Home Inspection (Roof)

[Andre' Arceneaux]

I have a property under an owner finance contract (with contingencies) in NE Ohio. Property was advertised as "rent ready", and I requested photos, and ownership history (looked all title, tax history up myself as well as requested third party title info - all clear), and placed an offer about 6k below asking, 5k above last appraisal (2018). They accepted.

I scheduled an inspector who looked at the home, and after his report, in conversation to me, declared it as "marginal" (most other matters of the home were satisfactory and require mild rehab).

His label of marginal was due to two major flags:

Roof (algae, moss, some shingle cuppage)

Garage (stand-alone, in need of a total rebuild, which won't be as expensive as the roof of the house).

I requested a roofer to address what the inspector saw, and he confirmed what was apparent in my reasoning, that the roof would need to be replaced and provided a quote.

I am prepared to replace it, yet the seller wants to pay for the roof after closing, and add the repair to the price of our agreement.

I want seller credits for closing and down payment, which would keep me more liquid for the property and it's functioning throughout the year.

My reasoning is that I don't feel secure in agreeing to an addendum, when I had to find the fault myself, not to mention the credit to remedy (terms won'tbe in any addendum) is less than the cost of the roof that I am asking. This is a trust issue with me.

I know we can come to whatever agreement we want, yet, I'd like to know, am I wrong for feeling this way??? Wanting the credit so I can control the repair myself?? Or should I just let him do it and add the cost to the note? (Which I am opposed to, as I was comfortable with the agreed upon price and payment structure).

Seller wants to replace roof after closing, with addendum in place, of course, yet I am not comfortable with that, being I had to uncover problems with the home

[Patricia Steiner]

No-o-o...why would you want the seller - soon to be your lender - to make a roof repair after the closing?  No-o-o.  Please get bids to replace the roof. Then the price of the property should be adjusted to reflect that there is no roof life remaining.  While you're not entitled to a new roof when you buy a "used house," the standard is 3 years remaining life.  You need that in order to get insurance.  So negotiate with the seller for a price reduction and then add in the amount you'll need to replace the roof in your financing with him.  Then YOU (as the new owner) engage the roof replacement right after closing.  If the seller is going to continue to control the property AFTER closing, you need to bolt now.  Your thinking is right on this...stay the course.