The purchase of a home, especially in today’s seller’s market, will leave most buyers exhausted, and inundated with what seems like endless amounts of paperwork. Inevitably, much of it gets stored away, placed out of sight, or heaped into piles of documents associated with the acquisition of the home. However, several documents can be relevant and important for filing a roof claim or engaging in discovery in a subsequent lawsuit predicated upon said claim. So, what should one keep?
The pre-purchase inspection reports most buyers will end up with a copy of, is an important document listing the inspector’s findings of the condition of the property. While the inspector is likely not an engineer and the findings may be open to reevaluation, the inspector’s observations play a role in understanding the holistic state of the property at the time a buyer takes ownership, which can become relevant in an insurance claim.
While a pre-purchase inspection, broadly, evaluates the entirety of the property, a “4-point” is a more concise and specific inspection report. The “points” of a 4-point inspection are 1) the electrical system, 2) the roof, 3) the HVAC, & 4) the plumbing system. This report will contain specialized and detailed information regarding the roof system, with a close-up evaluation that a general pre-purchase inspection may not provide. This can also be illustrative in proving damage from a recent wind event.
A wind mitigation report is a report drafted with the specific purpose of understanding the roof’s ability to stand up to wind at various speeds. This report is often needed by lenders or insurance companies to attain a policy or mortgage. This document can also be of utility in evaluation of recent windstorm damage.
Finally, while available online, it’s always a good practice to retain a copy of the deed reflecting your ownership in the property. This can clarify any issues regarding additional individuals to be involved in the suit, as well as further illustrate the exact date the buyer became the interest holder in the property. Said date can of course become relevant if there are any issues regarding potentially pre-existing damages.
In sum, the important documents to hang on to are your pre-purchase inspection report, your 4-point inspection and/or wind mitigation report, and your deed. When adjusters seek additional documentation or discovery moves forward in litigation, homeowners often find themselves scrambling to find the above documents they failed to put aside. Be sure to keep copies of the above-referenced documents handy as they may come up in your insurance claim or subsequent suit.
Michael Melli, ESQ.
