What to do if your house has water damage
Water damage, whether from a storm, heavy rain, a leak, or a burst pipe, can feel overwhelming. It can cause structural problems, lead to mold growth, and ruin personal belongings. Now that you’re faced with this damage, you have some difficult choices to make. Should you stay and tackle repairs, or is selling your water-damaged house the right move for you?
What issues can water damage cause?
Water damage can harm your flooring and also leak into your subflooring and be trapped, causing rot over time. It can also cause:
- Structural damage
- Mold and mildew
- Warping of wood
- Electrical problems
- Carpet destruction
- Issues with your foundation
Causes of water damage and leakage
Water can find its way into your Atlanta house in many ways and cause water damage. Common ways water enters a house include:
- Burst pipes from a hard freeze
- Broken or malfunctioning appliances
- Natural disasters such as flooding or hurricanes
- A leaking roof or foundation
- A poorly sealed window or door
- Water from fire hoses
- Accidents
- Plumbing issues
How to prevent water damage
Although flooding and leaking water are often unpreventable, there are a few things you can do to keep the interior of your Atlanta house dry.
- Seal all windows to make them waterproof.
- Fix any roof leaks, and have your roof examined after hailstorms.
- Insulate your pipes in cold weather. Although Atlanta has mild winters, an occasional cold snap happens.
- Be mindful. It’s very common for people to run the water in a sink, then walk off and forget about it.
- If water runs into your house during heavy rains, you may have to install French drains and/or have your yard properly regraded for water runoff.
- If your basement floods during heavy rains, have a sump pump installed.
Fixing the damage
The first step when you have a leak or flooding is to dry out everything. A shop vac is useful for removing surface water. If it’s a small area, running a dehumidifier close to the area after water is sopped up will help remove additional moisture.
If the sump pump in your basement can’t keep up, the Atlanta fire department can sometimes help pump the water out of your cellar. If the water is more than a few inches deep, nobody should go into the basement due to hazards such as not being able to see the drains, tripping over underwater objects, contaminants, and the danger of electrical issues. In this case, the water will have to recede on its own.
After the visible water is removed, call in water damage experts to evaluate the damage and let you know what your next steps can be.
Water damage and insurance
Unfortunately, water damage to your house may cause your insurance rates to go up. If the water damage was caused by flooding from rain or storms, your insurance may not cover it, as flood insurance typically has to be purchased separately from homeowners insurance. In this case, FEMA may be able to assist you.
Selling a house with water damage
Although Georgia doesn’t require a Seller’s Disclosure form when selling a house, it’s recommended to be upfront about any water damage that has occurred. Keep receipts and document repair work that has been done. When the potential buyer has the house inspected, additional issues that you weren’t aware of may be discovered and you may have to adjust the price of your house. This is called “retrading.”
Even with good restoration work, some house hunters may be wary of buying a house that has had water damage. If you are having trouble selling your water-damaged house, or if you would rather not go through the hassle of having repairs done after flooding, consider selling your house to We Buy Ugly Houses®. Selling a damaged house is easy when you sell it to us. We aren’t afraid of houses that have been damaged by water.
How to sell your water-damaged house to We Buy Ugly Houses®
With over 150,000 houses bought since 1996, we’ve run into just about every type of house problem there is, and we love to provide the solution. We Buy Ugly Houses has top-rated customer service with fast, convenient offers, transparent communication, and amazing reviews from our sellers. We buy houses “as is,” allowing homeowners to avoid making repairs. When you sell to us, you don’t even have to clean, and you can leave unwanted items behind. We’ll take care of them for you.
Just contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation at your house. One of our local, friendly Atlanta property specialists will meet you, take a tour of your property, and answer your questions. We can sometimes give you an offer the same day. If you accept our offer, we’ll work with you to figure out a quick closing timeline that fits your schedule.
Contact us to see how we can help you sell your house “as is.”
