House Flooded, No Insurance? 5 Tips to Sell A Flooded House

What You Should Know After the Flood // Tips for Homeowners looking to Sell a Flooded House

Sell a flooded house…

Does that statement sound overwhelming to you? If you are the homeowner of a flooded home you are aware of the nightmare it is. Water damage is nothing compared to the devastation floods can do to entire cities.

Last year Hurricane Harvey swept through the city of Houston, and no one was prepared for what was to come. The predictions were dramatic, and the results were worse. Houston was pummelled with rain for days on end. According to the National Hurricane Center, Harvey caused more than $125 billion in damages and forced 39,000 people from their homes and into shelters.

I still get goosebumps when I talk about it.

Now we are still dealing with the aftermath. Our city suffered together, and now we are still repairing together. The rest of the world sees the storm is over, but for Houstonians the storm is a reality that will permeate society for years to come.

The question for many Houston homeowners has become how to sell a flooded house.

Are you looking to sell a flooded house? Here are some things to consider when faced with making decisions about your flooded home.

Water Damage Goes Deep

The main concern when it comes to flood damage is mold. It grows fast. It creates dangerous living conditions and health concerns. Just one inch of water is enough to act as a catalyst for mold growth with the moisture in the air during a storm. You have 24-48 hours to remove flood damaged material before mold begins to grow and spread, and it cannot be reversed; once mold sets in, items can only destroyed and thrown away.

If you are considering the question of how to sell a flooded house, make sure you are fully aware of the extent of the damage and repairs you will be responsible for. It could mean the difference between making the decision to repair the house or sell a flooded house to a Houston home buyer.

The Difficulty with Insurance Claims

First and foremost I think an obvious barrier is work load. A city devastated by a flood is going to have thousands of people who will need to file a claim. Everyone feels a sense of urgency. Adjusters couldn’t even begin to look at properties until flood waters had fully receded which took a few days for us here.

There was also a lot of confusion this year filing claims due to misunderstandings with a law that went into effect on September 1st affecting lawsuits, and many people thought it also affected claims. This vastly increased the sense of urgency to have houses evaluated and insurance claims honored though this turned out to be unwarranted.

The reality is that 85% of Houston homeowners don’t have flood insurance. These facts are only relevant to a surprising few.

Sell a Flooded House As Is

Some homeowners are choosing to sell. Many are forced to due to financial situations and obvious loss. Either way, a Houston home buyer can help buy your house as is and take it off your hands.

“As is” establishes that a seller sells an item in its current condition with all its faults regardless of how obvious they are. Buyers should understand that they have a responsibility to thoroughly examine the property and due their due diligence. This is great for sellers because it removes some of the responsibility.

Houston home buyers are accustomed to offering solution to consumers in difficult situations. If you need to sell a flooded house, a home buyer is often the smartest choice.