Should You Get a Commercial Roof Inspection Before Listing?
Selling a commercial property is no simple task.
Not only is it more involved than selling a home, but it also can take longer and attract a broader range of potential buyers. Before you go listing your commercial property, there are certain items you should have on your checklist, including a commercial roof inspection.
The idea of a roof inspection may make you anxious as it implies additional expenses and potential hold-ups. However, the cost of a commercial roof inspection and any necessary repairs will still provide you with a better return on investment by the end of your sale than if you didn’t perform the inspection.
Five Reasons for a Commercial Roof Inspection
You may be thinking your building doesn’t need a commercial roof inspection because you replaced the roof just a few years ago. Even in that case, it’s still wise to schedule a commercial roof inspection. Most roofs are designed to last a good 15 to 20 years, but that may not always be the case for commercial buildings.
Wear and tear can occur more frequently on larger commercial buildings. The standard flat roof design you see on many commercial properties also makes way for issues such as water pooling, intense UV exposure, and high temperatures. In addition, commercial roofs are more likely to incur pest damage since animals such as birds, raccoons, squirrels, and other critters find commercial roofs ideal for nesting and hiding.
Also, if your commercial roof includes mechanical equipment that gets used or moved regularly, you’ll want to ensure it hasn’t caused any other forms of damage.
Below are more details on why getting a commercial roof inspection makes sense before placing your property on the market.
1. Get Facts From a Certified Professional
For starters, it’s essential to understand that a standard building inspector takes very little time to inspect your property’s roof. The inspector may perform a visual review of the ceiling while indoors and glance at the roof from outside the building. Unfortunately, they are not likely to climb up onto the roof and check all the nooks and crannies.
Even if the inspector climbs onto the building, they are certified as general building inspectors, not roofing inspectors, so their knowledge of what to look for will be limited. In most cases, a building inspector will recommend a certified roofing professional inspect the roof instead, particularly when it comes to commercial buildings.
These commercial roofing inspectors will come and closely examine various aspects of your building’s roofing, including the following:
- Structural stability (secured vents/ductwork, sagging, missing pieces)
- Missing shingles
- Leakage on ceilings or walls
- Mold growth
- Critter damage
- Improper installation
- Other signs of damage
If the commercial roof inspection uncovers issues that require repairs or a complete replacement, they will likely be able to give you an estimate. With the information in hand, you can decide what your next step will be while you still have time.
2. Keep Your Negotiating Power
Once you have all the facts from a certified roof inspector, you can use the information at the negotiating table. One of the first questions a potential buyer usually asks about is the condition of the roof. Because you will be prepared to answer that question in detail, you will have the upper hand with negotiating.
If you decide to forego completing any repairs, you will have a precise estimate of what the service will cost the new owner and can adjust the selling price accordingly. If you took the time to make the repairs yourself, you could provide evidence for what they cost as a way to justify the selling price.
Either way, you won’t feel backed into a corner or caught off guard when the topic comes up. Instead, you can be reasonable and find a solution where both parties are satisfied because all the details were on the table.
3. Prevent Delays in Closure
In addition to having negotiating power, a commercial roof inspection will help ensure you can close your sale as quickly as possible. If the commercial roof inspection uncovered some necessary repairs, you could get them taken care of before you even put the property on the market.
For example, in some cases, if the inspector uncovers damage from a recent hail storm or tornado, you will also need to take some time to file a claim with your insurance company. And the last thing you want holding up a potential sale is waiting for the claim approval just to get the damage fixed.
Alternatively, suppose the inspection showed no issues with the roof. In that case, you can present those details to potential sellers to know they won’t need to take the time to schedule an examination themselves. By saving that step of the process, everyone can proceed with the closing sooner.
4. Avoid Unexpected Costs
Having the words “unexpected” and “costs” together will send chills down any business owner’s spine. Hearing them when trying to sell a commercial property is even worse. By completing a commercial roof inspection before listing the property, you can either get reassurance there won’t be any unexpected costs, or you can at least eliminate the “unexpected” from the equation.
Plus, sometimes, what may seem like a cost upfront for you as the owner is, in fact, something that your commercial insurance will cover. So if you go through the process early on, you’re saving time and money. On the other hand, if you rush into decision-making, you may miss out on an opportunity to use the insurance you’ve routinely paid for over the years.
5. Peace of Mind
Put all of the above together, and you’ve got guaranteed peace of mind going into any sale. You can rest easy knowing you’ve done your part as the seller, and the buyer can go into the purchase confidently reassured.
Again, whether you decide to move forward with any roof repairs or simply inform the potential buyer of the issues, everyone is upfront and honest, allowing the deal to move forward swiftly. An official commercial roof inspection report takes the guesswork out of the process and makes everyone breathe a little easier.
Commercial Roofers Near Me
Knowing you need to get a commercial roof inspection and actually doing it are two different things. That’s where Four Seasons Kanga Roof comes into play. As a top-rated roofing company in the area, we can help you with all your commercial roofing needs. If you’d like us to send out one of our certified technicians to complete a commercial roof inspection, just let us know.
Maybe you haven’t decided yet if you’ll put your property up for sale, but still think it’s due for a roof inspection anyway–give us a call! Alternatively, if you’re ahead of the game and already had an inspection completed and would like to know how we can help you with repairs or replacements, we’ll do that too.
At Four Seasons Kanga Roof, we provide guarantees on our service, repairs, replacements, and materials, just to name a few. More importantly, we have our happy neighbor guarantee. Because we are a part of this community, we will always do our best to keep our neighbors happy.
For more details about our commercial roof inspections, repairs, and replacements, get in touch with us, and we’ll have one of our commercial roofing experts give you all the information you need.