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So I'm buying a house and we made an offer with the opinion that the roof was relatively new because it looked new and all the other roofs around it were in worse condition. We are under contract and just had the home inspection. The home inspector said that the roof is relatively new and in great condition but no permits were pulled on it because he checked before he arrived. We contacted the seller, who bought it in a foreclosure auction, and he said they did nothing with the roof. So i need advice on what the smart option would be on this like asking him to repair it or getting money off the offering price. Also we found it has a carpenter ant problem. Thank you!
So I'm buying a house and we made an offer with the opinion that the roof was relatively new because it looked new and all the other roofs around it were in worse condition. We are under contract and just had the home inspection. The home inspector said that the roof is relatively new and in great condition but no permits were pulled on it because he checked before he arrived. We contacted the seller, who bought it in a foreclosure auction, and he said they did nothing with the roof. So i need advice on what the smart option would be on this like asking him to repair it or getting money off the offering price. Also we found it has a carpenter ant problem. Thank you!
If it is in good condition what are you going to ask the seller to repair?
So I'm buying a house and we made an offer with the opinion that the roof was relatively new because it looked new and all the other roofs around it were in worse condition. We are under contract and just had the home inspection. The home inspector said that the roof is relatively new and in great condition but no permits were pulled on it because he checked before he arrived. We contacted the seller, who bought it in a foreclosure auction, and he said they did nothing with the roof. So i need advice on what the smart option would be on this like asking him to repair it or getting money off the offering price. Also we found it has a carpenter ant problem. Thank you!
How in the WORLD would a seller that bought the place AS A FORECLOSURE have any insight into why there was no permit for a roof that APPEARS TO BE NEWER THAN NEIGHBORING HOUSES?!!
And why should the SELLER reduce the price for a NEWER roof that is "in great condition" ? Maybe the previous was a roofer and did his own house, slipped off and couldn't pay his mortgage and that is how it got foreclosed. WHO KNOWS? WHY DO YOU THINK YOU SHOULD GET 'money off" for this???
The carpenter ant "problem" is a separate issue. Depending on what sort of DAMAGE (if any) maybe you should focus on that --
Just the fact if I go to sell it in 10ish years and it seems like the last roof was put on 25-30 years ago. Wouldn't sellers go into the purchase thinking it needed a new roof? And what will insurance companies do if they think it's old? Will they deny me insurance until I replace it?
How in the WORLD would a seller that bought the place AS A FORECLOSURE have any insight into why there was no permit for a roof that APPEARS TO BE NEWER THAN NEIGHBORING HOUSES?!!
And why should the SELLER reduce the price for a NEWER roof that is "in great condition" ? Maybe the previous was a roofer and did his own house, slipped off and couldn't pay his mortgage and that is how it got foreclosed. WHO KNOWS? WHY DO YOU THINK YOU SHOULD GET 'money off" for this???
The carpenter ant "problem" is a separate issue. Depending on what sort of DAMAGE (if any) maybe you should focus on that --
I only asked the seller because he renovated the rest of the house and was just asking if he new anything about it.
Just the fact if I go to sell it in 10ish years and it seems like the last roof was put on 25-30 years ago. Wouldn't sellers go into the purchase thinking it needed a new roof?
All you say then is, "We bought the house in 2015 and it has not been replaced since we lived here. I don't know how old the roof is." Age or lack of it isn't always a fair barometer of the condition of the roof. You could have a brand new roof and have a bad hail storm and need another new roof.
Just the fact if I go to sell it in 10ish years and it seems like the last roof was put on 25-30 years ago. Wouldn't sellers go into the purchase thinking it needed a new roof? And what will insurance companies do if they think it's old? Will they deny me insurance until I replace it?
Going out on a limb and thinking this is your first home purchase?
The age of the roof is never the problem; it's the condition.
First, carpenter ants attack wood that is already damaged so that might be a very big concern. Regarding the roof, when something is replaced or added that requires a permit but no permit was obtained or closed, lenders may not lend, insurance companies might refuse to cover damage, the work might have been shoddy or done by an unlicensed or untrained person, and materials might be substandard. Plus, most future buyers will probably expect you to resolve unpermitted work at your expense so you end up holding the bag.
So, my first question: have you or your agent contacted your building and permitting department to double check on the permit? Was it necessary in the first place (I would expect so) and was it obtained? It's possible that your inspector was mistaken. Be sure that this really is an issue. Next, if it is an issue, ask the permitting people what is involved (procedure, cost, and time) in getting an after-the-fact permit issued. Next, check your contract to see what, if anything, it says about the seller's responsibility regarding closing permits. Finally, renegotiate with the seller--have him pay to obtain and close the permit prior to closing and be prepared to have the closing date delayed allowing enough time for that to happen.
I wouldn't automatically walk away but I also wouldn't just assume that this is a paperwork issue. Most inspectors are pretty good but I don't know if they look for the same things that permit inspectors look for. Until you know what you are dealing with, you could have some serious costs on the horizon. It's best to know as much as possible right from the start.
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Get a clue!
Maybe the previous was a roofer and did his own house, slipped off and couldn't pay his mortgage and that is how it got foreclosed. WHO KNOWS? WHY DO YOU THINK YOU SHOULD GET 'money off" for this???
