2021 Update

Should you replace your roof before selling your house?

Joe Bailey

A roof in disrepair is not cheap to fix but selling a house with a damaged roof is not much different. Let's weigh up the options.

Roof ProblemsRoof Problems

Okay, homeowner - try out a little experiment for us.

Take a quick stroll outside your house. We’ll wait. *hums a bit* Great! Welcome back inside.

So, here’s the big question ...

Is it worth it to replace your roof before you sell your house?

In this article, we’ll lay out a step-by-step process for you to determine whether or not you should take the plunge and get the roof fixed before you sell the property.

Step 1: Determine the Extent of the Damage

The first thing to do is to determine whether there is any damage to the roof itself! Sometimes the damage will be obvious - missing shingles, cracks, etc. - but there's always the chance that you’ll miss something on a visual inspection from a distance.

The best way to determine the extent of the damage is to use a trusted surveyor or other professional to do a thorough inspection of the roof. That person will be able to give you a more in-depth look at the potential problems - and will likely be able to tell you if there are any structural deficiencies or other problems that you might have missed on a visual inspection.

Step 2: Get a price for potential repairs

If there is any damage to the roof, the next step is to determine just how much the repair or replacement will cost. Get a few different estimates from trusted sources in the area, as the numbers from the contractors will likely be different. The average cost of the roof replacement or repair will vary, too - but generally you can expect to see a number between a few thousand pounds up into the £20,000-£25,000 range.

Again, talk to a few different contractors to get to the number you feel comfortable with.

Step 3: Determine if replacing the roof is worth it

So, now that you’ve determined the extent of the damage and seen how much it costs to repair, you have to make a determination as to whether you should actually do the repairs. Sometimes, the answer is very obvious - if there’s a significant, massive and obvious damage to the roof that will be obvious to any potential homebuyer, it’s an easy and necessary decision to go ahead with the repairs.

However, if there are only some mild tweaks and repairs that need to be done, you’ll have to gauge whether the cosmetic factor for those repairs may be enough in the bottom line to offset the amount of money you’ll have to lay out for the repair.

So gather all your information, and choose wisely!

What happens if I can't sell it without doing the work first? 

You may decide that the cost is too great, or that it'll cause too much stress to do the work yourself. So you may go ahead and try and sell your home with its roof issue. Often, you'll find a buyer who's happy to take it on themselves, and you'll still be able to get a decent price. (For example, if your home would be worth around £150,000 with its roof in tact, and it'll cost £10,000 to replace the roof, then you'll be aiming to get an offer around £135,000-£140,000).

What if no offer materialises though? 

Our service could be a good option. Because we're familiar with all types of property issues and have the funds and know-how to deal with them, we're happy and able to buy any house - including those with roof issues. So click that link to read more about our service, or alternatively hit one of those big blue "Get An Offer" buttons, provide some details, and our team can call you to discuss your home further. We can give you an idea today of the price we'd be able to pay, and can make you a formal offer within just 2-3 days.

It could be a great option if you don't want the hassle of repairing, or the longer waits that may come with trying to sell your home with a damaged roof.

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