As a Home Inspector ,I have many systems and components which need to be examined for the Home Inspection Report, but the most important may be the roof , as water penetration can cause the most damage.

The price of the home inspection is worth it, if inspecting the roof is the only thing the home inspector does.

A good home inspector is the wisest investment after the purchase itself ,if he finds potential
leaks and damage ,before they become major problems.

The seller may basically be unaware there is any problem with the roof.

More often it just goes unknown till there are signs of it inside the living space , such as wall bubbling, stains,peeling wall paper or water dripping onto clothes and furniture.

By then you are looking at major repairs.

The roof could be leaking for years with no visual signs apparent in the house and no damage might be seen in till there is hundreds or maybe thousands of dollars in damage.

The leak could be causing rotted sheathing ,rafters,joists ,dry rot, fungus, insulation damaged etc,inside the walls ,before you know what happened .By then it would be in an advanced stage of deterioration.

A good home inspector will check the gutters, down spouts,and the attic as part of the home inspection.

As buyer ,it would be a good idea to find out from the seller if possible the date of install,warranty, and any leak history.

Not all sellers will have the information for you , but it is still a good idea to ask.

After the roof inspection, your home inspector (meaning myself ) may just be getting started,so hopefully this gives you a little in site into why I will be climbing the roof during your home inspection.