Replace the Roof Before Selling Your Home? Pros & Cons

Do you have to replace the roof before you list your home for sale?

The short answer is that you probably don’t have to do a roof replacement before you list the home. However, you may want to, if it will help you get a better price for your house.

But what if the cost of roof replacement is more than you can get in increased value?

To determine the best approach, you’ll have to weigh the advantages against the disadvantages. Or you could consider some alternatives to help you achieve your goals.

Pros of Replacing the Roof Before Selling Your Home

When touring your home, one of the first things a potential buyer will look at is the condition of the roof.

Logical or not, buyers care very much about the condition of the roof and, if yours is sagging, cracking, leaking or missing shingles, it will scare off a substantial portion of your buyer base.

Sure, you could offer an allowance for buyers to use to make roof repairs after closing or discount the price to allow for the potential cost of roof replacement. However, you might still lose a potential sale simply because the buyer doesn’t want to have to deal with the hassle.

A new roof will also improve the curb appeal of your home, which may make it easier to sell. A quicker sale could provide financial benefits, based on your goals and objectives.

These are some of the most pressing reasons why you should consider replacing the roof before you list your home.

Cons of Roof Replacement Before Listing Your House for Sale

The biggest downside to doing a roof replacement (at any time) is the potential cost.

Investing in a new roof can be costly and you have no guarantee that you can recoup the investment at the time of sale. Data from Remodeling magazine shows that, for 20189 roofing replacement projects in the Southeast return on average about 62 percent of cost, slightly below the national average of 68 percent.

Should You Replace Your Roof or Not? How to Decide

After you consider the pros and cons of your situation, you may be no closer to a definitive answer than you were when you started. If that’s the case, it’s time to consider some other options.

A local roofing contractor can perform an inspection to determine the roof’s condition and let you know exactly what it needs. In many cases, your contractor can perform repairs (rather than a full replacement) and guarantee their work. You can show potential buyers the inspection report and the contractor’s guarantee, which can go a long way to easing any potential concerns they have.