One of the most common things we find in a home inspection is a leaky roof. "I never saw water in my house" or "the roof isn't that old" or even "It can't be called a leak unless it is dripping into the home" are some common things we hear. To help prevent an uncomfortable situation during a home inspection about the roof, there are some simple things that you can look for ahead of time.

1. Moisture stains. Even if you think they look "old", it's best to make note of them and make sure that the size or amount increases.

2. Buy a moisture meter. They can be very inexpensive for some of the models, but very helpful in determining if a questionable area is really wet or not.

3. Flashing around chimneys and other roof sections generally leak first. Have those fixed on a more regular basis

4. Remember that just because a shingle says that it will last 25 years, doesn't mean it actually will.

5. Get a pre-listing home inspection if you can. Then many of these issues can be resolved ahead of time if they exist.