Buying a Fire-Damaged House? Here’s What You Should Know

Shopping for a new home can be exciting. It can also be stressful, nerve-wracking, and end up with you considering all sorts of things you never thought of before. In particular, if you find yourself looking at a home that needs a lot of work, your worries can be magnified. Are there aspects of repairing this that you’re not considering? Is it going to cost more money than you think? Is the home dangerous until it’s fixed? What will your in-laws think?

Each time of home damage and repair is a little bit different. The following will explore in detail what you should know if you’re considering buying a house that’s been damaged by a fire. Of course, this information and anything else you find online does not replace a good building inspector’s opinion. Before buying any property, make sure to have it thoroughly examined to ensure that you’re getting as much information about the purchase as possible.

Fire Damage Scares Away many Investors And Home Buyers

You likely have already figured this one out. Fire damage frightens away many potential buyers meaning that, almost always, you can get a house that’s been damaged by fire for a significantly reduced cost. If you can repair the damage efficiently and affordably, there’s a good chance your financial return on the home (whether you hold it for years to come or sell it) will be significant. Experts at webuyfiredamagedhouses.com/for-sale/ emphasize that because of this if you know what you’re doing, fire-damaged homes can make excellent investments. It might shock you to realize how many fires damaged properties there are for sale.

Home Inspector And Structural Engineer

We’ve already mentioned the importance of a home inspector earlier, and this cannot be stressed enough. Some fires are contained within one room before they’re put out, resulting in only that space being damaged. Other fires have worked their way through an entire property before being put out. You’ll want to know up front everything that has been damaged by the fire and begin doing your research on the cost of repairs and the time it will take to get the job done.

Beyond having a home inspector take a look, you’re going to want a structural engineer to examine the property. A professional structural engineer will tell you whether the fire affected the structural integrity of the home or not. Pipes might be melted or warped. Windows, doors, and flooring might have been bent out of shape by the heat. Burnt electrical wiring is also a severe issue. In many situations, even if you’re comfortable with home repair, fire damage requires a professional’s help for at least a few days.

Mold, Mildew, And Water Damage

Ironically, many fires damaged homes have mold or mildew problems. This is because, in most cases, water is used to put a fire out. Water damage can create many issues that need to be dealt with before the home is in tip-top shape. Beyond this, mold and mildew are serious health hazards. The spores are invisible, but they harm our lungs, produce irritating nasal stuffiness, shortness of breath, throat irritation, coughing, wheezing, skin irritation, and eye irritation. More than this, anyone prone to asthma attacks or allergies might suffer something terrible in a moldy space.

Smell

One of the more challenging things to repair in a fire-damaged home is the smell. Items that are not burnt or visibly damaged by the fire might still be porous enough to absorb the smoky smell. There’s a chance you’ll be replacing a lot more than what looks damaged to get rid of the scent.

It Might Get Worse Before It Gets Better

Before extensive work can be done on the home, you might find that things get a little messier. You’ll want to pull away drywall to inspect each and every load-bearing wall in the house for any damage. This way, you can be sure the house’s bones are promising before you start laying on the muscle. Experienced carpenters will construct the exact framing needed for the walls that hold the floors above or the roof. Each one of these walls should be repaired carefully before you move on to examine another.

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The above information should get you in the right mindset to determine whether or not a fire-damaged property is right for you. Of course, every home is different, and each fire damaged house is also going to have its quirks that have nothing to do with the fire. Make sure to examine other features and aspects of a home and include those in your decision-making process.