happy home owner asks should i replace my new roof before I sell my home
One inquiry that comes up quite often when placing a residence for resale is, “Should I replace my roof before selling my house?”

There is no right or wrong answer here.

Selling a house as-is seems like an easier solution, but one thing is for sure. And that is, it can delay the sale of your home if you don’t know what to look out for. 

You are not alone; we’re going to help break it down. There are several pertinent variables to examine, and the key begins with knowing what a home inspector will examine prior to the sell of your house: 

Home Inspectors Will Assess:

  • Roof Age
  • Roof Damage
  • Attic
  • Shingles
  • Flashing
  • Fascia
  • Loose Gutters
  • Leaks in Crawl Spaces
  • Chimney Defects
  • Skylight Defects

Should I Replace My Roof Before Selling My House?

Obviously, most resident owners would certainly not want to mislead potential buyers intentionally. Yet, the question remains, “Should I replace my roof before selling my house?”

More often than not, homeowners do take the simpler way out by not having roof damages fixed before selling their home. However, it ends up not settling well for both parties.

Below are a few of the unfavorable outcomes when not repairing roof damage before selling your home:  

Loan Issues:
Funding difficulties may prevail if you choose not to repair a roof with damages. The sales process is slow enough as it is. Why drag it out any longer with a lender that could end up denying finances to the buyer? In the end, you may end up having to replace the roof anyway.

Offers Are Too Low:
When this happens, and it’s due to the roof, the new home buyer will expect you to come down on the price to account for damaged rooftops. You can always try negotiating, but at the end of the day – buyers do not want to pay for a new roof when purchasing a house.

Fewer People Making Offers:
Typically, the prospective home buyer will not make an offer on your home if the inspection comes back telling them that there are problems with the roof. Wouldn’t you feel the same way? It would be better to replace or repair the roof if you know it most likely will raise red flags during the home inspection phase.

 Is There an Easy Way Out?

The easiest answer to, “Should I replace my roof if I’m selling my house,” is to contact a professional and certified roofing contractor to ensure there are no problems.

If minor problems are detected and haven’t gone past the typical life expectancy of a roof (20-30 years depending on your roofing material), call an expert roofer and get him to confirm if he can certify your roof for an additional few years. If so, it may offer you some sway to your potential buyers and their lenders.

If you are still asking yourself, “Should I Replace My Roof If I’m Selling My House,” consider these top factors:

#1 –  If your home is due for a new roof, then replace it. Plain and simple. 3-tab Asphalt Roofs can last up to 20-years; Architectural Shingles, up to 30-years; Wood Shake Roofs, up to 30-years; Fiber Cement Shingles, up to 25-years; Metal Roofs, up to 45-years.

#2 – If you replace your roof before selling your home, anticipate between two-thirds and three-fourths of the cost to come back to you.

#3 – New roofs ALWAYS attract more offers!

Residential homeowners are trusting  M&Y Pittsburgh Roofing every single day.

We care for our customers and offer a level of workmanship that nobody else has. Call us now at 412-218-7082 for a personal and free consultation.

Author: M&Y Pittsburgh Roofing Team