This post was written by Eric Broome, our Operations Manager. I get that call once every week, sometimes more.
"Hi, my neighbor said you could help me. I’m trying to sell my house…"
And I could finish the rest of the conversation on my own, I’ve heard this happen enough times.
"…and the home inspector said…"
or
"…and the buyer wants…"
or
"…but the buyer can’t get insurance…"
I don’t even have to be a roofing expert to know how this goes. I mean, I am an expert, but that’s not the point here. The bottom line is, the caller has the semi-infamous Atlas Chalet shingles on their roof. That 30-year, 3-tab, faux-architectural curve ball to any home sale. Maybe they knew and did nothing. Maybe they didn’t know, and now they find themselves stuck. Either way, they want to sell their home (and more importantly, buy a new one), and these shingles are preventing it, one way or another. Let’s get real for a minute and maybe save you the headache of being one of these callers. I’m going to dig into some real scenarios that have really happened to ns trying to sell (or buy) a home. I’ll probably get another one tomorrow, in fact. Scenario 1: Someone’s home inspector knows their stuff. That home inspection report that is supposed to report a mystery light switch, and the garage door sensor being out of alignment from too many blows from a kid’s bicycle tire comes back instead with something that actually alarms you. “Discontinued.” “Prone to failure.” “Class action.” “Blistered.” “May be defective. "Suddenly, the buyer wants it replaced. Or they just don’t want it. Or maybe the caller is the potential buyer, and wants to know if it’s a big deal or not. Either way, this sale is now in jeopardy. Here is an actual home inspection report on a home with Atlas Chalet shingles on it. We did a full roof replacement on this home.
Scenario 1: Someone's Home Inspector Knows Their Stuff
That home inspection report that is supposed to report a mystery light switch, and the garage door sensor being out of alignment from too many blows from a kid’s bicycle tire comes back instead with something that actually alarms you. “Discontinued.” “Prone to failure.” “Class action.” “Blistered.” “May be defective. "Suddenly, the buyer wants it replaced. Or they just don’t want it. Or maybe the caller is the potential buyer, and wants to know if it’s a big deal or not. Either way, this sale is now in jeopardy.
Scenario 2: The Buyer Can't Get Insurance
"I’ve had the same agent for 15 years, and I can’t get insurance on this house!" Yep. The insurance companies know what the Atlas Chalet is. And many of them know that it "has a reputation," and it will need replacement. Would you insure it? Hopefully, you’re a good person, and you would. But insurance companies all have one thing in common: they’re insurance companies. Insurance is all about gambling, and no one bets on a sick horse to win the race, after all. Many companies will not insure a property that has Atlas Chalet shingles, and just as many will only do it with some kind of special provision. "House, but not roof." "Ok, the roof, but not the full cost to replace." "Oh, sure, whole house, but with a $20,000 deductible." I can’t really blame them for it, but if you’re one of their customers, I’ll bet you do. So what’s the solution? How do you get out of this? First of all, don’t get caught in this situation. Like Mr. Miyagi said, "Best way to avoid punch, no be there."
Do You Have a Chalet Roof? Is it Damaged? How Would Your Know?
Let’s get one thing straight: don’t call a roofer... not a regular one anyway. Now you’re thinking, "Why? What sense does that make?" Easy. Roofers sell roofs. Do you feel like you should have to buy one? Don’t you pay for insurance knowing that, one day, you might have to, you know, use it? What you need is a roofing company with a restoration background. Specifically, one that knows not only roofing, but also how insurance companies work, and how to get them to pay what you deserve.
Am I Making Sense Yet?
A restoration company knows how the insurance game is played. Many of them even have licensed or former adjusters and agents on staff. Most importantly, they have the knowledge that you need, and that many roofers don’t. That’s not a crack at roofing companies; I wouldn’t expect a movie theater usher to know anything about insurance either. If it isn’t a part of your expertise, what you excel in on a day-to-day basis, then you aren’t the one to call.
So Where Do Your Find A Restoration Company?
Regal Roofing has been ’s Atlas Chalet experts since 2013. We have done this thousands of times. No one knows them better, and that’s why we’re the ones to call. We can evaluate your home while you watch or wait, and tell you on the spot what condition your roof is in, show you photographs of our concerns, and most importantly, help you make your next decision. And the best part?
There is No Risk To You
We don’t charge for the roof inspection. We don’t charge if we can’t help you. We don’t take any money before the work begins. So if you are selling a home (or buying one), and an Atlas Chalet roof is a concern for you, call Regal. There is no obligation, and no risk. Check out our website for more information, read our reviews, and call us to find out what we can do for you.