Advice
Posted in: Selling a home, Homeowner tips

Should you replace your roof before selling your home?

Replace your roof before selling

It's no secret that buyers love move-in ready homes with updated features. If you have a saggy roof with major leaks, the easy answer to the above question is, "Yes." An unsightly, malfunctioning roof won't inspire confidence with potential buyers, much less pass the inspection.

Patch the roof

If you have a leaky patch or a section of missing shingles, you can always hire a contractor to patch up a roof using closely-matching shingles; handier homeowners may prefer to do it themselves. Keep in mind that breaking out the job into two or more arrangements with a contractor over time is likely to cost more than just replacing the roof all at once.

Ask an expert

If your roof is aging but still in good working condition, you may want to consult with a REALTOR® to determine if replacing the roof will help sell your home faster or for a higher price. Homeowners in desirable neighborhoods will find that eager buyers are willing to take their home as-is, while buyers in other neighborhoods may be picky.

Keep in mind that in Minnesota, the average cost of a roof is over $18,000, according to Remodeling Magazine's "Cost vs. Value" report; the average cost recouped at sale is just over $11,000.

Wondering what other home improvements have the best ROI? Check out the Cost Vs. Value Report for Minnesota here.

Status Definitions

For sale: Properties which are available for showings and purchase

Active contingent: Properties which are available for showing but are under contract with another buyer

Pending: Properties which are under contract with a buyer and are no longer available for showings

Sold: Properties on which the sale has closed.

Coming soon: Properties which will be on the market soon and are not available for showings.

Contingent and Pending statuses may not be available for all listings