Fixing roof before sale?

[GideonSmideon]

DM since DF died has decided to downsize from a 4 bed detached house to a 1 bed retirement flat (which is another thread entirely!) but has a small patch of damp in one of the bedrooms.

She's since has a quote of 6 grand plus vat to fix this and a couple of other things inc replacing felt that the roofer found upon inspection. Is it worth fixing this before putting it on the market or is it something that you'd leave for the new purchasers?

I guess now that this has to be declared? (It's a long time since I've sold a property)

Thanks

It's something that, as a buyer, I'd expect a survey to find. I'd then use it to start a negotiation about price.

I wouldn't get it fixed beforehand as a seller.

I would get more quotes - from roofers recommended by word of mouth (not checkatrade).
We had quotes from £700 to "the whole roof needs replacing" (checkatrade guy).
I'd do it before selling, if you can afford it, or you risk people pulling out post survey.

If you don't want to pay for this, just be honest with potential buyer/adjust the asking price accordingly.

This will come out at the survey stage anyway so better to be up front about it.

I'd fix it before to achieve a quicker / smoother sale.
Buying a house for most people is stressful enough without having to immediately fix the roof on day one.
If it delays things or people pull out after the survey, the leak will just create more damp issues that need to be sorted.

As a buyer, personally I'd MUCH rather this was fixed before. I would be unlikely to offer on somewhere with a known but unfixed problem with roof, it would indicate to me that the house is uncared for and I'd be cautious about unexpected costs. But I'm coming from a position of not wanting much of a 'project' beyond easy cosmetics.

I think also maybe relevant is the general condition of the house - I'm guessing it might all be in an older style decor/fittings wise? (Big assumption I realise). If it's a bit of a fixer-upper in other aspects too, it's probably less necessary as you'll be attracting a different crowd who'll be more game for taking on the works?