How a Home’s Roof Factors into a Sale by KTM Roofing

The roof of a new home is rarely perceived by potential buyers as a feature, and is instead categorized as being one of the functional aspects of the structure along with plumbing, electrical circuitry, etc. That being said, a home’s roof can factor into a sale in a variety of ways including:

·        A new roof is one less thing to worry about – Some home buyers buy properties with plans for adding features such as a remodeled kitchen, new bathrooms, etc. In other situations, buyers move in on a shoestring after making the down payment for the purchase and taking on a higher monthly payment. The common factor between these two types of buyers is that neither one is likely to move in with a priority of putting on a new roof. The one exception here are the buyers that discount the prices they are willing to pay for a home in anticipation of needing to install a new roof, resulting in a lower selling price.     

·        Aesthetics – An aging roof, even if it is in relatively good structural shape, can make the entire house look older as well. While this perception between different buyers is a subjective issue, if all other things are somewhat equal between homes under consideration, a home with a new roof will likely be chosen over one that looks much older.

·        Multiple layers of roofing materials – Rather than tearing off old roofing materials, it used to be quite common to put a new layer of shingles over the old layer, a practice that often led to roofs with multiple layers of shingles, sometimes made of different materials. These multiple layer types of installations were structurally weaker than shingles fastened directly to the deck and also increased the load demand on the structure, leading to changes in building codes that now allow a maximum of two layers of roofing materials. The code modifications led to changes in home insurance policies that now typically cover only the top layer of shingles, putting the responsibility of replacing the deck and other structures on the homeowner in the event of a claim.

·        Energy efficiency – Consumers are paying more attention to their energy consumption and are constantly seeking ways to reduce their energy bills. A new roof combined with effective insulation can reduce heating and cooling bills by up to 50 percent, which can be a significant selling factor for the home.

The roof on your home may not be a primary focus for potential buyers. However, a new roof can be a significant and positive factor that raises buyers’ perception of value of the home while also making it easier to sell.