Selling a Fire-Damaged House?

The Hard Way: Finding a real estate agent who knows the ropes of listing fire-damaged houses is your first step.

Finding a buyer who is actually willing to rebuild or repair your house can turn into a long waiting game. Months could easily pass before you see any real progress.

Mortgage lenders often turn down loan applications for fire-damaged houses, which is a problem since most buyers need one.

The Easy Way: Getting a no-obligation offer from us to buy your house for cash in its current fire-damaged condition is as easy as reaching out.

Our fair offer accounts for the fire damage and we also close deals quickly. Repairs aren't necessary on your end, and we don't have to deal with a mortgage lender at all.

Filling out a property disclosure is a requirement for anyone selling a house.

That required disclosure form includes a specific question about whether your house ever dealt with fire damage. Being totally honest about a past fire is necessary, even if you’ve already rebuilt the house or someone else owned the property at the time.

Several factors like the extent of the damage, local repair costs, and where your property is located determine the asking price for a fire-damaged house.

A repair estimate from a fire restoration contractor subtracted from the property's market value once fixed up helps you figure out the right price.

An appraisal report from a professional property appraiser is another option if you don't mind paying a fee. A cash offer from us is available as well, and all you have to do is reach out!

You'll usually see a cost-per-square-foot estimate to fix a fire-damaged house, but other big bills can definitely surprise you.

Repair expenses for a fire-damaged house usually run between $200 and $300 per square foot. A simple, fuss-free rebuild is really all that price covers.

How much damage occurred and which rooms the fire hit will set the cost to rebuild a house after a fire.

1. Damage: Dealing with smoke and water damage throughout the house can add up, even if the fire damage itself is relatively minor. You might have to buy new drapes or deep-clean the carpets just to get rid of that lingering smoke scent. Putting out the flames often leaves behind a mess of water damage for you to deal with. Professional cleaners who specialize in fire restoration can give you a detailed breakdown of all the expected costs.
2. Location: Repairing a kitchen after a fire usually hits the wallet harder than fixing up a bedroom or living room. New appliances and cabinets can really drive up your total repair bill. You'll usually spend less fixing a garage fire than you would dealing with damage to the roof or the main living areas.

Several different factors determine how long you'll be able to rebuild your home after a fire.

Insurance: Rebuilding often slows down depending on your coverage limits and whether your hazard insurance specifically handles fires in your area.

An adjuster from the insurance company will need to stop by your house to check out the damage and write up a report.

The company uses that report to figure out your fire-damage coverage based on your policy, after you pay the deductions.

How many adjusters are working nearby and which insurance company you use will determine how long this whole step takes.

You might be waiting weeks or even months for an inspection from an adjuster if a massive fire hits several houses in the area at once.

Damage: Your rebuilding schedule is largely dictated by how much damage the house actually sustained. Fixing up a house after a small fire is usually a fast process that might only take a few weeks.

Pulling building permits, getting architectural plans approved, or even total demolition are often necessary when dealing with major fire damage. You might be looking at a year or longer before everything is finally finished.

Once the flames are out, what happens after a house fire? Dealing with a house fire without insurance coverage means you'll have a specific checklist to follow.

Cause: Documenting a potentially faulty product is a smart move if you think that’s what started the fire. Filing a lawsuit to get back the money for house repairs or a full replacement might be possible with that documentation. Your local fire inspector is available to help you figure out exactly how the fire started.

Disaster Declaration: Disaster funds might still offer you a path to financial help if your house sits in a declared disaster zone, even without a state or federal insurance policy.

Contact Your Lender: Mortgage payments don't go away just because a fire destroyed your property, even if you don’t have any hazard insurance.

Estimate Repair or Replacement Costs: Asking at least three contractors for bids is the best way to estimate the costs of replacing or repairing the fire damage.

Determine Value: The land itself might be where all the value remains if your home suffered a major fire. You can get a professional look at the current value of your property by talking to home builders or one of the companies that buy fire-damaged houses. Our team is ready to help you out with this part of the process.

Evaluate Your Resources: Deciding whether to rebuild or repair depends on how much cash or other resources you have available after a fire.

Putting your fire-damaged house on the market might be your smartest move if you don't have the funds to fix it up. Paying off your remaining mortgage might be possible as well with the cash you get from selling the property.

A cash sale can wipe out a small mortgage and leave you with enough profit to buy a more affordable home.

Our team can walk you through a cash sale if you decide that’s the right path for you after the fire.