If you’ve ever experienced a fire in your home, you know how overwhelming it can be. But what if you need to sell your fire-damaged house? There are ways to sell it even if it has severe damage. Here are some tips to help you get the best return possible.
Benefits of Repairing the Home
Repairing your home prior to putting it back on the market will make it much easier to sell. Potential buyers may be willing to do some repairs, but seeing that you have already started the repair process will make them more likely to purchase the home. Depending on the amount of damage done, you may find that the repairs needed are pretty cheap! Even if you just set them up with contractors and get the repairs in motion, your buyer will feel less overwhelmed knowing the process has started.
Cons of Repairing the Fire Damaged Home
Not all repairs will be simple or inexpensive. If the fire was extensive, you may not be able to afford all aspects of the home; you may even find that the repairs will cost more than the home itself is worth. This is especially true if your insurance doesn’t cover fire damage. You may find that this amount of time is not worth the additional money you can make from the home. Finally, repairing a fire-damaged home is a hassle to deal with.
What Repairs Can I Make to Help a Sell a Fire Damage House?
Fixing the aesthetic appeal of the house by repairing the paint job, carpeting, or furnishing in the home can greatly increase the overall value of the home. You may need to do some more serious repairs to push forward a sale, including structural repairs if the home was severely damaged. You may need to hire a plumber or electrician if the fire affected your home’s pipes or electrical outlets as well.
How to Sell a Fire Damaged House?
Once you’ve come to the conclusion that you want to sell the home, there are a few things you should do before putting it on the market. Here are some tips to help you get the most money possible from your home.
- Thoroughly Clean the Home Smoke damage can show up as stains on the walls, ceiling, floors, and furniture. The smoke can also leave behind odors, particularly in crawl spaces and any other closed-off areas. Wear proper protective gear while cleaning; soot in the home from the smoke can harm your lungs, and debris on the floor can cause cuts and scrapes. Wear a respirator and thick, leather gloves, as well as thick shoes to protect yourself.
- Explore Your Selling Options Cash home buyers will usually offer money for your home even if it is damaged. Do your research online and consider selling your home to one of these buyers, especially if you are unable to do repairs. That way, you will still be able to get some money for your home even if it is heavily damaged.
- Clean Up Outdoors Give your front and backyard some attention so that it looks nice for potential buyers. Trim any bushes you have out front and care for the lawn. If any of your lawn was damaged in the fire, consider planting new seeds to help it grow back.
- Decorate Inside and Outside Invest in plants and shrubs for your front yard, as well as indoor plants and any other decorations to keep inside.
- Do Any Repairs You Can Try to take care of any repairs you can before putting your home back on the market. Even a fresh coat of paint or new flooring can help make your home look like new again.
- Be Honest About the Damage When you put your home up for sale, be honest about the state of the property. Potential buyers will appreciate your transparency, and it will prevent