Those who live in the Dallas area know how extreme the weather can be. Tornadoes, hail, severe thunderstorms and extreme downpours, tornadoes, and occasional freezing weather with bursting pipes can all cause water emergencies in homes that in turn cause water damage. Aside from severe weather, water damage can occur due to pipe leaks, overflowing sinks, and condensation in poorly vented rooms. No matter how water enters your Dallas home, it’s important to act quickly in order to avoid further damage such as wood rot and mold caused by moisture.
Knowing what to do during a water emergency is critical. Let’s look at how to contain and barricade floodwater from your home, clean up standing water, and sell a water-damaged house.
Stopping water entry is the first step.
Regardless of where or how water is entering your Dallas house, quick action is important. Swiftly addressing the issue can save personal belongings and prevent a lot of damage, including harm to your floors, walls, framing, and electrical systems. Water can cause the following issues:
- Harm to framing and structure: Water can cause wood to rot in the framing of your house, including floor beams, floor joists, and subfloors.
- Mold: It only takes 24–48 hours of moisture in your house to promote mold growth. Mold causes health problems, smells musty, and can eat away at various building materials in your home.
- Damaged belongings: Cabinets, clothing, furniture, and important papers can be harmed or destroyed by water in your house.
- Electrical hazards: Water can create short circuits, erosion, and damage to switches and outlets.
- Health issues: Bacteria breeds rapidly in standing water or moisture, which can cause lung and skin infections.
Contact your insurance agent.
A good insurance agent can provide much-needed assistance if your house has water damage. An agent can help you gauge the extent of the damage and tell you what your policy will cover. They can also guide you in documenting the damage, including taking photos and videos and writing up a list of damaged items.
Your agent will help you file your claim and can help you get a fair settlement.
Flood insurance in Dallas
If you live in a flood zone in Dallas, your mortgage company will more than likely require you to buy separate flood insurance. Typical homeowners insurance doesn’t cover claims from floods. Keep in mind that your home can still flood even if you aren’t in a flood zone, and the situation will get worse as climate change progresses. Heavy rainfall will become even more intense and frequent in Dallas, causing more extensive flooding.
According to ValuePenguin, “The average cost of floodinsurance in Texas is $791 per year for a policy with around $274,000 of total coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Flood insurance quotes in Texas can range from $235 per year to more than $5,000 per year, based on where you live, how your home was built and the property's elevation.”
Remove standing water in your Dallas house.
Wear protective gear such as rubber gloves, waterproof clothes, and rubber boots, and turn off the power. Use sump pumps, wet/dry vacuums, towels, and mops to remove water.
After standing water is removed, place fans and dehumidifiers around the affected areas to remove remaining moisture. If the weather is dry, open windows and doors to help with drying out the area.
Examine the water damage in your house.
Check for obvious water damage in your house, but keep in mind that much damage is invisible and requires special equipment to detect. A qualified professional can do a more complete and efficient evaluation with special tools and cameras. Talk to your insurance agent to see if this type of inspection is covered by your insurance policy.
Inspect the area for mold growth. According to Architectural Digest, “Mold remediation costs typically range from $1,128 to $3,450, but homeowners will pay $2,230 on average, depending on how widespread the problem is. A little mold may not seem like a big deal, but it can cause structural damage to your home and serious health problems for homeowners.”
How to sell a water-damaged house in Dallas
When there is significant water damage to a house, you may run into issues when selling it. Most buyers are looking for a home that is move-in ready. Many mortgage companies won’t approve a loan for a house that has water damage because it’s a risky investment. There could be wood rot, damage to drywall and flooring, or even structural damage.
If you want to sell a water-damaged house “as is,” without making repairs, consider selling your house to a good off-market house-buying company in Dallas such as We Buy Ugly Houses®. We have amazing seller reviews, and have a reputation of trust nationwide with house sellers. We’re known for our deep commitment to our sellers’ satisfaction and the ease of our transactions.
Simply reach out to us for a consultation at your house, and one of our friendly Dallas property buyers will meet with you, take a tour of your property, and answer your questions. Sometimes, we can provide a fast offer the same day. If you accept our offer, we may be able to close in as little as 3 weeks, or if you need more time, we’ll try our best to adjust to your schedule.
You can count on us to give you a stress-free, fast, and easy sale. We don’t charge commissions and have no hidden fees. We also pay typical closing costs.† Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you with your water-damaged house.
