A wide range of extreme weather conditions damage roofs in Houston – from high temperatures to hurricanes and hail storms. During the summer, the temperature on your roof can reach up to 140 degrees.
Because the median home age is 41 years, there is a possibility that your old roof has a more advanced age than you think and might need repair. Most types of roofs in Houston are composite or asphalt shingles, which typically have a lifespan of around 15 years.
Your home’s roof is among its most critical components. It does an excellent job of shielding your house from the weather and adds a lot to the aesthetic value of your home.
Can you sell a house with a bad roof? A prospective buyer may be dissuaded from making an offer on your house if it has a damaged roof. If there is apparent damage to your roof, a potential buyer may fear that much more severe wear and tear is concealed underneath. They might also be curious about what other upkeep has been put off with the rest of the house.
Homebuyers want move-in-ready properties, which makes selling a house with a bad roof problematic. If you’re on the fence about repairing or replacing your roof and asking: can I sell my house with a bad roof? Here are a few things to think about.
What Is A Bad Roof?
The fact that a roof requires repairs does not indicate a complete replacement. If you’re trying to decide if it’s time to replace your roof, here are several warning signs to keep an eye out for:
- Sloping roof deck;
- Attic suddenly illuminated by natural light;
- Paint is flaking or bubbling;
- Granules from roof shingles found in downspouts;
- Excessive deterioration;
- Wet and obscured shingles;
- Missing, curling, or cracked shingles;
- Rusted flashings in metal roofs;
- Growth of moss or plant life; and
- Damaged plumbing vent boots.
Impact Of Having A Bad Roof On Selling Your Home
When selling a home, roof inspection failure is one of the greatest dangers. Roof leaks and other issues may go undetected by home buyers, but a skilled home inspector will catch them. Inspectors look for roof damages and excessive wear during a certified roof inspection. Several signs indicate that your roof needs to be repaired, including missing or loose shingles, cracks or gaps, the development of mildew, and water damage.
Most homebuyers want to know how long a roof will survive when they buy a house. The buyer may walk away if told that the roof has reached or passed its life expectancy. Roof replacement may be an option if you don’t want to lose a sale because of your roof’s condition.
If you want to sell your house quickly, a new roof might be a worthwhile investment. The appearance and marketability of your house will almost certainly be improved by a considerable margin if you replace your roof.
Costs To Replace A Roof In Houston
Composite shingles, the most common roofing material in Houston, go for an average of $238 per 100 square feet. The typical home in Houston has a square footage of 2,260. In Houston, the usual pitch of a roof results in a 3,005 square feet roof. According to this calculation, you might anticipate shelling out $7,151 to your roofing contractor.
Options You Might Have
Repair The Roof
The more serious the extent of damage is, the more costly and time-consuming it will be to repair a broken roof.
If a damaged roof is the only factor driving away potential buyers from your house, fixing it before listing it for sale can be helpful. If you can repair or replace the roof, you not only solve the issue but also probably raise the worth of your property, thanks to your work. However, this is not a requirement and is often not an option for owners who need to sell their homes quickly or lack the resources to fix a damaged roof.
You should be ready to sell your home with a bad roof at a lower asking price if you don’t make repairs before you start looking for buyers. Since many home buyers will see the damaged roof as a structural concern and realize they will have to pay to replace it once they purchase your house. They will naturally want to deduct the cost of that work from the overall amount they must pay for the home.
Replace The Roof
Is the cost of a new roof in Houston worth it? To avoid signing a costly contract to repair your roof, address this issue first. A new roof costs money, and you want to be sure it’s money well spent, right?
According to research, a Houston roof repair costs an average of $20,004 but only adds $16,096 to your home’s selling value. Because of this, you will end up losing more or less $3,908. Replacing your Houston home’s roof will cost you more money than it is worth.
Negotiate A Credit
Consider negotiating a credit for half the roof replacement cost if the buyer is keen to purchase the home and there are multiple bids on the table. Because of this, you will save money and, more significantly, time.
It is usual practice for lending institutions and home insurance companies to require a roof to be repaired before loan approval. If anything like this occurs, it is often up to the seller to foot the bill, and the buyer must wait for the repairs to be completed before the home sale can be finalized. Homebuyers motivated to make a purchase may meet you in the middle on the expense of the repairs; nevertheless, you should not bank on this happening.
Sell The Home With The Roof As-Is
Even if your Houston home has a damaged roof, selling your home does not have to be a complex process. Real estate investors in Houston buy poor-condition houses fast with a cash offer, and they do not require the homeowner to make any repairs or clean up the property before the sale.
If you do not want to spend the money or the time necessary to fix your roof before selling your home, real estate investors can help. Even better, you won’t have to pay closing costs because the cash home buyers will take care of that for you. This means you won’t have to go through the time-consuming process of listing your home and won’t have to pay agent commissions.