The fall and winter months are festive times for homeowners. They are spending more time at home, decorating for the holidays and cooking meals for the whole family. What many people fail to realize is that these months are when more house fires occur.
The American Red Cross reports that there is an increase in house fires during the fall and winter months. The peak months for house fires are December and January. These fires cause, on average, more than $17,000 in damage.
This situation leaves many homeowners unsure of what to do next, especially if they are planning to sell their homes fast during the holidays. They ask questions like, “do I need to repair that fire damage, or can I sell my home as is?” Our team has rounded up some options for selling your home after a fire.
The common causes for house fires
House fires are more common than perceived. The Insurance Information Institute states that there is a house fire every 87 seconds. In the United States, there are an estimated 358,500 home fires every single year. Most of these fires, about 50 percent of them, start in the kitchen.
The best way homeowners can prevent house fires is by taking precautions and learning what causes them. Some fire safety procedures include unplugging unused electronics, appliances and smoking outside. Here are the most common causes for house fires:
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Cooking
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Space heaters
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Fireplaces
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Faulty wiring
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Christmas trees
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Cigarettes
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Candles
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Appliances
Selling your home after a fire
Repair the fire damage and put the house on the market
One selling option for homeowners is repairing the fire damage and putting the house on the market. However, there are a few things to consider when choosing this selling option. It is going to cost a hefty amount of money and time.
The flames from the fire and water that firefighters use to put out the fire can do serious damage to the structure of the property. For example, water gets absorbed by the building material and increases the risk of the building collapsing. Fixing these issues come at a hefty price. HomeAdvisor states that the average cost of fire and smoke damage is anywhere between $2,900 to $32,270.
Sell your home as is for cash
If you do not have time or money to repair the fire damage, you have the option to sell your home for cash. You can sell it to a company that buys houses for cash, like us. These kinds of companies will buy your home as-is. How it works is you contact them to schedule a house showing, and then they will be able to give you a cash offer for it.
Selling your home for cash saves homeowners the hassle of making repairs and putting it on the market. Also, if the fire damaged your belongings, you can leave them in the house. Some companies will dispose of them for you, saving you the money of buying a dumpster.
How do I sell my home as is?
Sell your home to us! We help Omaha homeowners sell their homes for cash. Our team buys houses with all sorts of damage from water to fire and smoke. Contact us to get started!