Roof Before HELOC/Cash Out Refi?

Roof Before HELOC/Cash Out Refi?

Jeff PollockPro Member
Truckee, CA · Member since 2020 · 34 posts · 10 votes

Hey Everyone,

I'm mid-flight on a renovation to turn part of my primary residence into a studio and house hack, and also midway through reading David Greene's BRRRR book. In it he argues that if you can fix something major like a roof prior to getting a house appraised as part of a refi you'll recoup part of that investment with the additional value you'll be able to pull out after getting it done.

My roof needs to be redone and I'm torn on if it's worth it to liquidate some stock to get it done prior to getting the house appraised to generate funding through a HELOC or cash out refi that would be put into another investment. I had originally planned to use either HELOC or funds from the cash out refi to get the roof done afterward, but David's argument sounds interesting. I realize I should have the reserves on hand to not have to liquidate stock but I've prioritized the house hack work over the roof for the short term and now considering changing direction based on this new information I just read. Has anyone been in a similar situation or have thoughts/experience with a decision like this? Thanks in advance!

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  • Property Manager · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    5y

    Unless the roof is failing I don't foresee it adding any value to an appraisal.

  • Developer · Danville KY · Member since 2015 · 87 posts · 110 votes
    5y

    @Jeff Pollock we pulled a HELOC with a roof that will need changing soon and the appraisal came in at the price we thought it would. We did give the appraiser comps we thought fit and a list of improvements which helped.

  • Jeff PollockPro Member
    OP
    Truckee, CA · Member since 2020 · 34 posts · 10 votes
    5y

    @Joe Norman @Lina Bibikov thanks for the input, much appreciated! Appraisal prior to roof it is, as the roof isn’t failing by any means and was actually done albeit unpermitted a couple years back. Shame it needs to be redone already but it’s what got me the house in the first place so I’ll take a $20k roof in favor of $100k in equity since I bought. 

  • Rental Property Investor · Dayton, OH · Member since 2019 · 293 posts · 440 votes
    5y

    @Jeff Pollock I agree with @Joe Norman if it’s not failing, it will not add value to the appraisal in most situations.

  • Jeff PollockPro Member
    OP
    Truckee, CA · Member since 2020 · 34 posts · 10 votes
    5y

    Awesome, thanks for the input @Todd Pultz!

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