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How to Sell a Previously Flooded Home

By Mike Wheatley | October 28, 2014

As a homeowner, flooding can be a terrifying experience. Even minor floods of less than an inch can cause thousands of dollars of damage by rotting wood, rusting metal, delaminate flooring, and more. As frightening as this experience can be, the financial risk that it poses can be equally frightening. This also goes for those who are in the market for selling their home.

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Most buyers will turn and run as soon as the history comes out that home they’ve been interested in has been flooded, regardless of how much work went into restoring the home to its prior condition. In fact, selling any home in an area known as a flood zone can be a difficult feat regardless of whether or not flooding has actually occurred on your property.

So how can someone sell when their home has been flooded, or is at the risk of future flooding?

1. Ensure that your property has renovated plumbing

Before selling, it’s always worthwhile to hire a professional to inspect your home’s plumbing to ensure that it is leak proof and properly maintained. No matter where your home is situated, a home is always prone to water damage if its pipes aren’t checked up on. This is particular true of older homes, which are frequently repaired piecemeal as damages occur rather than regularly, resulting in inconsistency in the maintenance of pipes in your system.

2. Have the home inspected for mold and damaged floors replaced

If flooding has occurred on the property you want to sell, you have no choice but to have flood cleaning done and the house inspected inch by inch for potential mold damage. Damage can be obvious if there are discolorations, spongy patches, or visible dampness. It’s also important to remember that water can seep deep into the ground outside of the human eye, and standing pools of water aren’t necessary to cause tremendous damage. Replacing this flooring and having the home inspected by a professional are necessary in this situation.

3. Take steps to flood-proof your home

While it’s impossible to guarantee that flooding won’t damage your property in the future, there are certain measures any homeowner can take that are extremely effective in reducing the probability. This can inspire a lot of confidence in buyers, especially if you’re situated in a flood zone. These preventative measures include:

  • Apply water-proof sealant to all exterior walls.
  • Fit your door and window entries with flood-proof models.
  • Ensuring any construction around your house is damp-proofed during renovations.
  • Digging reservoirs around your property to direct water flow – consult your area’s authorities before potentially damaging any water or electrical lines hidden in the ground.

While flooding can be difficult to negotiate around as a seller and lying is never an option, these are three great practices to correct your current flooding problems, prevent future incidents, and encourage confidence in potential buyers.

About the author: This is a guest contribution from Ruben Keogh with Mr. Rooter of Greater Syracuse.

photo credit: carbonboy via photopin cc

Mike Wheatley is the senior editor at Realty Biz News. Got a real estate related news article you wish to share, contact Mike at [email protected].
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