How To Sell A Water-Damaged House in Minneapolis
What causes water damage in Minneapolis houses?
One of the most common causes of water damage to a Minneapolis house is a leak—like a burst pipe, a broken appliance like a washing machine, or a faulty HVAC system. Bathroom water damage also happens a lot because of toilets or bathtubs overflowing or due to condensation from showering, especially if a bathroom fan isn’t working right. There can be outside causes of water damage as well, including flooding from storms, clogged gutters, cracks in exterior walls, a leaky roof, or damaged windows.
Some water damage is easy to spot, like a flooded basement or leaky dishwasher. Here are a few signs of hidden water damage that may be a little less obvious:
- Sagging or stained ceilings
- Squishy spots on walls or flooring
- Warped or buckling floors
- Peeling paint or wallpaper
- Mold on surfaces like walls, ceilings, or flooring
- A stale or musty odor
- High water bills that could point to a leak somewhere in your house
What should you do if you notice water damage to your house?
As soon as you notice signs of water damage, locate the source of the issue and work to correct it. If something is just dripping, you can use the old trick of putting a bucket under it temporarily. When there’s a severe leak, it’s best to turn off the water until you can get it fixed.
First, remove the water using a mop, towels, or a shop vac. After that, you can use fans or a dehumidifier to dry out the area even more. If you’re in an area that’s flooded, like a basement, start by removing important items and turning off the circuit breaker to that area if possible. If you can’t turn off the breaker, wear rubber boots and gloves to minimize the chances of electrical shock. Unplug electrical appliances and avoid directly touching outlets or plugging anything into them. Boots and gloves will also help protect you from any chemical contaminants or harmful bacteria in the water.
If the damage ends up being more than you can handle on your own, you can call a restoration company in Minneapolis to come out and do an assessment to see if professional repairs are needed.
Will homeowners insurance cover the cost of repairs?
Take photos during cleanup so you can send them to your insurance company if needed. You should report any damage to your insurer as soon as possible after you find it. Your homeowners insurance policy should help cover repair costs as long as the damage was caused by a problem inside the home that was sudden and accidental (like a burst pipe).
Many Minneapolis home insurance companies won’t cover maintenance issues that weren’t fixed quickly, like a washing machine that’s been leaking onto the floor for months. They also likely won’t pay for the source of the damage, so you’ll have to replace that washing machine yourself, but they’ll probably cover the repairs to the floor if you get the problem taken care of as soon as possible. Flooding caused by storms or other outside events usually won’t be covered by a standard homeowners insurance policy, either, and would need separate insurance. Whether or not you want to fix the issues will affect how you sell your house with water damage.
How to sell your house with water damage
There are several options when you want to sell your water-damaged house:
- Get the damage fixed before selling. Water damage restoration can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, depending on the extent of the damage.
- Disclose the damage when you sell. Disclosing water damage when selling a house is required by law in Minneapolis. This means that as the seller, you have to tell the buyer about any defects with the house, including damage caused by water.
- Sell the house “as is” without fixing the damage. You can lower the price of the house, or offer concessions to potential buyers, like covering the closing costs or offering a lump sum that will go toward repairs.
Sell your house “as is” with We Buy Ugly Houses® in Minneapolis.
If the water damage to your house is more than you want to deal with, and you don’t want to spend the upfront funds on getting it fixed or on concessions like closing costs, you can sell it “as is” to an off-market home buyer like We Buy Ugly Houses® in Minneapolis. We don’t require any inspections or repairs when you sell to us. We also don’t charge any hidden fees or commissions, and we’ll pay for typical closing costs. Our offers are typically discounted below market value in exchange for speed and convenience.
When you sell your house with water damage in Minneapolis, we’ll be there for you every step of the way. From consultation to closing, we’ll answer any questions you have about the process and support you in your home-selling journey.
Just get in touch with us, and we’ll come out to see your house in person. After that, we can make you an offer, sometimes on the same day! If you choose to accept, you’ll be on your way to a fast close, or a slower one if that’s what you need. We’ll do our best to work with your schedule. And if you change your mind afterward, you can cancel the contract within 3 days of signing if you contact your buyer in writing.
Instead of dealing with water damage, you can move on to a new home and make a fresh start when you sell your water-damaged house to We Buy Ugly Houses.
This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.
