How To Decide If Your Home Needs A Roof Replacement Before You Put It Up For Sale

If your roof is getting older and is showing its age, you may wonder if you should get a roof replacement before you put your home on the market. A new roof would make your home more appealing to buyers, but it would also be a major expense for you. Your roofer and real estate agent can give you advice about if you should get a roof replacement based on how it will affect your selling price and your local real estate market. These factors might affect your decision.

Whether Your Roof Is In Bad Shape

If your roof has severe damage, such as a saggy deck or several leaks, you may not be able to sell your home unless you sell it to someone wanting to fix it up. Many buyers may avoid a home that's going to need a new roof in the near future since a new roof is a major expense. If you want to sell your home fast and for more money, then getting a roof replacement could be a good idea.

Keep in mind, your home will be inspected before the sale of your house closes. That means the potential buyer, their mortgage lender, and their insurance company will know the condition of the roof. The insurance company or the mortgage lender may require that the roof be replaced before the sale closes.

If You Have Time For The Roof Replacement

A roof replacement doesn't usually happen fast. It might take several weeks or even a few months to get the project started due to the preparations needed and your roofing contractor's schedule. If you need to sell your home fast, you might just lower the price and sell it without replacing the roof. You could make other cosmetic improvements instead to make your house as appealing as possible to buyers.

If Your Insurance Company Will Pay For A New Roof

If your roof is in bad shape due to hail damage, your insurance company might pay for your new roof as long as the time to file a claim hasn't expired. If your insurance company will pay for the roof, you might want to have it replaced so you have a good chance of selling your house fast at a good price.

If A New Roof Will Add Enough Value To Your Home

A new roof increases the value of your home as well as increases your home's appeal. You'll need input from a roofing contractor and your real estate agent to help you figure out the financial aspect of replacing your roof. A roofer can give you an estimate of the cost of a new roof and the agent can help you determine how much of that cost you can pass on to the home buyer.

If your roof is in bad shape, you may have no option but to replace it so your house will sell. However, when it's on the borderline and the roof could last a few more years, you'll need to decide if repairs and cleaning the roof are enough or if you want to put a new roof on.