odors.
Remember those spots of fresh paint? Yet another potential red flag. If you notice those in a house, then there’s a pretty good chance that the water is coming in from the roof. Other major signs of a damaged roof include curling or missing shingles, signs of buckling, discoloration or stains, and leaning or loose chimneys and gutters. While a home inspector will likely walk the roof or take a video with a drone, if your inspector observes any of the above signs, you may want to ask for an extra in-depth look. After all, roof repairs can cost anywhere from $200 to many thousand dollars. So even though the roof is out of sight, always keep it in mind.
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