01
Use a consistent viewpoint
From an accessible safe location, look for obvious missing pieces, unusual gaps, displaced elements, or debris near drainage areas. Photograph the same elevations over time so changes are easier to recognize. Binoculars or a camera zoom may help with visible conditions, but neither establishes the state of concealed fasteners, decking, or flashing laps.
02
Report changes accurately
Tell the roofer what looks different, when you noticed it, and whether there are interior symptoms. Avoid concluding that the entire roof has failed from one visible defect. Equally, a tidy distant appearance does not prove every component is sound. Use your observations to support a qualified inspection and keep the images in the roof's service record for comparison.