There are many things to consider before buying a fire damaged property. Fire damage restoration can be quite costly because often a specialist has to be hired to assess the damage and do the cleanup. Furthermore, getting financed to buy a fire damaged property can be quite difficult, unless one is able to qualify for a construction loan that will also include the cost it would take to do the fire damage cleanup.
Here are some often overlooked considerations to take into account before buying a fire damaged property:
1. There may be a significant amount of water damage to the house. Firefighters most likely soaked and saturated much of the wood construction including flooring and roofing. Water damage will cause significant problems including mold and structural damage. Mold, in particular, can be quite costly to clean up.
2. The smoke from the fire could also leave a very sticky residue that can be difficult to clean up and an odor may linger in smoke-saturated construction for years. Often the smoke residue is invisible, so fire damage repair is even more difficult, and yet another specialist has to be brought in to assess the damage. The smoke odor may also be temporarily masked and could begin to seep out weeks, months or even years down the track.
3. There may be a large amount of damage to the electrical and plumbing systems. In addition to the cost of rebuilding, re-wiring and plumbing will most likely have to be redone as well.
4. The cost of the cleanup will need to be assessed and taken into account, along with the asking price of the property. Unless the seller is able to meet the buyer halfway, buying a fire damaged house could be almost as costly as buying a property that is not damaged by fire.
The most important point is to make sure the buyer has a clear understanding of the amount of clean up and the cost involved when buying a fire damaged property. While the asking price may look attractive on paper, the additional time and financial commitment to make the house livable may be more than many are willing to undertake. With that being said, if a person is able to negotiate with seller on the fire damage clean up costs, pay in cash, and has significant experience in fire damage restoration, then this could be a wise decision.
A Few Tips When Cleaning Water Damage
Water damage can occur in one of many different ways and regardless of how it actually occurs, it is imperative that you begin cleaning water damage as soon as you can. One of the cautions that should be made clear before you wade into the fray is that water that has invaded the home may be filled with pollutants that are dangerous to your health.
If you are going to attempt to clean water damage you should be sure that the water is clean water rather than water that has been contaminated with sewage or a chemical or biological pollutant. Any items that have suffered water damage as a result of water other than clean water should simply be disposed of.
The first step in cleaning water damage is to assess every item in the house for the level of damage that has occurred. As an immediate guide here are some of the items that will be simpler to discard and replace: ceiling tiles, fiberglass insulation, drywall that has noticeably become swollen, cheap or non-valuable books and documents. Just about everything else can be dried and then cleaned to the point where it will be salvageable.
If the water damage has occurred longer ago than 48 hours there will be a good chance that mold growth will have begun. The first step in this case is to clean any noticeable mold growth before you take any further action. While performing the mold remediation you should also have begun the drying process. This may be done with a dehumidifier in conjunction with fans or heaters.
Carpets, concrete, upholstered furniture and hard surfaces will also benefit by using a water extraction vacuum first. This will start the drying process and then bringing in other methods will give you faster results.
Drapes or curtains that have been damaged by water should be removed from the room and laundered following the manufacturers instructions. Once they have been properly cleaned and dried they should be ready to hang back in their original place following the cleaning process of the rest of the room.
Any object that holds special sentimental or monetary value that concerns you and your own abilities to properly clean it without damaging it should seek the assistance of a water damage specialist. It is better to spend the money on a professional job which may save you the greater cost of losing your valued object.
This post is part of the wide ranging articles offering advice on fire and water damage on this site.
If you are going to attempt to clean water damage you should be sure that the water is clean water rather than water that has been contaminated with sewage or a chemical or biological pollutant. Any items that have suffered water damage as a result of water other than clean water should simply be disposed of.
The first step in cleaning water damage is to assess every item in the house for the level of damage that has occurred. As an immediate guide here are some of the items that will be simpler to discard and replace: ceiling tiles, fiberglass insulation, drywall that has noticeably become swollen, cheap or non-valuable books and documents. Just about everything else can be dried and then cleaned to the point where it will be salvageable.
If the water damage has occurred longer ago than 48 hours there will be a good chance that mold growth will have begun. The first step in this case is to clean any noticeable mold growth before you take any further action. While performing the mold remediation you should also have begun the drying process. This may be done with a dehumidifier in conjunction with fans or heaters.
Carpets, concrete, upholstered furniture and hard surfaces will also benefit by using a water extraction vacuum first. This will start the drying process and then bringing in other methods will give you faster results.
Drapes or curtains that have been damaged by water should be removed from the room and laundered following the manufacturers instructions. Once they have been properly cleaned and dried they should be ready to hang back in their original place following the cleaning process of the rest of the room.
Any object that holds special sentimental or monetary value that concerns you and your own abilities to properly clean it without damaging it should seek the assistance of a water damage specialist. It is better to spend the money on a professional job which may save you the greater cost of losing your valued object.
This post is part of the wide ranging articles offering advice on fire and water damage on this site.
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