April
14
“Should I Stay, or Should I Go?” – Your Roof
So, you’re putting your house up for sale. Congratulations! One question that comes up quite a bit when it comes to putting a home on the market is this: What do I need to do about my roof? Should I repair it, replace it, or just try selling the house as-is?
And the answer is… it depends. Not the answer you were looking for? Don’t worry, we’re going to help you break it down! While there is no one simple directive that’s right in every circumstance, let’s take a look at some of the relevant factors where your roof, your home, and its prospective sale are concerned.
What Will Happen If I Do Nothing?
Of course, most homeowners would like nothing better than not to have to fool with their roof and just sell their home as-is. That’s a gamble that some are willing to take, but unfortunately it’s often a gamble that doesn’t pay off well. Here are some of the negative impacts that can go along with trying to let your current roof ride:
- Less Interest & Fewer Offers: Understandably, you’d rather not have to worry about repairing or replacing your roof, but it’s also important that you look at it from a prospective homebuyer’s perspective. THEY don’t want to have to worry about it, either! And a “fixer upper” roof can make the rest of your home look and feel like a “fixer upper,” too. Unless Chip and Joanna Gaines have already approached you about making an offer, it would be smarter for you to go ahead and take care of your roof now so you can actively market your home as being truly “move-in ready.”
- Lowball Offers: You can try knocking down your asking price a bit to account for the roofing investment a new homeowner will have to make. It may help some home shoppers to bite, but many times the offers you’ll get will still end up being lower than what you were hoping for. And even if you do lower your asking price somewhat, many buyers will try and negotiate you much lower still. Offering your buyer a home with a sound roof to begin with will give you much a much better bargaining position up front.
- Slower Sale Process, or Financing Problems: If you do nothing to address your older or damaged roof, not only will you get lower offers, but it could also end up dragging out the sales process. Your buyer may drag their feet and continue to haggle with you over the final price. Worse still, in order for the buyer to secure financing, the lender may end up requiring you to repair or replace the roof before closing. If that ends up being the case (which it often can), you’d save yourself a lot of headache by going ahead and addressing that roof now!
OK, I Probably Should Address My Roof Now – So, Repair or Replace?
If your roof needs some attention, then you really only have two options – either repair it, or replace it. Let’s start by looking at whether roof repair may be a viable option for you or not. It can be, but that really all depends on the current condition of your roof. In assessing your roof, look for the following:
- Damaged or missing shingles (or other roofing material)
- Excessive shingle granule loss
- Exposed nails
- Damaged or missing flashing
- Condition of chimneys, vent pipes, skylights, and their associated seals
- The presence of any interior leaks
- The age of your roof
If your roof seems to be in generally good condition or only has a localized trouble spot or two, AND it hasn’t gone beyond its expected lifespan, professional roof repair may be a possibility. However, the only way to truly ascertain that is by having a certified roof inspector come and take a look. If the useful life of your roof comes into question, you can see whether your roofing specialist will perform a maintenance service and then certify the roof for an additional three to five years. If this is feasible, then aprofessional certification could offer some clout to provide to your prospective buyers and their lenders.
What About Roof Replacement?
Ultimately, making a call about roof replacement really depends a lot on the age of your roof, its specific condition, the roofing materials used, and the workmanship quality of your original installation. If your home is really due for a new roof, you really should consider just going ahead and having it replaced. A new roof can certainly increase your home value. Granted, you may not see 100% return on investment; to be fair, very few home improvements offer a full recoup on money spent when it comes to putting a home on the market. Realistically, you can expect to get back somewhere between two-thirds and three-fourths of your roofing replacement cost, depending upon your particular housing market. But don’t miss this important fact – be in gable to market your house as one having a NEW ROOF can be a decided advantage when it comes to attracting real buyers and receiving more actual offers. And a new roof will certainly boost your home’s curb appeal as well.
Now, Which Professional Roofer Should You Choose?
It’s best to look for an honest, reputable, local roofing contractor who can help you objectively assess all your options, including offering minor repair services if feasible.
Skywalker Roofing is the name you can trust for all your residential roofing needs in the NC Piedmont Triad, Piedmont Triangle, Charlotte Metro, and Roanoke, VA areas. Nobody beats Skywalker’s level of workmanship, attention to detail, and degree of personalized customer service. Our customers consistently give us a 99% approval rating! That’s practically unheard of in the roofing industry, and it’s really due to the fact that we treat each and every customer as if they are our ONLY customer, and that’s how we’ve been doing businesssince we started Skywalker back in 2003.
Reach out to us today by calling +1 (336) 627-5596, and let one of our friendly experts help answer your questions about the value of roof repair vs. roof replacement. We’d also be happy to schedule your FREE home inspection and personal consultation. It would be our honor if you’d give us the chance to show you the Skywalker difference!
