A house fire turns your life upside down in an afternoon. Even a small kitchen fire can leave smoke damage, soot, and water from the fire hoses in every room. If you own a fire-damaged house in New Hampshire or Massachusetts, you have more options than it may feel like right now. This guide walks through the first steps and the main ways to sell.
First Steps After the Fire
- Wait until it’s safe. Don’t go back inside until the fire department says the building is safe to enter. Fire can weaken floors, stairs and the roof.
- Call your insurance company right away. They will send an adjuster to look at the damage. Ask what your policy covers. Many homeowner policies cover the structure, your belongings, and some living costs while you can’t live there.
- Secure the house. Most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent more damage, like boarding up windows and putting a tarp over a damaged roof. Keep receipts.
- Take photos and keep records. Photograph every room before anything is moved or thrown out, and save every bill, estimate and letter.
- Tell your mortgage lender. If you have a mortgage, the insurance check for the house is often made out to both you and your lender, so they will be part of the process.
- Keep paying what you can. The mortgage and property taxes are still due after a fire. If you fall behind, call your lender early. Our foreclosure guide explains how that process works in both states.
Should You Repair the House or Sell It?
Before you decide, get a written repair estimate. Fire damage is often worse than it looks. Smoke gets into insulation and duct work, water from fighting the fire can lead to mold, and wiring near the fire may need to be replaced. Repairs usually need permits from your town or city building department.
Then compare your options:
- Repair, then live there or list it. This can bring the highest price, but you carry the costs, the contractor schedule and the waiting. It works best when the insurance payout covers most of the work and you have the time.
- List it as-is with an agent. Some buyers want a project, but many can’t get a regular mortgage on a house that isn’t livable, so the pool of buyers is smaller and showings can be hard.
- Sell it as-is for cash. A cash buyer takes the house in its current condition. You skip the repairs, the clean-out and the showings, and you pick the closing date.
What About the Insurance Claim If You Sell?
Selling the house and settling the insurance claim are two separate things, but they affect each other. Before you sign anything, ask your insurance company and a real estate attorney how an open claim is handled if you sell. In many sales this gets spelled out in the purchase agreement so everyone knows who keeps which part of the payout.
Be Upfront About the Fire
Tell any buyer about the fire and what was or wasn’t repaired. Hiding known damage can come back on you after the sale. When you sell to us, you don’t have to hide anything or fix anything. We look at the house as it is and make an offer based on that.
Selling a Fire-Damaged House in New Hampshire and Massachusetts
Joe Homebuyer New England buys houses as-is across southern New Hampshire and Massachusetts, including houses damaged by fire, smoke or water. We can work around your insurance timeline, you can leave behind anything you don’t want, and you choose the closing date. There are no commissions and no repair requests.
Common Questions
Can I sell a fire-damaged house without fixing it?
Yes. You can sell it in its current condition. A cash buyer will factor the repairs into the price, so you don’t have to pay for them up front.
Do I have to finish my insurance claim before selling?
Not always. It depends on your policy and the terms of the sale. Talk with your insurer and an attorney before you sign a purchase agreement.
Will a bank lend on a fire-damaged house?
Often not, if the house isn’t livable. That’s one reason many owners sell to a cash buyer instead of listing.
Want to know your options? Tell us about your house or call Joe Homebuyer New England at (617) 857-0000. There’s no cost or obligation.
This article is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Every policy is different, so talk with your insurance company and a New Hampshire or Massachusetts attorney about your situation.