Should you sell your Texas house with water damage, or get it fixed?
Extreme plumbing emergencies can happen at any time in Texas.
When winter temperatures drop well below freezing, the water in pipes can freeze. This can result in burst pipes, with leaks gushing water inside your walls and beneath your floors.
Other times, pipes can slowly break down and rupture over time, due to age, damage from nearby tree roots, or even the foundation of your house shifting.
Whatever the cause, a leaky or burst pipe can cause major damage to your home, and leave you scrambling for a solution.
Why Do Frozen Pipes Burst?
Texas winters are usually mild for most of the state, but sub-zero temperatures arrive every year, as early as November and as late as April!
When the air stays below freezing for long enough, it can freeze water in your home’s plumbing.
You might expect that ice expanding inside the pipes causes them to break, but that’s only part of the problem. The bigger issue happens when the pipes thaw, and pressure from incoming water becomes too much for the pipes to handle.
You can prevent burst pipes by letting your faucets drip, and leaving cabinets open under sinks that are against exterior walls.
If you lose power for a long time and you can’t keep your house warm, you may need to turn off the water to your house, to ease pressure on the pipes if they do freeze.
When Appliances Go Bad
Water damage can also arise when appliances fail.
For example, a leaking dishwasher or washing machine can slowly and quietly soak the floor, walls, and cabinets that surround it, every time it it is in use.
On the other hand, a water heater can suddenly fail, unleashing dozens of gallons of water into your house all at once.
Whether it’s a leaking dishwasher, a broken washing machine, or a busted water heater, a deluge can quickly spread through your home, wreaking havoc before you notice.
How Much Does Water Damage Repair Cost?
Similar to flood damage, water from broken pipes or busted appliances can be widespread, with repair costs quickly mounting.
The biggest area of concern will most likely be your floors. Every area soaked by wayward water will require, at a minimum, replacement of the flooring. Costs will depend on the material, whether it’s lower-cost linoleum, carpet and padding, or pricy authentic wood floors.
Then there are the walls. Remediation crews will need to measure the moisture soaked up by each wall, and determine whether part or all of the drywall needs to be replaced.
On average, you can expect repair costs to range between $2,000 and $5,000, but it can go much higher depending on how widespread the damage is.
Will My Insurance Cover Water Damage?
In many cases, your Texas homeowner’s insurance should cover costs related to water damage repair.
However, you may still need to pay a certain amount out of pocket first, to cover your deductible, before your insurance coverage kicks in. Check your policy to determine your deductible cost.
Insurance may not cover water damage repair costs if the adjuster determines the cause was unresolved maintenance. For example, if you didn’t act quickly to address a leaky pipe or appliance, the adjuster may deny your claim.
Even if your insurance covers the repair costs, it can take weeks or even months to complete repairs. The process takes longer if a major event overwhelms remediation crews, such as widespread winter weather that causes pipes to burst at thousands of homes.
Then there’s the hassle that comes with being out of your house for days, weeks, or even months. You’ll have to move and re-move many of your belongings; your commutes to work and school could end up being much longer; and you’ll have the added stress of dealing with one or more repair companies coming and going.
What if there was a faster, easier solution?
We Buy Houses With Water Damage
It turns out, there is! We will buy your water-damaged house fast, for cash.
Our process is fast and easy:
- You contact us and let us know you’re interested in a FREE, zero-obligation consultation.
- We make a brief visit to your house and get a quick look at it, on a day and time that works for you.
- Within 24 hours of our visit, we make you a fair, written cash offer to buy your house as-is.
- If you accept our offer, we can close in as little as 7 days. That means you could be rid of your water-damaged house in only a week!
Let us help you sell your house with water damage, fast. Call us today or contact us now to start the no-hassle, no-obligation process!