Archive for the 'Property Disclosures' Category

 

How’s the roof…it’s raining?

Jan 27, 2008 in San Francisco, Real Estate, Buyers, Sellers, Homeownership, Property Disclosures, Seasons of San Francisco

You can imagine “How’s the roof?” would be a common question I would receive during a rainy Sunday Open House. 

 Drip Drip Drip -Credits go to FreeFoto.com

Unlike other parts of the world, San Francisco’s rainy season is considered from October through April with an average annual rainfall of 20.4 inches per year. During the rest of the year, our San Francisco streets may be wet in the early morning, although we just call that “fog dew”

 So selling homes in San Francisco during the winter may be considered as the perfect time of year to test if the roof is currently leaking or not by looking for the tell tale signs of discoloration on the ceiling, around skylights and windows.  Inherently a “good” roof can leak if the gutters, scuppers, and downspouts are clogged and water finds its way in.   I like to remind Sellers that prudent Buyers will locate those areas on the exterior before walking into an Open House.   As the agent holding the Open House (and especially if it is raining), I customarily have the San Francisco Sellers’ Disclosures out in plain view for Buyers to review.   

I highlight the six questions in the disclosures asking the Seller to disclose his knowledge of any present or past water inclusion; even leaks have been repaired and/or stopped.  Below are two of the six questions about water inclusion:   San Francisco’s customary Seller’s Disclosure question regarding their knowledge of present or past leaks, CA    

As in any time of the year, I recommend to Sellers to have their homes staged and rooms freshly painted before the property goes on the market.  Areas of past leaks will most likely be concealed, so it is extremely important for Buyers to not just look for leaks and read the Seller’s disclosures. 

Of course, for Sellers and Buyers to really understand what they are selling and/or buying, it is always prudent to have an expert do a written physical inspection of the property. If the report states the roof is near the end of its useful life or shows signs of present or past leakage, I always recommend to get a further inspection from the best roofer in town whether I am the Seller’s agent or the Buyer’s agent to really know, “How’s the roof?” 

No Comments »