Roof replacement is one of the most important investments you can ever make as a homeowner. It can benefit your home in many ways, from better energy efficiency and thermal comfort to greater weather performance and enhanced curb appeal. This major home improvement project, however, involves a substantial amount of time and money to ensure its success. For homeowners who are looking to list their homes for sale in the future, deciding whether to do this project can be challenging.
Given the expenses and effort required to replace your roof, should you or should you not push through with it before you sell your home? Continue reading as we discuss each option to help you make an informed decision on the matter.
Selling Your Home as Is
Your decision to replace your roof before putting your home on the market will depend on your available budget and time. Unless you have enough of both to push through with the home improvement, selling your home as is makes sense. Even if you do end up replacing your old roof, there’s uncertainty as to the actual costs you can recoup once your home is sold to the new homeowner.
Another thing to consider when making your decision is the age of the roof. If you have an asphalt shingle roof, which has a lifespan of 20 to 25 years, and it is still 10 years away from needing replacement, you can go ahead and put your home up for sale. Some potential home buyers, however, may be quick to point out that your roof isn’t in top condition in an attempt to lower your property’s sale price. To be sure, you can hire a local roofing contractor that can certify that your roof is watertight and doesn’t have any signs of damage.
A roof certification is a document from a roofing professional informing you and your prospective buyers about the roof’s condition and lifespan. It is usually valid between two to five years after the inspection, and the roofer can issue it immediately if the roof has no issues that require immediate repair. The certification is not always required in the home selling process, but it can go a long way to easing the prospective buyers' concerns regarding the current state of your roof.
Replacing Your Roof Before Selling Your Home
If your roofing system has already reached the end of its lifespan or is showing signs of damage that are too extensive and severe to be repaired, it needs to be replaced as soon as possible. An unfixed roof can drastically bring your home’s market price down. The buyers will be paying less for your property because they will have to shoulder the expenses of repairing or replacing the roof. Then again, the chances of a successful sale become slim as home buyers begin to lose interest in it and look elsewhere for available properties with intact roofing systems. After all, no home buyer wants to deal with the hassle of tackling roof repair.
Investing in roof replacement before selling your home, however, can help boost its overall value and improve its curb appeal. Home buyers are attracted to residential properties that look neat and well-maintained, and, with a new roof, you increase your home’s chances of being sold quickly. You just have to make sure that the roof replacement project is done by an experienced roofing company.
What to Look for in a Reliable Roofer
A reliable roofing contractor is your ally in helping you decide whether you should or should not replace your roof before selling your property. The company can perform a thorough inspection to determine if your roof is still in good condition or needs to be replaced as soon as possible. You must, however, know what to look for. It starts with considering these essential qualities of a roofing contractor:
Locally Owned and Operated
A local roofing contractor has an actual office located in and around your location. It means that the company can be at your doorstep in a few minutes, especially if you need emergency roof repair. These people also familiar with local roofing regulations and standards, giving you peace of mind that your roof repair or replacement is done up to code.
Adequately Insured
A reliable local roofing contractor must also have sufficient insurance coverage, particularly general liability and workers’ compensation insurance. These protect you from liabilities that may arise while the roof repair or replacement is underway. This includes non-payment of wages, accidental injury and property damage.
Fully Licensed
Be sure that your chosen roofing contractor has the necessary licenses and the required permits to operate in your area. These serve as proof that the company passed stringent qualifications set by your state, county or city and are allowed to do business in your community. Licensed roofers also mean that they are knowledgeable about the local area’s applicable building codes.
Highly Recommended
One of the best ways to find the right contractor for your roofing needs is to get referrals from friends, colleagues, family or anyone you trust to provide good recommendations. Alternatively, you can read up on what recent clients have to say about working with them. You can check the reviews on their website, Google, Facebook and review sites like Yelp. Work references are also helpful in finding out if a particular contractor is indeed reliable. If they already have a list of their previous clients ready, then this is a good sign that they’ll do a good job for you. Call each one on the references list, and ask about their experience working with the roofing contractor.
Turn to A1 Quality Roofing Inc. for top-notch roof replacement, repair, maintenance, re-roofs, waterproofing and more. We have been in business since 1991, and our team has over 100 years of combined experience in the roofing industry. We are a fully licensed, bonded and insured roofing company serving all of Southern California, and we are committed to doing quality roofing work that we are truly proud to stand behind.
Give us a call at (951) 877-4406, or fill out our contact form to request a free, no-obligation quote.