Has anyone here sold a house before?

obscured01 · 10-15-2011, 03:53 PM

We've bought our first house but not sold it yet so I'm kind of at the mercy of my mom's realtor.

My mom's 67 and has been diagnosed with dementia, and lives by herself in Lubbock. We're trying to get her to sell her house and move here to Fort Worth so we can look in on her. After my grandmother passed away in Sept. '10 there is no one else left of our family in Lubbock, so it's pointless that she's there by herself.

She wants to move, has a great house (she's done many renovations to it), and we've got it on the market. However, her roof hasn't been replaced in like 10 years, but she has done maintenance on it and it isn't leaking. Apparently when she paid off the house she thought she didn't need to keep paying house insurance so the house is uninsured... Her realtor has basically told us that unless we get the roof replaced the house won't sell accept on a cash only, as is basis. I don't really understand this, because I don't know anything about selling houses. But she's saying that the lenders (specifically FHA) won't approve the loan for a house with an old roof. She's called several insurance companies and they've said they won't insure either.

We've had 3 offers on the house, and the realtor has all told them that unless their lender/insurance will approve of the roof to look elsewhere.

I'm at a loss of what to do because she flat out refuses to pay 6k to put a new roof on a house she's going to be selling. I'm handling things because everytime the realtor tells her something she curses her out and says she's going to kick the damn for sale sign over and make her come get it.

Anyone know much about this sort of thing?

sppunk · 10-15-2011, 04:16 PM

Ten years is not old for a roof. If it's in bad shape though, the sale won't go through due to failing inspection. The Realtor is correct on that front. Loans usually aleays require approval of a licensed inspector.

A cash sale is an option, but you can also work the roof replacement into a sale contract and still be OK. That would take the cost out of profit, instead of taking it out up-front (if agreeable be the buyers).

When your mom got the house appraised for sale, did she / her Realtor have it inspected? It's not common, but I'd get an inspection over trusting a Realtor's view of what the roof needs (repair vs replacement).

ohnoitsbonnie · 10-15-2011, 09:40 PM

There are different kinds of roofs. I'm assuming this is an asphalt roof. Those usually come in "10 year" and "25 year" varieties. If it's the former, then you're going to have to change it. Those are cheaper, and for a while the only option, but not worth it imo compared to the more expensive "timberline" brand. I don't know how much roof area you've got here but $6k is a little high I'd think. Are there singles underneath the top ones? How many layers? Is there undulation? It doesn't have to be leaking into the house to cause damage. You could even have dry rot. I'm just saying possibilities though. But do get an inspection if you haven't and see what the results are there.

D. · 10-15-2011, 10:19 PM

we're going to be selling the house november next year... i am not looking forward to it. not one bit.

10-15-2011, 03:53 PM	#1
obscured01 Minion of Satan Location: DFW Tejas Posts: 9,693	Has anyone here sold a house before? We've bought our first house but not sold it yet so I'm kind of at the mercy of my mom's realtor. My mom's 67 and has been diagnosed with dementia, and lives by herself in Lubbock. We're trying to get her to sell her house and move here to Fort Worth so we can look in on her. After my grandmother passed away in Sept. '10 there is no one else left of our family in Lubbock, so it's pointless that she's there by herself. She wants to move, has a great house (she's done many renovations to it), and we've got it on the market. However, her roof hasn't been replaced in like 10 years, but she has done maintenance on it and it isn't leaking. Apparently when she paid off the house she thought she didn't need to keep paying house insurance so the house is uninsured... Her realtor has basically told us that unless we get the roof replaced the house won't sell accept on a cash only, as is basis. I don't really understand this, because I don't know anything about selling houses. But she's saying that the lenders (specifically FHA) won't approve the loan for a house with an old roof. She's called several insurance companies and they've said they won't insure either. We've had 3 offers on the house, and the realtor has all told them that unless their lender/insurance will approve of the roof to look elsewhere. I'm at a loss of what to do because she flat out refuses to pay 6k to put a new roof on a house she's going to be selling. I'm handling things because everytime the realtor tells her something she curses her out and says she's going to kick the damn for sale sign over and make her come get it. Anyone know much about this sort of thing?

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10-15-2011, 04:16 PM	#2
sppunk Netphoria's George Will Location: Fenway Park Posts: 37,125	Ten years is not old for a roof. If it's in bad shape though, the sale won't go through due to failing inspection. The Realtor is correct on that front. Loans usually aleays require approval of a licensed inspector. A cash sale is an option, but you can also work the roof replacement into a sale contract and still be OK. That would take the cost out of profit, instead of taking it out up-front (if agreeable be the buyers). When your mom got the house appraised for sale, did she / her Realtor have it inspected? It's not common, but I'd get an inspection over trusting a Realtor's view of what the roof needs (repair vs replacement).

10-15-2011, 09:40 PM	#3
ohnoitsbonnie Banned Location: somerville, nj Posts: 23,383	There are different kinds of roofs. I'm assuming this is an asphalt roof. Those usually come in "10 year" and "25 year" varieties. If it's the former, then you're going to have to change it. Those are cheaper, and for a while the only option, but not worth it imo compared to the more expensive "timberline" brand. I don't know how much roof area you've got here but $6k is a little high I'd think. Are there singles underneath the top ones? How many layers? Is there undulation? It doesn't have to be leaking into the house to cause damage. You could even have dry rot. I'm just saying possibilities though. But do get an inspection if you haven't and see what the results are there.

10-15-2011, 10:19 PM	#4
D. Consume my pants. Location: Missouri Posts: 36,063	we're going to be selling the house november next year... i am not looking forward to it. not one bit.