How to Record Roof Damage

Specific Inspection Topics
1

Hi everyone, I hope this is in the corrrect area. (This may be really basic. I’m still in the learning phase.)
My question revolves around roof covering damage and putting it in your report.

If you are doing a home inspection and see impact damage on the roof that you suspect is foul play, how should you report that while still staying what I will call, legally neutral.
You are not there as an insurance adjuster, but you still have a certain resposibility to report your findings. Do you just photograph it and describe exactly what you see and classify it as generalized functional (if it is) damage, in need of further investigation and repair by a qualified roofer? Leave it at that?

I realize there are legal disclaimers built into the contract you have a client sign. Just trying to wrap my head around the grey area where legalilty and ethics intersect.

2

Yes!
Your Report should only include the facts that were observable to you while performing the inspection.

just_the_facts

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3

What do you mean by foul play?

I would simply report the damage with a picture of the damage and recommend repairs or corrections.

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4

Yes, that is what to do. :+1:

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5

I was envisioning a scenario where perhaps a seller knew they needed a new roof and was hoping to get insurance to do it for them, so they could advertise a new roof in the listing. Maybe the house is under contract before they could submit the claim. You wouldn’t want the new owner to end up getting accused of insurance fraud when they go to replace the roof. (I don’t know just envisioning terrible situations I guess.)

6

Ahh, I see, I would advise not to go down that road Hillary. Personally I will call out hail, wind, or tree damage, but unless I wanted to get potentially sued, I would never accuse someone of intentionally trying to commit fraud.

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7

Hi, @hleverone. You may be interested in attending How To Write Your Own Inspection Report Narratives - Free Home Inspector Webinar - InterNACHI®.

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8

As everyone has already said just document it as regular damage. Don’t try to guess how the damage may have happened.

And I’ll just add… the odds of you running into this scenario or pretty much slim to none.

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9

I’m getting there! One course at a time. LOL
Thanks for the link, I’ll add it to my list!

10

Thanks. Good to know.

11

there is no gray area,if You see damage to a roof describe what You see , not really any business of ours to guess how it got there…when You guess You can be wrong…

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12

Now if You are watching a man with a machete hacking away at a roof that is a different story, run away and call the police, that is not normal behavior…

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13

The answer you seek is already in your question. Note what I highlighted with bold text.

Unless you know absolutely , positively, without any doubt what so ever, what happened that caused the damage, simply write what you see and leave the rest to the licensed contractor (profession) you refer it out too. In this case a roofer. Doing any more can open a can of worms for you.

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14

(6) General Exclusions
2. The cause(s) of the need for a repair;

What is foul play, and why are you inspecting it?

If it does not have damage that you can see, what is needing a new roof mean?

(6) General Exclusions.
(a) Home inspectors are not required to report on:

  1. Life expectancy of any component or system;

Did the seller tell you they were intending to make a false insurance claim? Why are you talking to the seller? Are they your client?

I recommend you stop thinking about future possibilities like;

  1. Predict future condition, including but not limited to failure of components;
15

I don’t think a general contractor or roofer investigates insurance claims.

Unless you know absolutely , positively, without any doubt what so ever, what happened that caused the damage,

So the inspector has to be there watching to say something that is beyond HI Standards anyway?

From the Roofers Handbook:
Any roof you are asked about, requires replacement…

16

Is this a case where everyone else in the neighborhood only had damage on their east exposure and this home has it on both east and west?