Nobody wants to hear that their roof could stand between them and a sale. If your home has an older roof, here's the reassuring part: it's a solvable problem, and we know how to solve it before it costs you buyers.
Insurance is one of the biggest questions in Florida real estate, and a roof's age is at the center of it. The encouraging news is that insurance carriers have eased up a little on roof requirements recently. But requirements still vary, and sellers who get ahead of the issue are in a much stronger position. Here are a few tips, and a story from one of our sellers.
Quick tips on selling a home with an older roof:
- Best choice: replace the roof before you list. A new roof takes the biggest question mark off the table and lets buyers focus on everything else about your home.
- Second choice: schedule the replacement while the home is for sale. Get a quote, book the work with a date, and let buyers know it's handled.
- Last resort: offer a credit. It hands the work, the timing, and the unknown cost to the buyer, and some buyers will wonder what else is wrong with the roof.
- Remember what buyers can choose. Plenty of homes with newer roofs are on the market. Why sell with a large hurdle in front of you?
A tile roof, an anxious seller, and a decision that changed everything
We worked with a homeowner who was ready to move on. Her home had been on the market before with another agent and hadn't sold, and she was growing more anxious by the week. She wanted it listed and sold quickly.
The tile roof was older, and we knew it would be an insurance problem. Our first recommendation was to replace the roof and then list the home. She didn't want to wait, and she didn't want to put on a new roof. Instead, she wanted to offer the buyer a credit to replace it after closing.
We understood the thinking, but we also knew how a buyer would see it. They'd face a high insurance premium for an older roof, plus a future cost they couldn't pin down. Buyers also wonder what else might be wrong with a roof if the seller doesn't want to deal with it.
So we found a middle path. We listed the home with the understanding that she would get a quote and schedule the roof replacement. If the home sold before the new roof went on, we'd give the credit. If the new roof went on first, there would be no need for one.
She agreed and scheduled the work.
In the meantime, many buyers came through and liked the home. None made an offer, even with a generous credit on the table. They told us the roof was the reason.
We were so glad she had scheduled the replacement. Once the new roof was on, the home went under contract within 10 days.
What stands out is her decision. She was tired and anxious, and it would have been easier to hold out for the credit and hope. She chose to take the problem off the table and followed through. When the contract came in, she was very happy, and so were we.
Wondering how your roof affects your sale?
Call or email Christine Pope or Paul Pope before you list. We'll look at your home honestly, talk through your options, and help you decide what makes sense.
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