When the time comes to put your house on the market, you know you want to do everything in your power to get a quick sale for the best possible price. You also know that curb appeal is very important since this is the first impression your property will make on any potential buyer. However, you may also be facing many expenses associated with the move and the purchase of your new home and may be wondering if there are certain things you can get away with when you list this home. Since the roof is an expensive item, you may have placed it right at the top of the list of things you don’t want to replace.

If this is what you are thinking, Universal Roofing & Exteriors wants you to know that if your roof is in poor condition, it is smart to have it replaced before listing. Trying to sell a home with an old roof will result in the following problems.

Fewer Offers

A roof is not something that a potential buyer will ignore, particularly since it is something they can see as soon as they drive up to the property. If they see a home that requires quite a bit of maintenance, as evidenced by an old roof, they will quickly conclude that the inside of the home will not look any better and think twice before making an offer.

A Longer Sale Process

Assuming you are lucky enough to get an attractive offer, even if the home has an old roof, the new buyers will most likely request an inspection and the age of the roof will immediately pop up as an issue. If they do not lose interest in buying your home, you can expect that they will request that you repair or change the roof before the sale can proceed.

A Lower Offer Price

A buyer will know that they will be facing a roof replacement almost immediately after moving into the home and will know that a new roof will be expensive. As a result, you may receive a much lower offer for the house.

How much will a new roof impact the value of the home?

Although a new roof is an expensive element for any home, you will likely not see a 100% return on your investment. That is the case with almost any improvement you make to your home. However, offering a property that is well-kept, has an updated kitchen and bathrooms, and has just had a new roof installed, will certainly result in a faster sale. Your chances of receiving a full-price offer or even more than one offer and a bidding war, increases, and negotiations for the sale generally go much more smoothly.

Signs Your Home Needs a New Roof

If you are not sure that your home needs a new roof, keep in mind that the following items will have a negative impact on the curb appeal of the property:

  • Shingles that are buckling or cracked
  • A sagging roofline
  • Shingles that have lost their granules
  • Leaks
  • Damage due to wind or hail

You know that you need to sell your home to start a new chapter of your life. Think about the roof of your current home as the first step towards achieving your new objectives and have it replaced before listing the home.