Roof Inspection Checklist Before Buying a Home

Ask about roof age, past repairs, leaks, and warranty documents. Look for missing shingles, curling, heavy granule loss, staining, or uneven roof planes.

Ground-level observations are useful, but they do not replace a proper roof assessment.

Flashing, gutters, downspouts, valleys, skylights, chimneys, and roof-wall intersections are common leak areas.

Poor drainage can create basement and exterior wall issues beyond the roof itself.

A roof near the end of its life can affect your budget after closing. A roofing estimate helps clarify whether repair or replacement should be expected.