Two-thirds of buyers would slash offers over visible roof or gutter damage – yet most sellers aren’t prioritising repairs
Damaged roofs and gutters are the single biggest reason UK buyers reduce their property offers, according to new research from The Bespoke Sign House.
The study of 1,000 UK adults found that 66% of buyers would cut their offer if they spotted roof or gutter damage, significantly outweighing other common concerns like peeling paintwork (45%), poor landscaping (38%), or neglected driveways (36%).
“Roofing is one of the things you can’t hide because the majority of buyers have a survey,” says Chris Webb, founder of The Estate Agent Consultancy. “It’s a better narrative to say we knew there was an issue, we got it sorted’ rather than hiding it until exchange.”
The findings reveal what actually moves buyer behaviour, and it’s not always what sellers expect. While interior presentation and staging often dominate pre-sale advice, the research suggests exterior condition carries significantly more weight in offer negotiations.
Julia Starzyk, quantity surveying specialist and founder of STAR Projects, explains the psychology: “If any sort of roofing issue is visible, buyers will immediately walk away. Roofs are perceived as always being expensive because you can never really estimate what the full cost is going to be, even if the actual fix is minor.”
Kristian Goodenough, co-founder of The Bespoke Sign House adds: “Unless your home is particularly scruffy, a whole repaint usually isn’t needed. For most sellers, the best return comes from targeted touch-ups – front doors, window frames and fences tend to do the heavy lifting. The aim is to make the home look well cared for, which reassures buyers without spending money where it’s not needed.”
Basic roof and gutter repairs typically start from £250-£300 yet can prevent far larger reductions in a final sale price. The research found that 64% of sellers who invested in exterior improvements spent under £1,000, with over half (51%) reporting these upgrades helped them sell faster or for more money.
The data suggests a clear pre-sale priority order:
- Roof and gutter repairs (66% would reduce offers)
- Exterior paintwork (45% would reduce offers)
- Garden and landscaping (38% would reduce offers)
- Driveway maintenance (36% would reduce offers)
“Fixing a handful of these issues can lift the overall feel of a property, which directly impacts what buyers are willing to pay,” advises Kristian.
For more on how first impressions affect sale prices, see the full findings here
