Flood damage happens, and when it does it can be devastating to the homeowner. Everything that has been hit by the water line and subsequent mud has to be taken out of the home, cleaned or disposed of and then repaired. For some homeowners, there is just not the time or resources to fix things quickly after a flood, and if you are in the market to sell your house, flood damage can be especially crushing.
Before you can even consider listing your flooded house you will want to think about whether you want to invest the time and effort in getting repairs done, or prefer to go with a cash sale leaving your property as-is and hoping for the best. With either option you will need to do a few things as soon as possible to keep as much value as possible to your home after flood damage.
A flood inspector can help assess damage but you will need to guide them as well. If severe flooding has occurred, you may have a FEMA inspector to help with disaster relief, but most flooding inspectors will come out based on your flood insurance policy. So, you will need to have an idea of where damage occurred and the only way to do that is to get cleaning up the mess. You want to check for structural and foundational issues first so that going into the home is safe.
If you can access your house, you will want to begin by shoveling out mud and rinsing down surfaces as much as possible. Remove all wet fabric items and furniture and place them out to dry. It is also important to remove any perishable food that may have been packaged in the pantry or cupboards and gotten wet to avoid contamination and illness. You should also consider wearing protective clothing as moist flood damaged environments can harbor molds and other irritants.
Then the process of scrubbing everything down takes place so you can see the extent of the damage, and where the waterline falls. In order to decide on whether you want to repair or sell your house as-is, you will need to know the full extent of flood damage. Getting things cleaned up as soon as possible also prevents further damage and allows prospective buyers to see your property at its best.
Even an inch of water can create damage that is costly to repair as this means the flooring may have to be replaced and drywall up above the waterline. Many homeowners have coverage under flood insurance policies which will help with repairs, but that means hiring contractors and finding somewhere else to live while the repairs are being handled. This means more out of pocket expense, and with extensive flood damage where structural damage has taken place too, it can sometimes be months before your house will be livable again.
If you have the time and resources, waiting until repairs are completed may be beneficial as a fresh house, newly redone, will fetch more on the market. However, if time and budget are an issue, you may want to consider a cash sale offer to get yourself out of the flood damaged home quickly and let the investor handle repairs and turn around on your flood damaged house. You won’t get full market value on a flood damaged house, but in cases of extreme damage it is often the best real estate solution for a homeowner who is strapped for resources so that the flood damage doesn’t turn into an ongoing financial burden.
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