When asked about the most appealing exterior project for homeowners, a new roof topped the list for realtors in a 2019 survey from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
With so many things to keep track of when selling your home, it can be easy to overlook the roof. It might be a key part of your home, but it’s also something that a lot of home sellers leave the buyer to take care of on their own. That’s a mistake, though.
Luckily, we’re here to tell you why, and what you can gain by replacing before you sell. Read on to learn what a new roof can do for you when trying to sell your home.
When Do You Need a New Roof?
There are a lot of ways to tell when you need a new roof. Here are a few major signs:
- Water damage
- Sagging
- Moss, mold, fungi growing
- Shingle damage, folding, curling
- Missing flashing, gutter guards, or fascia
If you don’t have any visible signs of damage, you might still need a replacement. Depending on the material of your roof and its age, repairs might not be enough.
Reasons to Install a New Roof
You know when you might need a new roof, but are you convinced about what it can do for your home’s resale? Isn’t just easier to leave it for the new owners? Here are a few benefits of installing a new roof.
Higher Asking Price
New roofing is a great way to increase buyers’ confidence in your home listing. With that added confidence comes a willingness to pay a bit more for your listing. You’re showing them that the home is well-taken care of and that they’re not going to have a lot of work to do once they move in, which is a huge selling point for some buyers.
Even if there’s work to be done in other parts of the home, the prospect of not having to turn around and invest in a new roof immediately after move-in is enough for some homebuyers. This is even truer if your roof offers an extended warranty that can be transferred to the new owner.
Increased Curb Appeal
Your home’s exterior is the first thing people are going to see when they come to view your home. Setting the stage with decent curb appeal is going to leave a lasting impression on homebuyers, and it’s going to help improve the way the rest of your home.
There are a few other small things you can do to improve curb appeal:
- Remove leaves and debris
- Pressure wash the driveway and sidewalk
- Clean out gutters
Also, a new coat of paint alongside your roofing can take your home’s curb appeal to an entirely new level.
Decent Return on Investment
According to that same 2019 report from the NAR, realtors estimated a 107 percent return on investment from investing in a new roof.
These numbers definitely aren’t guaranteed, though. Other factors, like the state of the home market and the condition of the rest of your home, are going to play into your home’s final value, but roofing is definitely a smart renovation to make before selling if you’re considering any.
Ease Homebuyer Anxiety
Not only is getting a new roof a great way to ease a lot of homebuyers’ anxiety, but it’s a great selling point. You’ve increased the value of their potential new home, they don’t have to worry about replacing their roof for at least 10 years, and they’re going to be saving on energy bills.
What Are Your Options?
OK, so you’ve decided to replace your roof. What are your options, though?
Replace Some Shingles
We’re talking about total replacement, but you shouldn’t count out the value of simply replacing a few shingles. If you know you don’t need an entirely new roof, then you can simply opt to replace a few damaged or missing shingles as they’re needed, along with any other necessary repairs.
Partial Re-Roofing
If you’re only concerned about portions of your roof, then you can replace those instead of the entire thing. The issue here, though, is that you can only do a partial re-roofing so many times before you might start to notice an uneven slope.
If there are already multiple layers of roofing, then you’re going to need to replace the entire thing.
Tear Off
This is most likely what your realtor is going to suggest if you’re selling your home. With a tear-off, the old roofing is completely removed and replaced with a brand new one.
With this approach, you’re going to be able to notice further issues (if there are any) and have them fixed. Tear-off roofing is also a great selling point for buyers. If you do end up getting a new roof, then it’s definitely a good idea to include it in your listing description.
Do You Need a New Roof to Sell Your Home?
The short answer to this: It depends. If, after reading this, you think your home might be in need of a new roof, then it can be worth having a look into it. If your roof is less than 10 years old, though, and hasn’t had any extensive damage, then you might not need one at all.
When your property is initially appraised, they’re going to take a look at your roof, so you’ll be able to know for sure.
If you do need new roofing before you sell your home, we’re here to help. Contact us to schedule your service and get started today.
