Why a Commercial Roof Inspection Is Worth the Cost—Whether You’re Buying or Selling
Whether you’re buying or selling a commercial property, a full inspection is a critical step—including a complete assessment of the roof. Commercial properties are major investments, and both buyers and sellers should be motivated to have all possible information before completing such a transaction. And while a commercial roof inspection will carry an upfront cost, that price will be well worth it for all parties involved.
At Skyline Contracting, our commercial roofing professionals are experts when it comes to providing thorough, honest, and fair roof inspections on even the largest buildings and complexes. Here’s why the information an inspection reveals is so important.
Cost of a Commercial Roof Inspection 
Before examining the benefits of a commercial roof inspection for buyers and sellers in real estate transactions, let’s first get an idea of the typical cost. While exact estimates will depend on a wide range of factors (the size of your building in particular), we can provide some typical ranges for inspections here in Gainesville, GA:
- Visual Inspection: $200–$500
- Comprehensive Physical Inspections: $500–$1,000
- Drone Inspections: $500–$2,000
- Thermal Imaging: $1,000–$2,500
As you can see, the type of inspection will significantly impact the overall cost. However, for most commercial roofing systems a comprehensive physical inspection—one that examines the entire roofing system, including both exterior and interior components—will be sufficient for a real estate transaction.
Benefits of a Roof Inspection for Buyers 
When buying anything, whether it’s your lunch or a car, it’s important to know exactly what you’re getting. For a transaction with such a high price tag as a commercial property, however, the potential risks are much higher. This means it’s essential to glean as much information as possible about the property before agreeing to a final sale.
Buyers benefit greatly from investing in a commercial roof inspection on a property they’re thinking of purchasing. For one, you can avoid the potential for bad investments, such as by finding out when a roof might need to be replaced. If you find the roof will need to be replaced soon, you can then use this as leverage to either greatly reduce the purchase price or to encourage the seller to complete necessary roofing work before completing the transaction.
Overall, the long-term benefits are significant. Even if an inspection reveals that the roof is in excellent condition, this is also useful information as you’ll be able to budget for the future with this in mind.
Benefits of a Roof Inspection for Sellers
Sellers can also benefit from completing a roof inspection before selling their commercial property. This is because a roof inspection streamlines the entire process from start to finish.
For starters, by scheduling a roof inspection yourself, you’ll already have the information any prospective buyer may need. This can speed up the entire transaction. It also can help you more accurately set a price for your property—and give you the information you need to prevent someone from lowballing you if they claim to discover problems with the roof.
Lastly, paying the cost for a full commercial roof inspection yourself can help you garner a lot of favor with potential buyers. They’ll appreciate that you’ve put the work into gathering this information upfront, which will give them more confidence in agreeing to a deal with you.
Hire Local Commercial Roofing Professionals to Complete Your Roof Inspection 
While you should complete a building inspection of your property as part of due diligence, it’s best to also hire a roofer to complete the inspection of your roof. The roof is where much of the value of any commercial property lies, and a trained specialist will be adept at assessing the roof’s current condition, estimating its remaining lifespan, and diagnosing any commercial roof repairs that may be needed before selling the building.
At Skyline Contracting, we work hard to deliver transparent, honest, and thorough commercial roof inspections to make real estate transactions simpler for all parties involved. Our trained professionals will deliver the information you need backed by full photo documentation, providing both buyers and sellers with full confidence in the value of the property. And in the event that the roof needs work in the future, our team will already be familiar with the roofing system.
Whether you’re looking to buy or sell a commercial property, book a roof inspection with the Skyline Contracting team first. The investment is well worth it!
