Selling a House with Water Damage In California

Selling a House with Water Damage In California

Water damage is a major headache for homeowners. Fixing it can be expensive, but ignoring it will only make matters worse and cause more damage.

The best approach to water damage is to act quickly and effectively. It can impact many parts of your home like the ceiling, walls, floors, paint, foundation, and electrical and plumbing systems. To restore your water-damaged home, you’ll need to hire various contractors with different expertise.

Selling a house with water damage can be daunting, but know that it is not impossible, and we’re here to walk you through the process!

Causes of Water Damage in a House

The best way to repair water damage is to prevent it from happening in the first place–as they say, prevention is better than cure.
Therefore, to avoid dealing with the headache of water damage, it is important to know the cause so you would know how to prevent it from happening. These causes include:

Leaking Pipes

The main reason for water damage often stems from leaks in pipes or heaters. If a pipe breaks beneath your kitchen sink, it can drip water, potentially harming the cabinet below. This issue might go unnoticed for some time, leading to additional concerns like mold and decay.

Regular inspections of your pipes can help prevent extensive worry and financial strain in the future. They protect you against potential damage and enable you to address minor issues before they grow out of control.

Faulty Appliances

A broken washing machine or a leaking water heater not only has an effect on your water bill, but the water can pool on the floor underneath, damaging it. At the worst, you may not notice it until it’s too late, resulting in expensive repairs and replacements.

Burst Pipes

Typically, fluids contract when cooled. But water behaves differently; it grows around 9% when freezing, like in winter. This growth strains pipes, especially old, rusty ones, leading to potential bursts. If not fixed, it can inflict significant and costly harm to your property, particularly if these pipes are beneath concrete or within walls.
Installation of heat tape, which warms pipes as needed during cold months, can prevent this from happening.

Natural Disasters

First Street Foundation, a nonprofit focused on climate risk, calculates that about 15 million residences in the US face flood risks. Flood damage can be severe; Hurricane Ida in 2021 caused $75 billion in damages. Moreover, floods can lower your property’s value.

Though you can’t stop natural disasters, knowing the risk can guide you in minimizing it, like getting flood insurance.

Improper Drainage

Sometimes leaves can get stuck in gutters, blocking them. Storm water would then overflow from the gutters and damage the structure near them. Water could also flow into the walls and pool at the basement, bringing with it a plethora of health issues due to the stagnating water and mold growth.

House Location

It is also possible that your house is located in a flood prone area.
Because of changes in the weather, floods are becoming harder to predict, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) gives out flood maps that change a lot to help you get ready if you may get flooded. Then you can do things to reduce the chance of water damage or stop it from happening at all.
If you live in a place where flooding is likely, putting in flood gates or barriers that can be taken out is a couple of new ways to keep flood water out of your house.

High Humidity

Improper ventilation can cause some areas of the house, such as basements, to have higher than normal humidity. Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air, and it can foster an environment that is conducive to mold growth.

Effects of Water Damage on a House

Water damage, if left untreated, can bring in a host of major issues for your property.

Among the top concerns in real estate are mold and rot. Were you aware that mold can start growing in just 24-48 hours of moisture exposure? Not only does mold pose health risks like asthma and allergies, but it can also lower a property’s value.

In severe cases, water damage can harm the structural stability of your home, particularly if it has wooden components like beams, columns, or rafters. Moisture can cause severe warping in wood and may compromise its structural integrity if not dried out or replaced as soon as possible.

Water can also cause ceilings and floor joists to sag which may lead to collapse. This is a major safety issue and can lead to your house being condemned.

Can you Sell a House with Water Damage?

Once you have decided to put your house with water damage on the open market, you have two options on
how to proceed with the home sale:

Option 1: Repair before Selling House

To secure the optimal listing price for your house, prioritize fixing any water damage before putting it on the market. This not only enhances the property’s appeal but also prevents further deterioration.

If your property sustained damage from a natural calamity, you may qualify for FEMA housing assistance, covering repair costs for water damage and mold removal. It’s also wise to review your flood insurance policy for potential coverage.

If not covered, consider covering the cleanup and repairs yourself, ensuring the expense is recouped upon sale. This approach facilitates a smoother sale, as many buyers seek move-in-ready homes.

Nevertheless, recognize that homes with prior water damage, despite restoration efforts, may experience some devaluation.

A study by Stanford University found that homes zoned into a floodplain has a price reduction of about 5-10% lower compared to homes not located in a flood zone to factor in higher insurance premiums.

Option 2: Sell House As-Is

In cases of severe flooding, it can make your house unlivable. If you can’t afford to fix it yourself, or you want to sell fast without dealing with cleanups and repairs, then selling as-is is a good choice.

But, keep in mind, selling a house with water damage as-is means you should expect a lower asking price.

A regular buyer will check the house for water damage and figure out how much it will cost to fix it. They’ll want to be reimbursed for the repair costs.

However, there are also buyers who specialize in buying damaged properties. They can give you a cash offer right away to take the problematic property off your hands.

How to Proceed with Selling a Water Damaged House

1. Selling your Water Damaged House with a Real Estate Agent

Working with a real estate agent is the traditional way of selling a house.
But choosing this option entails handling agent fees and ensuring your home is appealing for showings to attract buyers. This involves investing in repairs and upgrades, which you may lack the resources or capacity to manage, without assurance of recovering your expenses upon selling.

2. Selling your House Yourself or For Sale by Owner (FSBO)

If you would like to save money on a real estate agent’s commission, you can go the For Sale By Owner (FSBO) route.
Although you’d be responsible for marketing, presenting, negotiating, and finalizing the transaction with the buyer directly, rather than relying on a real estate agent, you retain complete control over factors like the listing price and the condition in which you wish to sell the house.
Would you like to fix the water damage? Sell as is? It’s up to you. Note that selling a house with water damage to a buyer trying to get conventional financing will be unlikely due to lender required repairs.

3. Selling a House with Water Damage to Real Estate Investors

Imagine you’re tired of dealing with your water-damaged house. Selling it on your own is tough. Your quickest solution? Connect with a real estate investor.
Investors excel at tackling challenging properties like those with water damage. Many specialize in such projects, boasting skilled construction teams to handle the necessary renovations.
The benefits of selling your house to this type of buyer include: immediate cash offers and no financing issues; no restoration and renovations needed on your end; and a quick cash sale.

4 Things to Be Aware of When Selling Your Water Damaged Home

1. Disclose Water Damage to Potential Buyers

Don’t conceal water damage. In real estate, trust is key, so it’s best to be honest with buyers about the house’s condition. Fully share any previous water damage and show proof of repairs to give buyers a clear picture of what they’re getting.

2. Flood Insurance is a Must-Have in Flood Prone Areas

Did you know that even an inch of flood water can cause up to $25,000 in damage?
If your property is located in a flood zone, it is highly recommended that you get flood insurance. This would help you with the costly restoration associated to a house with water damage.
What’s more, this could also be transferred to the potential buyer, as an added incentive to purchasing your house!

3. Decide How Deep you Want to Go with the Repair

4. Find Out the Price to Make each Repair

If you decide not to fix the house yourself, it would be helpful if you try to determine how much it would cost. That way, it would make it easy for you and the buyer to negotiate a price you both are going to be happy with.

Final Thoughts: Selling a House with Water Damage in California

Need to skip the real estate agents? Selling a water-damaged home on your own can be tough and time-consuming. At JiT Home Buyers, we’re ready to buy any house, no matter its condition! Save yourself the hassle and let us handle the sale while you focus on moving forward stress-free.

Yes, even including houses with water damage.

We make the process of selling a house as simple and as comfortable for you, without the drawbacks of dealing with real estate agents. We even cover all closing costs!

If you would like to get an offer for your house as soon as possible, fill out the form below!

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at (510) 473-5885 and we’d be happy to answer any questions you might have.

The Easiest Way To Sell Your House Fast In California

You’re in the driver’s seat when you accept our cash offer for your house. We make the process simple, fast, and easy to follow when working with us. You have no obligation to accept our cash offer for your home when contacting us for a fair cash offer for your home. No matter the reason you want to sell your house, we want to buy your home as is. Remember that you get many benefits that include no real estate agent commissions, no cleaning, no improvements, and no stress. Our cash offer for your as-is house assures you of fast cash payment at closing with a reputable Title company. You can count on our company to give you a fair cash offer for your home! If you’re still thinking, “I need to sell my house fast”, calling us could be your best decision all day. 🙂