Between finding a listing agent, deciding on a listing price and staying on top of the cleaning and maintenance, it is needless to say that the process of selling your home can be quite stressful. As a seller, the last thing you want is to discover the need for extensive repairs around the house after it goes on the market.
Before putting your home up for sale, it is a smart move to have your roof inspected by a reliable roofing company and then go from there. While minor repairs or a full-on replacement can be quite expensive, it might be worth the effort considering all the benefits it can have on your home sale.
Signs You Need to Repair or Replace Your Roof
- Your roof is approaching the end of its expected life.
- Your roof has curling, broken, cupping, buckling or missing shingles.
- Flashing membranes around skylights, vents, chimneys or other roof fixtures are missing or damaged.
- There is an excessive amount of shingle granules collecting in your gutters.
- Your roof valleys are corroded and trapping leaves and debris.
- There is mold or moss on your roof.
- Your roof is persistently leaking in different areas.
- Rays of light streaming through holes in the roof are visible in the attic.
How Much Value Does a New Roof Add to Your Home?
You might not see a full recoup of your money spent, but new roofing can still significantly increase the value of your home. It can smooth out negotiations and make you more likely to get a full asking price, among other things. Asphalt shingles, one of the most widely used roofing materials for residential applications in North America, can offer up to 68% return on investment (ROI) while durable and low-maintenance metal roofing can return up to 60% of your investment.
Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report in 2013 found that installing a new roof can increase the resale value of a home by a national average of about $12,000. The same report also discovered that homeowners who decide to purchase a new roof can expect to recoup an average of 62.9% of the original cost of the installation through increased home resale value. This puts the return on investment of a roof installation ahead of building a new bathroom or getting a backup generator.
What Are Your Roof Repair and Replacement Options?
There are a number of roof repair and replacement options, and the right choice often depends on the condition of your roof and your budget.
Shingle Replacement
If your roofing has damaged shingles from tree branches or high winds, you can opt to replace the affected shingles individually. This option is relatively inexpensive, though you want to make sure that the new shingles match the color and texture of the other shingles on your roof.
Partial Re-Roofing
You can do a partial re-roof if there are certain sections of your roof that require sprucing up. But if your roof already has multiple layers of shingles on it, you may have to replace the entire roof to prevent it from having an uneven slope.
Roof Tear-Off
Based on the age and wear on your roof, you might be due for a complete replacement. A roof tear-off involves stripping down the existing roofing structure and replacing it with new roofing materials, from shingles to underlayment and other supporting membranes. This type of roof replacement produces the highest quality of finish and offers the longest service life, making it a huge selling point to prospective buyers.
Why Should You Repair or Replace Your Roof Before Selling Your Home?
Our roofing installation experts have outlined the reasons a roof repair or replacement is ideal before home selling.
Avoid Price Negotiations
By taking care of the roof repair or replacement on your own, you will have the advantage when it comes to negotiating with prospective buyers. A new roof is one of the most sought-after assets that people look for in their new permanent home. If the roof is visibly damaged or nearing its end, prospective buyers might feel the need to negotiate a lower price based on the condition of the home.
Speed Up the Home Sale
A new and improved exterior increases the curb appeal of your home, and curb appeal attracts buyers. There is no doubt that a home with a roof that has blown-off shingles, mismatched gutters or a sinking roofline could be on the skip list of most people. Unless your residential property is so lowly priced that buyers overlook the dilapidated roof, you are likely to get very few offers without the roof being repaired first. When you do repair or replace the roof, make sure to include it in the description of your home’s listing to serve as an added selling point.
Minimize Needed Improvements
By repairing or replacing your home before you put it on the market, you minimize the repairs and improvements the new owner would have to undertake. This gives them peace of mind that the home they are considering is in tip-top condition. The more peace of mind the buyer has, the more likely they are to purchase the home, which means a speedier home sale process for you.
Make the Home Stand Out
Technological advancements in manufacturing have made it possible for asphalt shingles to resemble the look of other high-end roofs, such as slate with tapered cut-outs and bold shadow lines, at a fraction of the cost. Some shingles are also coated with reflective granules that reflect solar heat to avoid the build-up of heat in the attic. This feature boosts not only the comfort but the energy efficiency and sustainability of your home. A new roof installed properly by a reputable roofing company can make your home stand out from the neighborhood.
Prevent Building Inspection Issues
You do not want to sidestep minor roof repairs or a roof tear-off just for a building inspector to determine that your roof is in poor shape. Some of the most common issues in a roof inspection include insufficient ventilation, rotted roof beams and severely damaged gutters. If potential buyers have placed an offer on your property, they might get cold feet once they hear about all the repairs they need to do around the house. As the seller, you might have to take a big chunk out of your asking price or concede on closing costs. Either way, you are bound to lose money. There are certain circumstances where all you have to pay is your insurance deductible. You can do this by proving that the roof damage resulted from unforeseen acts of nature like a hail storm, and your insurance will cover the repair.
The Bottom Line
There is no better incentive than seeing all the hard work you put into the improvement of your home financially pay off down the line. Having discussed all the amazing advantages of repairing or replacing the roof of your home before putting it on the market, it should be a breeze to decide whether to take on the improvement. When the time comes to have your roof looked at, call a trusted roofing installation company in your local area for a thorough inspection and an estimate.
