The Importance of the Roof When Buying or Selling a House

Buying or selling a house is a significant undertaking and the process includes many important financial and emotional considerations.

One of the most important considerations in the process of buying or selling a house is the condition of the roof.

Benefits of a New Roof When Buying or Selling a House

For buyers, a new roof offers peace of mind when they consider making an offer on a house. Knowing the roof is free of leaks and no major roof expenditures will be required in the near future offers comfort to potential buyers. A new roof means one less thing to worry about. 

For sellers, a new roof can lead to a higher home sale price. A new roof will provide curb appeal and buyers are more likely to fall in love with the house, plus given the value of a new roof, the initial listing price will be higher.

Buyers hesitate to like a place if it has looming question marks. The new roof allows buyers to be more comfortable making an offer on your house compared to other houses. This may lead to more offers, including ones over the asking the price.

Older Roof Benefits for Buyers

While many buyers are eager to find a house with a new roof, there are also advantages to buying a house without fresh shingles.

For one, perhaps the buyers do not even want shingles, but would prefer tiles or metal roofing. Leaving the roof replacement for the buyers means they get to choose the color and style according to their own preferences.

In addition, the buyers will be more invested in the project compared to a seller who will not have to live with the results. When the buyers are in charge of roof replacement, they can ensure a trusted roofing company and quality materials are used. They may also invest in energy-efficient choices, such as solar shingles.

In addition to control over the type of roof, a buyer might get a better deal on a house if it does not have a new roof. Depending on the market and the seller’s position, there may be more room to negotiate the sale price by using an old roof as a bargaining chip.

Delaying Roof Replacement for Sellers

For sellers, the obvious advantage to delaying roof replacement is to avoid a major expense. Perhaps the seller will have nothing to do with an eventual new roof, letting the buyers take care of the project down the road.

Alternatively, if a new roof is urgent, a seller might agree to pay for it at the closing of the sale. The roofer will be paid by escrow, using money the seller receives from the home’s sale. 

Sellers also may benefit from not installing a new roof because avoiding the large project can mean getting the house up for sale faster. Depending on the market, this could result in more money.

For example, summer tends to be a good time to sell a home. Many buyers hope to make a purchase before the start of a new school year. Waiting for costly, time-consuming repairs before putting the house on the market may make a seller miss an opportune market.

The roof is just one of many important considerations when buying or selling a house. Luckily, both new and older roofs have advantages for buyers and sellers. To protect everybody’s interests in the process, a home sale should always include a roof inspection by a professional. 

Roof Maintenance When Buying or Selling a House

Whether you’re selling your home or buying a new one, you need to be maintaining your roof. If someone agrees to buy your home, they’re going to be checking out the state of yours.

Taking care of your roof ensures you’ll get a fair price when you move.

Normally, checking on the state of your roof a couple of times a year is a good way to ensure that it’s still in good condition. The best place to start is from the outside.

You’re looking to see if the gutters are clogged, which lets water overflow onto your roof, leading to damp and mold problems. Also, ensure that any flashing is still in place, and that there are no roof tiles missing.

Then, head inside and climb into your attic. This can tell you a lot about the health of your roof. Can you see daylight through the roof up here? Are there any damp or mold spots on the timbers in here?

If you have spotted any of these problems, now is the time to address them before they get any worse.

Depending on your level of DIY expertise, you could make some repairs yourself. If the job is too large then call in a roofing company to see how they can help you.