What should you do after water damage has occurred? Are you prepared to list your home quickly after the fact? Listing your home after water damage can be one of the best things you could have done for your future. The key is to list your home as soon as possible. You should follow the guidelines laid out by the National Association of Realtors to speed up the process. Here are 3 tips for selling your home after water damage.
Follow National Association of Realtors guidelines: Find out what NAR has in terms of guidelines for listing. The National Association of Realtors sets the standard for housing inventories. The guidelines range from state to state and can take up to a year to implement. Find out if your state has established a standard inventory or not. If it doesn’t have, initiate a meeting with your local Realtor to discuss guidelines and to make sure you are meeting them.
Study your home closely: One of the worst things you can do after a flood is to not study your home carefully. Make sure you go through every inch of your home and make sure everything is working properly. Open all windows and get a good look at all areas of your home. Be sure to check your basement as well.
Clean up your home: Cleaning up after water damage isn’t a fun job. You need to make sure that you are cleaning up all wet spots. This will include any puddles on the carpeting. Any area with mold or mildew needs to be cleaned up. Keep in mind that mold and mildew can never be completely removed but you can minimize their effects.
Check for mold or mildew: After your home has been flooded, it is very likely that some type of mold or mildew could have grown in dark and damp areas. Check your walls, basement, carpeting, and any other areas for mildew. This is a job best done by a professional. It is also something you should do yourself if you aren’t sure about doing it.
Take pictures: Taking pictures of your home is crucial if you are trying to sell it. Pictures are great proof of what your home looks like right after a flood. It’s very helpful to prospective buyers. Make sure you take several pictures after your home has been flooded. You should also contact a photo agency to get several pictures of your home after the cleanup is done. Make sure you fix all broken windows and doors immediately after the cleanup is done.
Contact a Water Damage Specialist: If you think you might have damaged your home, make sure you call a water damage specialist as soon as possible. These professionals are trained to deal with all kinds of water damage. They can make your home safer and more livable so that you can start using it again quickly. They can rebuild your walls, carpet, remove moldy spots and drywall, and restore your electrical system. Calling a water damage specialist immediately prevents further damage to your home and allows you to get back to enjoying your space.
Start With an Inspection: As soon as you discover that your home may have been damaged by flooding, don’t put it off. The sooner you begin repairs, the faster you will get your home on the market. Don’t wait until the water has completely saturated your home and it has flooded all over. It will be too costly to repair your home and will delay you from selling it.
