Cupertino roofs west of San Jose

What does a pre-sale check look for in the city?

A pre-sale check looks at the covering, the flashing, the vents, the gutters and the attic, and it lists each part that could not be reached. The check is written so the seller can share it and the buyer can see the state of the roof on the day.

The check notes the material of each part, since a house may carry tile on one part and flat membrane on another. The buyer can then judge the risk on the part that matters.

How are the older houses' flashings checked?

The flashings on older houses are often of a metal or a bituminous strip that has aged in place. The technician checks each one for lift, rust and sealant that has cracked, and re-makes any that has failed.

The chimney and the wall junctions are checked with the same care, since a leak at either can be the one that shows on the sale inspection.

What does the attic show before a sale?

The attic shows the underside of the deck and the vents, and it is where an old leak that was patched on the outside still shows as a stain. The technician reads the attic and notes each mark with its date if it is known.

A blocked intake or a missing exhaust is recorded, with the readings, so the buyer can see the effect on the covering.

How is the sale timetable fitted to the visit?

A sale has its own timetable, and the roof visit is planned around it. The technician agrees the date of the visit with the owner, and the report is ready for the day it is needed. A rushed report is less useful than one written with time to check the findings.

If a repair is needed before the sale, the scope is written first and the work is booked for a dry week. The report then records the repair and its date, so the buyer sees the change.

What does the report say about a repair that was made before the sale?

A repair made before a sale is recorded with its date and its scope, and the report says what was found before the repair and what was done. A buyer who reads both can see the history rather than a single snapshot.

The report also notes what the attic shows beneath the repair. A fresh covering over a stained deck still shows the stain, and the report records it plainly.

A report is strongest when it is specific about the parts it saw. Each observation names its place on the roof and its photograph, so the buyer or the inspector can check it on the same terms.