You have decided to sell your home. But with 100s of other similar homes in your area on the market, how do you get yours to be the one that pops, the one that stands out, the diamond in the rough? does a roof restoration add value to my home?
If you were the buyer, you would generally be looking for the nicely maintained move-in ready turn key so to speak home.
You would want to be able to walk in sit down and enjoy your new home from day one, without having to go through the trouble of finding a bunch of different trades to come through and fix everything up.
Well guess what, this is what other buyers want as well. You know what else, the roof is the first thing people see as they drive up, so if your roof looks like crap it puts their mood off straight away, we want that kerb appeal, sexy from the street feel.
So, in order to explore the question of whether a roof restoration adds value to a home or not, we need to enter the mind of a house hunter.
What should you Fix Before you Sell a House?
When most people take the leap into the property market it is a huge investment for them so this is why many potential buyers turn to building inspectors and so they should, a good building inspector is worth their weight in gold.
If you are considering buying a new home or building a property, speak to the team at Powerdrive roofing, we will point you in the direction of the best inspector in Perth.
It can sometimes be a good idea to hire an inspector prior to selling your home so you can get the jump on any faults that require attention, that way come time for settlement everything will run nice and smoothly. They can also give you an idea if a roof restoration adds value.
The details these experts usually focus on plumbing, overall structure, and roof condition. So before listing your home for sale, you may want to consider hiring an inspector yourself.
They may give you valuable feedback on the structural integrity of your house and will advise you on the things to fix before selling your house.
Whether you hire a building inspector or not, one job should be on your list when you start preparing your home for sale is to fix the roof.
Why is this important? Most people think that if the roof is not leaking then everything is just fine, no need to fix something that is not broken.
Your roof may not be leaking right now but doesn’t mean it is in good condition.
If any noticeable problems are likely to occur soon that are picked up in inspection, the buyer will use these to negotiate a lower price to cover the expenses they will likely have with fixing the problem, generally these prices are overinflated and you will end up losing out on thousands.
Even if you agree to reduce the price, they can even still decide to withdraw from their offer completely to save themselves the trouble of having to do the repairs, when structural defects are identified, the ball can be left in their court, depending on how the contracts are written up.
Another reason to restore your roof prior to sale is that street vibe or kerb appeal, the look of a new roof that shows you have taken pride in your property is evident from the moment people arrive.
When someone is looking to purchase a home, they will look at 10, 20 maybe even 70 or 80 before narrowing down a handful to look at in person.
A house with a brand-new looking roof that looks to be well maintained will stand out from the rest and may boost your hopes of being on the list of homes to be visited and considered for sealing the deal.
What’s more, a good-looking house on the outside generally suggests a well-maintained home.
maybe then will a roof restoration add value as it points to a well maintained home.
This will encourage trust in the prospective buyers and will put you ahead of the competition.
According to local a agent finder article the roof is one of the most important exterior areas of any home. Roof repairs should be taken care of to protect the house from the elements. Lichen or moss can signify neglect to buyers, so clear it away.
Once the potential buyers are on site it all comes down to the minor details. Are the tiles well-arranged and shiny, are the gutters clean?
People may not look for them consciously but will surely notice when something is out of place or wrong.
Most buyers decide whether to create an offer on a property within the first five to ten minutes.
Such great details will add an awesome first impression, and from there buyers are much less likely to worry over the other stuff, it’s all about first impressions and setting that mood, if they are flat after seeing a tacky old roof that feeling will follow throughout the home, if they are greeted with a fresh vibrant new roof they are likely to walk in with a fresh vibrant feel and be more open to everything inside.
Many buyers are looking for a turn key home as they don’t want to deal with renovations.
During an open house don’t hesitate to mention all of your recent restoration and maintenance jobs. This is a good starting point to convince the buyers that they are making a good investment that will not have any issues for years to come.
A good thing to is to use companies that transfer warranties to new owners, that is always a good selling point is a potential buyer knows they are getting a home with a guarantee it is relatively maintenance free for many years.
What Repairs for Different roofing material?
The most common types of roofs in Perth are tin, colorbond roofing, concrete roof tiles and Terracotta roof tile. Each type has its good and bad points, and different kind of maintenance has required to keep each in good condition.
If you notice an issue with your roof, it is best to carry out roof repairs as soon as possible to avoid adding to the extra costs down the track.
Even though the roof may not be leaking, if you are hoping to get the highest price for your house, be sure to make the necessary repairs to your roof that will give it the extended life span therefore add the extra dollars to your home’s value.
Tin Roof
Tin roofs are a more affordable and durable option, which in the past has added to their popularity. Another benefit of tin roofs is that they are fairly cheap and easy to maintain.
If you are looking to sell your tin roofed house check for the following possible issues:
- Rust and corrosion
- Mould
- Loose paint
- Holes and open seams
- Different material patches or screws
The most common issue with tin roofs is that they tend to rust/corrode. To avoid corrosion and rust, you should repaint your roof every 5 to 7 years.
For the best results, you should first clean the roof from any loose paint and rust using a scraper or a wire brush.
Once done, paint the roof with a substance that is specifically formulated for metals. If you have the time, it is also good to paint any areas where the paint has worn off, even if it is not time to repaint the whole roof yet.
For Perth weather conditions, you must apply the correct sealants and paints. This would improve your roofs resilience and prevent mould, rust and corrosion issues. Some cowboys in Perth will paint a tin roof using water-based paint instead of a proper roofing membrane.
This will most likely result in flaking paint, leaving your roof worse off than when you started. A coating with a properly formulated roofing membrane could keep your tin roof in good condition for up to 10 years.
To avoid all the hassle, of course, you can employ the services of Powerdrive Roofing your local Perth professional roofing company that has years of experience working with all kinds of roofing systems.
Colorbond Roof
Another popular roofing material in the Perth especially over the past couple of decades is colorbond roofs, they are gaining popularity fast due to their durability and easy maintenance.
Although in its nature it is also a metal roof, it has some added benefits when compared to standard tin roofs.Because the colour is bonded into the steel it does not require painting as often.
You may go for as long as ten to fifteen years before the paint needs refreshing. Lighter colours tend to fade a little slower than dark ones. Colorbond roofs are also known to be resistant to corrosion, cracking, and peeling.
So, what do you need to maintain?If the colour has started to fade you could consider refreshing the paint. This will add to the external kerb appeal of your house.
Make sure you call the professionals, painting colorbond is tricky. If painting the roof isn’t required, you may consider a high pressure cleaning. Rain will usually wash most of the dirt, grime and lichen away.
If you are close to the ocean, however, your roof is also vulnerable to the build-up of salt. You can use a soft cloth or sponge or even a mop and apply pure soap or a non-abrasive detergent with water to clean the roof.
When you’re done, rinse carefully to make sure no cleaning substances are left on the surface of the roof. Hire a professional roofing contractor to check for possible leaks and fix potential problems.
In case you have trees breaching your gutter or overhanging your roof, clean them of leaves, debris and small branches. And if you are really willing to go that extra mile, you can check, and restore if needed, the metal finish of the gutters.
Salt, leaks, dirt and gutters are not colorbond-specific, and you need to take care of them whatever roof you have.
Remember that it’s usually the small details that make or break the deal when it comes to buying and selling a home.
Terracotta Roof
Terracotta roofs are popular not only for their classic vintage look but for their rather low maintenance as well.
Being made of fired clay, however, the clay tiles can easily crack or break. Before listing your property on the market check for the following potential issues associated with terracotta roofs:
- Broken or misplaced tiles
- Porous tiles
- Built-up dirt
- lichen/moss
- Chemical Delignification of tile battens
Clay tiles are usually hard and quite durable. Still, being exposed to Perths extreme conditions could result in cracked broken or fretted tiles.
Such tiles should be replaced immediately to avoid leaks. Avoid walking over the tiles at any cost. If you want to inspect them, use a ladder and visual from the gutter line instead of climbing on the roof unless you are trained to do so, a good way to check your Terracotta roof tiles is from the roof void, this way you can identify potential leaks from light penetrating, you will see tiles fretting and will also see signs of chemical delignification.
If the glazing of the tiles is partially or entirely missing, this will surely affect the looks of your roof. In their naturally unglazed terracotta tiles, they are porous which tends to make them less resistant to the elements, easier to break and to build lichen.
Whether you should choose a high-build primer or a simple translucent sealer, recoating your tiles is a good idea and will preserve them for several years. Bear in mind, however, that additionally laid sealers will not last as long as the original tile glazing and should be updated every 5 to 10 years.
Because terracotta tiled roofs are so inclined to collect dirt and develop lichen and moss. Terracotta tiles should be cleaned by professionals.
If you have decided to reseal your tiles, high pressure cleaning will remove the remaining glaze and will prepare the tile surface for the new sealer.
Clay tiles are extremely resilient to the effects of the harsh Perth sun, and their colour does not tend to fade.
Powerdrive Roofing does not recommend painting terracotta roof tiles. Unglazed terracotta tiles could be painted, although, once painted they will need regular maintenance and recoating, you also have the concern of natural buckling and warping, this will show inconsistent colour over different times of the year.
But the constant need to re-apply coats of paint does not make for a great option as it would significantly increase the total costs. Powerdrive Roofing is proud to offer a Terracotta roof restoration Perth residents can count on to breathe new life into old tiles, Powerdrive roofing does not currently offer an option for painting some terracotta tiles.
We have been asked several times in the past to paint a terracotta roof just to get it past a sale process. Sorry but that is not how we work, we take pride in our work. If we do a job we put our name to that job, if we can’t be confident a job is going to last we will not take it on.
Does a Terracotta Roof Restoration Add value To My Home?
Honestly? Not really, it doesn’t hurt the price, but it isn’t realistically going to increase the value of the home. Some people actually like the look of the lichen mould on the roof. It may be hard to believe but it has actually happened in the past that customers have wanted the lichen on their new terracotta tiles.
Concrete Tile Roof
Concrete roof tiles are like terracotta roof tiles not only in their durability but in their maintenance as well.
Broken and porous tiles as well as dirt and moss build up can pose the same potential issues, although concrete tiles are nowhere near as porous as terracotta. First and foremost, we replace any broken, chipped or damaged tiles.
They pose a danger to the house and your family and can greatly reduce the asking price when trying to sell your home. Just like with terracotta roof tiles, concrete roof tiles are covered with a protective coating atop their natural porous state.
If you notice the coating is faded or obsolete, you should consider resealing your tiles or roof restoration. Unlike Terracotta roof tiles, concrete tends to fade over time and painting them can make it look like a brand-new roof.
If you feel like improving the aesthetics of your home raising the street appeal, you should Powerdrive roofing’s roof restoration ensure a long-lasting result and a warranty you can pass on to the new owners.
High pressure cleaning should be done by a professional to avoid the water being forced under the tiles into the house.
Concrete roof tiles should only be high pressure cleaned if they are going to be recoated, otherwise, you are stripping the protective barrier off and leaving the roof exposed, if required recoat the gutters for optimal kerb appeal.
It is always best to have a regular roof inspection completed to make sure roof maintenance is kept up to date and you won’t have any nasty surprises when it comes time to sell.
Does a concrete roof restoration add value?
Again, Not really, But it may have more of an impact than a terracotta roof restoration. Keep reading below to find out my truthful thoughts.
How Much Value Will a New Roof Add When Selling a House?
A roof is an essential fixture of any home, so long as it is correctly maintained and not causing structural issues a coat of paint isn’t going to ADD value to your home. A pool, a patio, or an extra parking garage, these are things that will add value. But that doesn’t mean a roof restoration is a waste of money. Keep reading to find out why a roof restoration is a good investment.
First impressions, as we have already been through in this blog are what count. Take a good old heritage home in Cottesloe or Fremantle, without the nicely maintained terracotta tile roof that is era specific it loses a lot of its charm and in turn a lot of its value.
If it doesn’t come with a well-maintained terracotta roof it’s not worth the investment, so in this case, a new roof would sometimes work against the seller and restoration or repairs would be the ideal way to proceed.
According to real estate several specialists, a renovated or restored roof may add approximately 15 to 20% to the value of your home.
This is mainly due to a bad looking roof that can suggest a neglected home. This may not make me the best salesman, but I do carry on about honesty. At Powerdrive roofing pride itself on it, so I will tell you I personally don’t think a new roof is going to add 20% to any home sale, will it add value to your home?
Yes of course it will, will it draw in potential buyers? Yes, for all the reasons above, will it add 20 percent to the value of my home?
That is very optimistic. What it will do is give you a much higher chance of getting your home in front of potential buyers. it will give you a much higher chance of getting the asking price for your home in a much more timely fashion.
It will give your home kerb appeal and help hide any other minor imperfections and put people in the right frame of mind when they walk through the front door. You will definitely not lose money on it.
A new roof or roof restoration is a great investment. A good-looking home creates that first impression that assures the buyers they will live in it care-free for at least a few years. Especially if you have a warranty you can pass on.
It just makes your littles homes stand out, it will be the swan amongst the ducklings, it will be the one the people want to look at, people will realise this and the offers will come fast.
Once you receive that offer and the negotiations begin whip out the invoices and warranties for all the renovations and restorations and there is your negotiation point.
This will ensure the buyers that they have nothing to worry about with their roof. They can even make a call directly to the company owner Dean for clarification that the warranty will transfer. Dean will arrange a new warranty drawn up with their details for the remainder of the warranty period. You cannot get any better than that for personalised service. But that is the Powerdrive way.
You could even mention how much money and hassle this will save them.
When people are happy, they tend to close their eyes to other minor issues. It would be easier to close the deal and hit that asking price.
If the role is reversed and the roof is yet to be restored. They could be the ones to take advantage of the negotiation and use it as a reason reduce the asking price.
In some cases, a neglected roof may turn out to be a deal-breaker. Or they may not even turn up to look in the first place because they were down the road at Mr and Mrs Smith’s house that just had a Powerdrive roofing roof restoration. They managed to snap up a home with no maintenance required.
Can I Sell With a Bad Roof?
Can you sell your home with a bad roof? Of course, you can. It is your home; you can do with it what you like. however, there is a good chance you will face lengthy delays.
You are likely to get very few visitors through to view the property, those that do may well not be serious, or will offer low ball offers, you may finally get someone though who wants to make an offer, however that offer is going to be greatly reduced and this is largely due to the fact that the the roof restoration or repairs were not carried out prior to sale, thus making the home look untidy and unkept, highlighting many other smaller blemishes that may well have been overlooked had the roof had given the right feel to the prospective buyer on the approach to the property.
It’s a deep pool of real estate, new homes going up for sale every day, if you want to get noticed and not hang around treading water you need to stand out.
A Powerdrive roofing roof restoration is truly the first step in standing out from the crowd, the reason you are still here reading this is because you know there is something different about us, you are right, we care, we want the best for our customers and we will go out of our way to provide that.
Powerdrive Roofing also offers internal and external painting services, so we are really the perfect package when it comes to selling your homes, we can set the mood when they arrive and have them completely melting by the time they walk through the front doors, with a fresh coat of paint the right blend of colours, throw in a strategically positioned feature wall they will be on the phone to the bank and arranging the removalists before you know it.
So if you are selling your home, give us a call, take advantage of our free roof inspection service, a Powerdrive roofing team member will come out and give you an honest opinion, all our inspections and quotes have photos attached so you can see any areas of concern as well, this is just another way we like to keep open and honest with our customers.
