Recently went through the whole house-buying circus, and one thing I learned the hard way is never fully trust the seller's roof inspection. Here's what I did: found an independent inspector online, checked their reviews, scheduled them separately from the seller's appointment, and made sure I was there to ask questions. Cost a bit extra, but saved me from some nasty surprises later. Wondering if anyone else has done something similar or has tips to streamline the process?
Yeah, hiring your own inspector is definitely worth the extra hassle. I did something similar—my inspector caught a chimney issue the seller's guy conveniently missed. Saved me from a headache later on... Always better safe than sorry with roofs.
Yeah, makes sense to me too. But I'm curious—did your inspector actually climb onto the roof, or just check from the ground with binoculars? I've heard some inspectors skip the climb, which seems kinda risky...
My inspector actually climbed up there—he even took photos of the flashing and shingles close-up. Honestly, binoculars alone won't catch subtle issues like cracked sealant or loose nails... I'd definitely push for someone who's willing to get their boots dirty.
That's a good point about inspectors physically getting onto the roof. When I bought my place, the independent inspector I hired did exactly that—he climbed up and found some minor flashing issues around the chimney that weren't visible from ground level. He also provided detailed photos and explained clearly what needed immediate attention versus what could wait. Definitely worth the extra cost for peace of mind, especially if you're planning to stay in the house long-term.
