It’s no secret that a new roof is a powerful marketing tool when selling your home. As you’ll likely hear from your real estate agent, buyers are drawn to homes that have a new roof because they know it will save them to hassle and money of a reroof. Your typical buyer will not be looking to handle a large expense such as a new roof, right after they’ve just purchased a home. In some cases, buyers may not put in an offer on a home with an older roof.
If you decide to replace your roof prior to listing your home, here are a few ways you can maximize the return on investment you get from it.
1. Don’t Layer Shingles
Some people think it’s sufficient to replace their roof by simply re-shingling over the top of their old one. This is a cheap and quick solution, but it’s also extremely shortsighted and problematic. In fact, layering shingles can trap heat, place too much weight on your roof, and shorten the roof’s lifespan by up to 40%.
Buyers and their team of agents and inspectors are likely to mention a roof with a double layer. This discovery is more likely to hurt you more than installing that second layer “new roof” will help you.
2. Opt for Quality Roofing Materials
A buyer can tell if you put in the bare minimum. You’ll also want to be sure the new roof fits in with the other homes in your neighborhood. Think of your new roof as a way to invest in your home’s energy efficiency and insulation–both features that are important to buyers.
3. Check on Your Roof Frequently and Keep Up with Maintenance
Make sure to keep up with the maintenance of your roof between the time you replace it and the time you sell your home. Our roofing experts strongly recommend checking your roof after every storm.
Examining your roof for missing or broken shingles regularly is a much smaller task than dealing with the water damage of several combined storms.
4. Market Your New Roof as an Asset
Between you and your agent, you might decide not to change the listing price of your home.
This decision is personal and based on your specific area and your specific house. However, since you’re trying to compete with all the other homes in your area, you should do whatever you can to help your home stand out. Be loud and proud about your new roof!
Whoever buys your home will love that they don’t have to worry about the cost of a new roof. A good agent will ensure that potential buyers know about the new roof and all the conveniences that come with it.
5. Offer the Roof Warranty as a Selling Point
The majority of roofing companies will offer transferable warranties. It’s a simple matter of calling and paying a nominal charge. The problem is, most buyers won’t think to ask.
Offer this transfer to your buyer. It’s typically a few hundred dollars and giving them several more years of warranty on their roof could be what closes the deal.
Ready to Maximize Your Roof?
Tacheny Exteriors will start you off with a thorough roofing inspection to identify the problem spots and come up with budget-friendly solutions. We’ll also help you determine which of our services is the right choice for your needs. Call (651) 565-1414 or visit our website to get started.
