Should Homeowners Fix Their Roof Before Selling Their Home?
If a homeowner is planning on selling their house soon but it needs a roof repair or replacement, should they do it? Of course you want the job, but a good contractor should offer honest advice to homeowners on the repairs that are worth doing and what should be negotiated in a house sale. Here are some facts to share with your homeowners to help them make a wise decision.
If the roof has a huge hole and is causing a serious leak, a homeowner needs to bite the bullet and do the fix. Reiterate the fact that if they don’t make major house repairs, they’ll may get less money for their home—or may even have trouble selling it. Plus, a roof is one home improvement that yields a good return on investment: a mid range average roof replacement recoups about 71.6% of the cost, according to REMODELING magazine.
In addition, a roof can represent up to 40% of a home’s “curb appeal,” so a new roof can help increase its resale value. So can the type of shingles a homeowner chooses. According to a recent survey conducted by the National Association of REALTORS®, homeowners can increase the value of their home by an average of 5% with a new Timberline® roof.*
If the roof needs only a small repair, the homeowner needs to evaluate whether it’s worth the cost. Do an inspection of their roof to assess the extent of any problems and identify for them what could be a red flag to a potential buyer. Provide the homeowner with a quote for all repairs. If they decide not to fix their roof, suggest they pass along your quote to the buyer when they sell. This way, you may still get the job even if it’s through another owner.
Another way to help a homeowner decide whether to fix a damaged roof is to review the current housing market. Which homes are selling and which ones aren’t? How much are comparable houses are going for? If houses in the aren’t selling, a homeowner should do the fix and make sure everything else is in good shape. Many buyers don’t want a house that needs fixing, and if they have a choice between one that’s in good shape and a fixer-upper, they’re more likely to choose the home that’s in move-in condition.
* 2013 National Association of REALTORS® survey commissioned by GAF of REALTOR® Appraisers and Non-Appraisers in the U.S.; response based on REALTOR® Appraisers that have had professional experience buying or selling a home with Timberline® Shingles in the three years preceding the survey and felt they could provide an estimated value increase for a home with a Timberline® roof as compared to a home with a basic three-tab shingle roof.