When preparing for a home sale, you want your house to have buyer appeal–enough so that a buyer will pay a premium for the house. The exterior of any house is the first thing buyers look at, and the roof is one of the most important parts of any house. If you’re interested in selling a home for the price you want, you need a decent roofing installation job.

There are many signs that a new roofing installation may be necessary:

• Corrosion on metal roofs
• Curling shingles on asphalt roofs
• Pooling water on flat roofs
• Sagging on various roof sections.

Roofs sag because of stress from rain or snow, which may weaken trusses or rafters under the roof’s surface. These may have to be replaced, though repair is preferable to roof replacement in most cases.

Roofing Installation Before Selling a Home

When selling a home with a leaky roof, you’re legally required to disclose this fact. The price of the home sale will most likely be negotiated downwards. Most roofs begin to deteriorate fifteen years after initial roofing installation. Depending on what condition the roof is in, a seller may have to consider an updated roofing installation for a home sale.

Price is the biggest issue concerning roofing installation prior to a home sale. Roof replacement is expensive, so new roof installation should be considered before. A house with a roof in need of repair will be considered a fixer upper, and potential buyers will look for other things that need replacing or repairing when deciding on the home sale.

Leaving a roof in poor condition before selling a home also narrows the market of potential buyers. Many buyers will not want the expense of updated roofing installation, and will bid low or reject the house completely.

Repair Rather Than Replace

You don’t always need to do a complete roof replacement when planning on selling a home. Sometimes a roofing repair is sufficient. There many things you can do when planning for a home sale, which will make your house more presentable, rather than a full roof replacement. These include:

• Clear debris from and straighten gutters.
• Make sure you get a professional to handle any roof problem, as amateurs can easily damage a roof.
• Remove moss and algae from roof, as moss and algae growth shows neglect.
• Replace missing shingles.
• Seal inside of gutters with caulk.

Missing or rusting flashing around chimneys, skylights and venting can cause leakage. These should be replaced, and a homeowner can do this at minimal cost before selling a home. Don’t forget to examine the interior to identify potential leaks from the roof. Savvy buyers interested in a home sale may notice signs of undiscovered leaks, such as:

• Cracked paint
• Discolored plaster
• Peeling wallpaper.