Surely a home with fire damage is harder to sell? After all, who wants to buy a property that requires significant work, especially when it’s caused by a fire. If you happen to be thinking about selling your home but are worried about issues caused by fire, this guide is for you. Here, we have everything you need to know about how to sell a house with fire damage, no matter how severe.
What is a fire-damaged property?
A fire-damaged property refers to any home, apartment, commercial building, or other property that has sustained damage from a fire. This can range from minor smoke and water damage to complete destruction of the property by fire.
When a property is damaged by fire, there are usually significant restoration costs required before it can be safely reoccupied and returned to its pre-fire condition. In some cases, the damage is so extensive that the entire structure may need to be demolished and rebuilt.
But there are scenarios where you might wish to sell. Of course, this can be problematic depending on the severity of damage.
Other options include claiming via insurance, although claims centre around rebuilding costs, lost property value, relocation fees if residents are displaced. Speak to your insurer to see what they can do. You might be able to get the insurance company to pay for the repairs, depending on the policy, and then sell the house after the refurb.
Managing a fire-damaged property
Owners of properties damaged by fire are obliged to remove the risk of harm to the public. This means promptly addressing any loose materials or unstable structures. Councils even have the authority to impose fines for properties or sites that are unsightly or disorderly and haven’t been cleaned up post-fire.
Hiring a company that specialises in cleaning up after fire damage may be your best move, at least in the short term. While it might feel like an unnecessary expense when you’ve already suffered significant losses, employing the expertise of a fire damage clean-up firm can be a wise decision. They can provide advice on mitigating further damage.
What does fire damage mean for selling a house?
Fires can ignite in any part of a home, not just in the kitchen, where high cooking is a common cause. Other factors, such as electrical issues, like overloaded sockets and wiring faults can also lead to fires around the house.
Early detection of a fire can limit the extent of the damage. In some cases, the impact may be largely superficial, with the fire leaving visible marks like soot on walls, floors or furnishings. This is in stark contrast to structural damage, which compromises the building’s stability. An example of structural damage is when critical elements like wooden beams are destroyed by the fire.
Regardless of whether the fire damage is cosmetic or structural, it inevitably devalues the property. Owners must be prepared to sell at a price lower than what an undamaged property would fetch on the property market.
What price will my fire-damaged property sell for?
A property is often sold ‘as is’ if it has suffered severe fire damage, with owners opting against investing the time and money into resolving the damage. How much your property is worth after a fire depends on the extent of the damage.
Another factor to consider is mortgage lenders. Many homebuyers purchase their property with a mortgage, but it’s unlikely that any lender will lend on a house with fire damage. Therefore, it will be increasingly hard to sell a fire-damaged property on the traditional sales market unless it’s to a cash buyer.
It’s not all bad news, though. Numerous builders and developers are always on the lookout for new project properties that they can do up and flip for profit. So you may be lucky enough to find one such buyer. Just expect a significantly lower value than if the property was in good condition.
Property Rescue is a great option for fire-damaged homes. We’ll buy your property as-is, for cash. You can get a free, no obligation quote from us by clicking here and filling in a 30-second form.
What are my options for selling a fire-damaged property?
While you might struggle to sell your fire-damaged property on the traditional sales market, options exist to help you get a sale.
Auction
Selling a home that has been damaged by fire through an auction could be a decent option in some cases. The main appeal is that it can speed up the overall sales process, getting the property sold quicker than traditional methods. This could allow former homeowners to receive funds more rapidly to put towards finding or fixing up a new place.
However, there are also some drawbacks that should be considered. The rushed timeline leaves minimal wiggle room to try and maximise the earning potential. Sellers lose influence to negotiate offers or make small repairs to potentially increase buyer interest or price. There is also the uncertainty around whether anyone will actually buy the property at auction – sales are not guaranteed.
Basically it boils down to a trade off between convenience and profit. Auctioning cuts out prolonged delays but likely reduces what you’ll make. Depending on the previous owners’ unique situation following the fire damage, that speed and influx of cash may override wanting to squeeze out maximum resale value. The approach can facilitate quicker resolution, albeit often at a discounted cost.
Property Rescue
As mentioned earlier, Property Rescue is ideal for homeowners looking to sell their properties quickly. We deliver a cash offer for homes quickly, which can be beneficial for anyone needing an expedited sale due to significant fire damage. We work with properties in any condition and can save sellers the effort and expense of making repairs.
So, if you’d like to sell a fire damaged property quickly, start by getting your free no obligation cash offer, by filling in this 30-second form.