In today’s competitive real estate market, many homeowners go to great lengths to help their home stand out from the competition, from staging to landscaping to replacing windows. An important place to start, however, is at the top. Does your roof add or subtract from the salability of your home?
Any signs of aging or staining will alert a buyer to a potential "leaky roof" issue and/or mold in your attic...and nothing scares away a buyer quicker than mold. Following are some tips for making sure your roof is in showing condition, courtesy of GAF, a leading manufacturer of residential and commercial roofing.
- One of the first things a prospective buyer notices, a home's roof can represent 40 percent or more of your home's curb appeal, so make sure it is cleaned before putting your home on the market. Nothing turns a buyer away faster than a black or dirty looking roof. Get rid of any black staining or signs of debris on the roof.
- Head into your attic and look for signs of a leaky roof. This is the best spot for noticing water damage. Have any leaks repaired right away. Even if leaks go unnoticed by a buyer, they will be discovered by the home inspector and cost you more money to fix quickly or could potentially lead to losing the sale all together.
- Investigate your roof for missing granules on shingles, curling on the edges of shingles or shingles that have come loose. Again, it is best to make these repairs quickly before heading into the sales process.
- Make sure to keep records of all repairs/enhancements made to your roof prior to your home’s sale. Have your real estate agent add these details to the listing information. A sound, attractive roof can be just the competitive differentiation your home needs.