Pitching roof to increase visual appeal and rent?

[Craig J Chelette]

Have an offer in on a detached duplex. The front unit has a flat roof. I feel like rent is low and am wondering how much it matters that the roof is flat? Has anyone had success with getting more rent by adding a pitched roof to a unit? Thanks

[James Mc Ree]

The roof is irrelevant to your rent if the property is consistent with the neighboring properties so long as it is sound and doesn't leak.  I have 4 properties with flat roofs that are consistent with the neighborhood and get good rents on all 4.  It may look different if the surrounding properties all have pitched roofs, but that doesn't automatically mean you get more rent for it.  (You might!)

Model it out.  Divide the cost of building the pitched roof by the amount of additional rent you think you might get to determine when you get your money back.  Find comps to justify your hypothesis and it may work out for you according to your numbers.