Should I Repair My Roof Before Selling My Home? (Part 2)

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In the last post, we talked about how to determine the condition of your roof and what to do if your roofing contractor suggests your roof needs replacing. We also addressed several questions you should ask to figure out how vital is to replace your roof before selling your home, such as:

  • Can you afford roof replacement at this time?
  • Is it vital to repair or replace your roof now?
  • Are you still paying a mortgage on your home?

These are all great questions to ask yourself during the decision-making process. Today, we are going to focus on whether you should repair or replace your roof based on cost, the market, and your urgency to sell.

How much will repairs cost?

Once you know what the damage is, you’ll need to find out how much it will cost to repair. To get a good idea, either get an estimate from one roofing contractor you trust, or get two or three local roofers to give you quotes. Once you get a sense of how much it will cost to fix your problem, you can decide whether it’s affordable for you. If it's not, you will get a sense of how much you’ll need to tell the future homebuyers  they will have invest in the repair work themselves. Once you get a sense of the scope of the repair cost, you can adjust and negotiate the home’s selling price accordingly.

How is the market?

Do the homes in your neighborhood take months to sell, or do they usually sell quickly? Do open houses in your area attract lots of potential homebuyers? Do the homes usually sell at or close to the original asking price? If you live in an area where the market is fast-paced and homes sell quickly, you may not need to make many repairs on your home before you decide to sell.

On the other hand, if the market is slow, you might need to make your house as sellable as possible to make a great impression on anyone who looks at it. Check the listings in your area and talk to your real estate agent to get a good idea of the climate of the local market. Also look at how the condition of your home measures up to other comparable homes in the area. If it’s not up to par, you may need to make some changes to be more competitive in your market.

How quickly do you need your home to sell?

If you need to sell immediately, you might want to make some improvements fast to make your home as valuable as possible to potential homebuyers. However, if you don’t need a quick turnaround on the sale of your home or you don’t have the money to invest in major home improvements, then the better option may be to make only small repairs on your roof and leave the significant work for the next homeowner. You’ll have to account for the cost of the repairs to be made (and the hassle the homebuyers must go through to make the repairs on their own) when setting the asking price, but if you are in no hurry to sell, this may be the better option for your situation.

 

Replacing your roof will make an enormous difference in the appearance, functionality, and value of your home when it comes time to sell. The condition of your roof can make or break a sale, so weigh all of the factors you have to consider carefully and thoroughly to make a sound decision. If you replace your roof before selling, the homebuyers won’t need to worry about that large investment on top of buying the home, which will put them more at ease. 

If you are looking for an Ames, Huxley, or Ankeny roofing contractor, contact Hedrick Construction. We’ll advise you on whether or not you should consider roof replacement or estimate the cost of making repairs on your roof. Regardless of whether or not you’re selling your home, you should have a professional roof inspection at least once a year to make sure everything is being maintained properly to prevent major issues from surfacing over time and resulting in more costly repairs. Call us today!

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