Mom (88) lives alone in her own residence. She was told by her insurance company that she needs a new roof. Any advice?

Wendylee, Has there been a recent storm in your area ? Perhaps, other homes in your Mom's area have sustained roof damage , that was covered by homeowners insurance. I would check that out , before you do anything else. She may be able to file a claim with the Insurance company. Also, my parents lived in an older home, that needed lots of work. They lived on a very limited income and could not afford repairs. They were able to get a "grant " from the federal government, to pay for all the repairs. It was wonderful, they stayed in their own home , for the few years they had left and had no worries about upkeep. They did not have to pay the money back, if they remained in their home for the next 10 years. The grant was for $33,000. Each year the government deducted 10% from the grant amount. If they lived 10 years, the house was free of any obligation. As it turned out, Mom lived the longest ( 9 yrs. ) So when I settled her estate, there was a balance of $3,300 due back to the government. I was so very thankful and grateful, for everything , they did for Mom and Dad ! I was more than happy to write that check. I know this sounds complicated. Just check with your local Dept. of Aging, for any grants , that might be available. I wish you well, Carol

Igloo, you have made some good points. I wonder if the carrier did a drive-by look at the home, maybe some insurance companies do that, especially for an older home. If said roof isn't replaced, then the policy won't be renewed.

wendylee, moss on a roof isn't that much of a big deal, it can be remove by a vendor with soap and water [do not use bleach]. I have moss on my roof... with climate change, it is happening to most of the homes in my neighborhood, whether the roof is 25 years old or 5 years old. One will see these streak lines coming down on the north side of the roofs, it's a fungus.

How did the insurance company know about the roof issues?

As freqflier said, are there other problems looming ahead for mom on the house? The homes of the elderly so often have decades of deferred maintenance. Could mom's house pass city code inspection tomorrow?

What does the letter from the insurance company state? Repair or replace? What happens if she doesn't as far as this carrier is concerned? Could mom get another cheaper policy from another company, perhaps with a higher deductible, without having to do an entire new roof?

I agree with Pam.

Many cities have weatherization money available for low income seniors. Where does she live?

If your Mom lives on a fixed income and cannot afford to do any type of repair work on her own home, I would think it is time for her to sell and move into independent living apartment or purchase a small condo for herself.

After fixing the roof, the next thing could be the furnace needs replacing, or a pipe is leaking in the bathroom, or the house needs new windows, all of which are major expenses.

The home could be sold *as is* and an investor could scoop it up to flip.