After a fire at home, there are a lot of challenges you have to deal with, and it may be difficult to know what to do next.
In the following guide, you’ll learn what happens after a house fire, the most effective disaster recovery plan after fire, and the best course of action to take if your house caught fire with or without insurance covering the property.
Keep reading to learn the details.
What Happens to a House After a Fire?
Burned houses suffer different types and levels of damage, depending on the extent of the fire.
In addition to the fire, the water used to extinguish it may also cause significant damage to the home. Some of the most common damages to your house after catching fire include:
- Structural damage: Intense fires can weaken the fundamental components that hold up the house, including concrete walls, metal beams, and the foundations. Damage to the electric wiring system is considered structural damage.
- Electrical and mechanical failure: Huge fires may damage various electrical wiring systems, including HVAC and security systems.
- Smoke and soot residue: After a fire, there’s a lot of smoke and soot present all across the house. Extensive cleaning and deodorizing is required to eliminate odors and stains.
- Water damage: Firefighters use vast amounts of water to extinguish house fires, which can cause significant damage to your property. Mold can quickly start to grow and spread if the water isn’t extracted and dried by trained specialists.
- Personal property loss: Depending on the extent of the fire, your furniture, electronics, clothing, and other personal belongings may be damaged beyond repair.
- Property assessment by your homeowners’ insurance provider: Before the home restoration process can start, insurance adjusters and home inspectors are required to examine the property to determine whether it is salvageable, its current value, and estimated repair costs. Check out the section below if you do not have homeowners’ insurance.
What to Do After a House Fire with No Insurance?
For those without insurance coverage, the step-by-step process of what to do after a fire in your house is as follows:
- Ensure safety.
- Document the damage.
- Apply for financial aid and temporary accommodation.
- Assess the damage.
- Decide whether to repair the property or sell it as is.
- Contact a professional home fire restoration team.
Now, let’s go over the whole checklist in detail.
Step 1: Ensure Safety
Immediately after a fire, you should make sure that you and any other occupants are safe and seek medical attention if necessary.
Step 2: Document the Damage
Whether or not you have insurance coverage, you have to document the damage in the form of photos and videos.
For homeowners with insurance, damage documentation is required when filing claims.
Similarly, those without insurance are required to provide images and videos of the damage when applying for financial assistance programs.
Overall, you should always take detailed photos and videos of every affected section and component after a fire.
Step 3: Apply for Financial Aid and Temporary Accommodation
Without homeowners’ insurance coverage, you’re solely responsible for your safety, financial well-being, and accommodation after a fire.
Having to deal with these challenges immediately after a fire can take a heavy toll on your financial and mental well-being — here’s where government assistance programs come in.
Several organizations provide various forms of assistance (including grants, low-interest loans, and temporary housing) to homeowners who’ve suffered fire damage. They include:
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides disaster assistance (including fire) for homeowners and tenants.
- Disaster Assistance Improvement Program (DAIP) secures shelter, food, and other essentials after a fire.
- American Red Cross provides financial and medical help during and after a fire.
- United Way is made up of volunteers who provide financial help to house fire victims and assist with home restoration.
- The Salvation Army offers meals, clothing, and shelter for those who’ve suffered fire damage to their homes.
Besides seeking assistance from government financial aid programs and non-profits, you can leverage public support via crowdfunding platforms such as GoFundMe. You can also contact religious charities for help.
Step 4: Assess the Damage
Once you’ve applied to assistance programs, you can begin the process of examining the damage with the help of qualified professionals, including:
- A fire investigator to investigate what caused the fire and whether it is safe to begin repairs.
- A structural engineer to examine key building structures, including the foundation, walls, beams, and roof, in order to determine whether they need repair or a complete overhaul.
- A licensed contractor to assess the damage, identify necessary repairs and reconstructions, and to provide an estimate of how much it costs to rebuild a house after a fire.
As you evaluate the damage, you also need to take note of what needs to be replaced after a house fire. This may include any items that need to be disposed of that have been exposed to fire and smoke.
Step 5: Restore the Property or Sell As Is
After you have determined the costs associated with restoration, the next step is to decide if you’ll do the repairs or sell the fire-damaged house as is.
For many homeowners, selling their house as is to a real estate investor is the most convenient solution, as restoration can get quite expensive and time-consuming. It costs about $50 to $150 per square foot to rebuild a fire-damaged home.
How long it takes to rebuild a house after a fire depends on the type and extent of damage.
Structural restoration involving partial or complete reconstruction and electrical fire repair may take several months, while damage from smoke and soot may take less time.
Besides not having to repair your property, the benefits of selling as is to a cash investor include:
- Cash transactions are quick and easy.
- Cash buyers cover closing costs.
- Cash investors don’t rely on banks and mortgages to finance the deal, saving you time.
- You don’t need a realtor when selling to an investment company, which means you can avoid high agent commission fees.
- Inspections and appraisals are not required in cash-financed deals, which makes the sale process smooth and time-efficient.
To sell a fire-damaged house as is, find and contact investors who buy fire-damaged homes.
Our website contains a nationwide network of investors (individuals and companies) who purchase fire-damaged properties fast and for cash.
Furthermore, our platform lets you get cash offers from multiple investors, so you can find the best deal possible for your fire-damaged house.
Check out our guide on how to sell a burned house for a comprehensive look at selling fire-damaged homes as is.
Step 6: Contact a Professional Home Fire Restoration Team
If you decide to do repairs, you’ll need to find fire damage restoration experts to begin the process of property rehab.
To find qualified and suitable contractors, research and compare several fire damage restoration companies in your area.
