You usually have at least one home inspection report before you buy a new property. While useful, these reports don't always give you the depth of information you need.

For example, general reports might not flag problems with your potential new home's roof. At this stage, it pays to hire a professional roofing contractor to inspect the roof for you. Why?

1. Get an Expert View of the Roof's Condition

You can get a basic idea of a roof's condition from the way it looks. For example, if a roof has missing tiles, then you don't need to be a roofer to know that it isn't in good shape.

However, some roofs look OK to the untrained eye from the ground. This doesn't mean that they are in good condition. Roofs can have problems that you can't see from a distance. You also don't have the expertise to spot less obvious signs of wear or damage.

If you hire a roofer to inspect the roof, then they have all the expertise you need. They can go on the roof to examine it at close quarters; they can also look inside the property for internal signs of damage such as leaks. You get an expert assessment of the roof's condition before you commit to buy.

2. Assess the Costs of Immediate Repairs

The cost of roof repairs and replacement isn't something you'll have budgeted for when buying a new home. These unexpected costs can be hard to cover after a house purchase.

If your roofer finds problems during their inspection, then they can also give an estimate of repair costs. If you simply need to replace a few tiles, then you might be happy to cover this cost.

However, if your roofer finds extensive damage or recommends a new roof, then you might need to rethink your purchase. You could use their findings to renegotiate the selling price or ask the current owners to fix the damage. Or, you can even withdraw from the sale if your costs would be too high.

3. Get an Estimate of Longevity

Even if a roof looks in good shape, you can't guess how long it will last. If the property you want to buy has an older roof, then you should try to find out how long it will last before you need to replace it.

A roofer can give you this estimate. You'll find out whether you should budget for a new roof in the near future.

To get started, contact a local roofing contractor and schedule an appointment for a full roof inspection.