You can't have too many roofs in your inventory without dealing with leaks. If you rehab, you EXPECT to find ceiling stains, the tell tale sign of a leaky roof, in almost every project. I find projects without signs of past or present leaks the exception to the norm!

Sometimes shingles are just going to need replaced. There is no getting around it. Curled shingles, and numerous leaks are a pretty good indication that it would be cheaper to replace the roof rather than repair. Just factor that into the repairs and accept it. It's one thing you won't have to worry about if you are keeping the property, and it ups the value whether you keep it or sell it on the retail market after the rehab.

If the shingles still have some life on them, but there is some leakage to repair, finding the real source of the problem can take multiple tries. It can get pretty aggravating as you sometimes try and fail to fix a leaky roof. Naturally, you want to try to fix this without calling out an expensive professional roofer. Sometimes you can, sometimes you can't. Here are some tips for diagnosing roof leaks.

- I find that in the course of a rehab, it's always "good" to have an extended period of heavy rains. That way, any and all leaks become evident. If you have a property that is not occupied, or that is not being actively rehabbed after a period of extended rains, go visit and check for signs of leaks. If you can stop by while it's still raining, that's the number one, best time to investigate leaks from inside the attic.

- Get a mini flashlight that goes into a small belt holster and make that part of your normal clothing. You will use it all the time