There are few things as devastating in life as investing in a property – specifically a home – spending years scrimping and saving and getting everything in perfect order, only to have a fire swoop in and destroy everything within the blink of an eye. It is a sad and overwhelming experience for many. While it can be a tragedy, not losing loved ones amid the carnage is the most important thing, and at the end of the day, the conundrum of the damaged property can be solved. Even if the property has taken a severe beating. If your property has recently succumbed to a terrible fire, the following are a few points that may help you get things in order sooner rather than later.
Weigh Your Options
First things first, call your insurance company and see what they can cover. Depending on what you signed up for, there should be different kinds of coverage to help you through an emergency. And yet, even the best insurance may not be able to carry you through the turmoil of a thoroughly torched house.
Then, consider your options. You can try to see what repairs you are willing to undertake on your own, or through the help of contractors. Check how much your insurance can cover, and also outline your budget. The only way to decide what comes next is to properly assess how much you can spend on bringing your property back from the dead – for lack of a better description.
Sell Your House As Is
One track to pursue – and perhaps the easiest – is to sell your house as-is. There are many upsides to this, as opposed to working on fixing the home yourself. As the experts at We Buy Fire Damaged Houses note, you won’t have to deal with hiring contractors, possibly overpay for different services, or deal with the drama of living in what seems to be a perpetual construction site. Most people would advise you to do this, even though your property value will take a significant hit. At the same time, you will not have to pay for repairs – so you might end up breaking even.
Make The Necessary Repairs
So, you looked at the numbers and figured out how much the insurance policy could help cover. You would rather not sell the property at a huge loss to you, so it makes sense to swallow a bitter pill and take on the necessary repairs. Depending on your situation, this could be a smart idea. If anything, repairs and home renovations only add to property value, so you will be able to sell your home and make a profit, too, if you play your cards right. Things like a fresh coat of paint, a thorough cleaning, and sprucing up off the curb can help a great deal. If, however, there has been significant foundational damage, then it makes more sense to hire contractors, and set out on drafting a thorough plan with them to help you make it through the ordeal.
Get Extra Help
A fire can be a confusing and traumatic experience. It’s best to get help from friends and relatives once it happens, for both emotional support and to help pinpoint you to a cleaning or restoration company that is trusted with the job. There are some aspects of the immediate cleanup you can do yourself, but it’s also important to get help where you need it. The last thing you need to do is take too much upon yourself during a trying time. Also, remember that certain things besides the immediate cleanup after a fire, such as major repairs and restoration projects to the property’s infrastructure can take months at a time, and they require a level of expertise to get them done properly. So, don’t be shy about reaching out and asking for help and finding vetted professionals to help take on the job.
Invest in Security
Depending on the level of damage, you may need to vacate the property for a few weeks till things are done – that is, if it is a property you are currently inhabiting. So, you will need to organize your possessions and secure the home to prevent further damage. Tell the police that you will be vacating the house, and be sure to board up the windows, doors, and any major holes through the roof for example. This will not only prevent intruders from entering but will also stop further damage from a thunderstorm for example from wreaking havoc on the already devastated space.
Fires are a difficult thing to have to live through, but they happen more often than we would like to think. While it is a troubling experience, you can at least find some measure of comfort in the fact that they happen to many people, and they can emerge from it eventually. And so will you with the right action plan and professional team around you.
