All that glitters is not gold
It makes good sense to freshen a house up when selling. Painting and doing some general maintenance prior to listing will help attract buyers. This same tactic is also employed by the Flipper.
That word, Flipper, at least in my circle, has taken on a negative connotation. Too often, the pretty and glittery house the Flipper is selling, has plenty to hide behind all the eye candy. Pulling up to the curb at a recent inspection, almost immediately I could tell the house was the work of a Flipper. Good curb appeal, new paint, landscaping. Draws one right in. Like a fish to the bait.
Inside the interior was completely redone with all the lures to suck in doe eyed buyers. New kitchen with granite counter tops, both bathrooms redone top to bottom, refinished wood floors, new windows and paint. Stunning.
Starting the inspection I went around the outside of the house, finding no red flags. Next was the roof. Getting to the roof edge I saw at least three layers of shingles and a rotting fascia board. Climbing over the edge, I got my first look at the shingles. I really didn’t need to see any more.
The shingles were toast. They weren’t approaching that point where they should be replaced, no, they had been in need of replacement long ago. This not only boggled my mind, it blew the minds of the buyer’s agent and the buyer’s parents.
The Flipper had actually taken the time to replaced two smaller, lower sections of roofing over the attached garage and front entry vestibule, but had decided to leave the main roof untouched.
In this day and age when almost every buyer gets a home inspection, how would anyone believe they could possibly sell a home with a bad roof?
Did they think no one would notice?
