3 Ways A Failing Roof Can Reduce Your Home's Resale Value

Are you thinking about moving in the next few years? Your current home's resale value can potentially greatly impact your ability to purchase a new home. Deferred maintenance can lead to long-term damage and problems, ultimately reducing your ability to get top dollar for your home. Since roofing is one of the most important parts of any structure, it can have an even larger impact on resale value. 

If you've been ignoring some problems with your roof and hoping to push them off on the next owner, you may want to reconsider your strategy. While replacing your roof may not be a cost-effective option for a home you don't plan to keep, here are three reasons you should consider repairing any problems before you decide to sell.

1. Roofing Problems Are Easy to Spot

Your home's roof isn't just crucial to keeping the rain off your head; it's also one of the most visible aspects of your home. An old, worn-out roof will often have issues that are easily visible from the ground. Peeling shingles, excessive mold or algae growth, and other problems are easy to spot with an untrained eye.

Most buyers will also want to perform a thorough roof inspection because the replacement cost can be so high. Unresolved issues with your roof may scare away buyers, even if the overall condition is acceptable. Repairing problems with your roof will allow inspectors to give your home a clean bill of health, helping to alleviate the fears of skittish buyers.

2. Mold Is a Major Issue

Many home problems are relatively self-contained. If your air conditioner doesn't work, you wouldn't expect it to cause damage to your kitchen flooring. Of course, roofing is much different. A leaky roof will allow water to seep into your home, often dripping into hidden or hard-to-reach areas. These dark, damp corners are a perfect location for mold growth.

While you may not be worried about this growth, many buyers will want to conduct a mold inspection before purchasing. Leaving a leaky roof unrepaired can create a major red flag for purchasers concerned about mold's health impacts. Even worse, mold mitigation often comes with an extremely high cost. Repairing your roof before it reaches this point is often more cost-effective.

3. Faulty Roofing Gives Buyers More Leverage

Once buyers discover issues with your roof, you can expect them to use those issues as a major leverage point. Since roofing is often one of the most expensive parts of any home, issues with your roof will give buyers a major bargaining chip to bring down your price. Buyers may expect you to replace your roof, even if it's only suffering from a few relatively minor problems.

You'll remove this leverage and make negotiations easier by fixing issues with your roof. A well-maintained roof can last for many years, so even a relatively old roof will look more attractive to buyers if you maintain it and fix any issues before they become critical problems.

To learn more tips, speak to a roofing contractor today.