Sell a Fire, Flood, or Storm Damaged House
After a fire or a serious water event, a house stops being a house on the retail market. Lenders will not finance it, most buyers cannot see past it, and every week of delay adds secondary damage.
After a fire or a flood, most buyers see a total loss and most cash buyers see a scope they cannot price. We see the same thing we see on our own job sites: framing, systems, and a number.
What you are dealing with
Sound familiar?
- An insurance settlement that will not cover a full rebuild
- Mortgage payments due on a property you cannot live in
- Mold and structural damage spreading behind the walls
- Contractor bids that keep coming back higher than the payout
Questions sellers ask us first
- “Can I keep the insurance money and still sell?”
- “Will you buy fire-damaged structures?”
- “What if the mortgage company holds the claim funds?”
What you will need
- • Insurance claim number and adjuster's report
- • Any contractor estimates
- • Mortgage statement
How it works in Tennessee
The timeline, the law, and your options
- Step 1
Claim and adjustment
The insurer adjusts the loss and issues payment, frequently in stages and often naming the mortgage servicer as a co-payee.
- Step 2
Mortgagee control of funds
Servicers typically escrow claim proceeds and release them against completed work, which stalls owners who cannot front the repair cost.
- Step 3
Repair or sell
The property either gets restored to a habitable, financeable condition or it is sold as-is to a buyer who does not need a mortgage.
Legal notes
- • Tennessee sellers must disclose known material defects on the residential property disclosure, though as-is sales to investors are commonly handled by disclaimer -- confirm with your closing attorney.
- • Substantial rebuilds in flood zones can trigger floodplain and substantial-improvement rules.
Your options
- • Restore the property with insurance proceeds and out-of-pocket funds
- • Repair only enough to make it financeable, then list
- • Sell as-is and let the buyer carry the rebuild risk
How we handle it
What selling to us looks like
We are a licensed contractor, so we can price a rebuild accurately rather than guessing high to protect ourselves. We buy fire, flood, and storm-damaged houses in whatever state they are in, and we can structure the deal around who keeps the claim proceeds.
- As a licensed contractor, we scope smoke, water, and structural damage ourselves instead of guessing high to protect a margin.
- We buy before or after an insurance settlement, and we can structure the deal around the claim either way.
- Boarded-up, red-tagged, or partially collapsed houses are still purchases for us.
- You do not have to negotiate a repair scope with an adjuster before you sell.
Our process
Three steps, no surprises
- 1
Tell us about the house
Call or send the address. We ask about condition, timing, and what is going on -- not for photographs or a clean house.
- 2
We walk the property
We look at it ourselves as a licensed contractor and price the repairs from real numbers instead of a padded guess.
- 3
Written offer, your date
You get a written, no-obligation offer, usually within 24 hours. You pick the closing date; we can close in as little as seven days.
Cash offer vs. listing
Compare the net, not the headline price
| Selling to Unique Construct | Traditional listing | |
|---|---|---|
| Repairs | None — we buy as-is | Seller pays before listing |
| Commissions | None | Typically 5–6% |
| Closing costs | We cover the standard costs | Often seller-paid |
| Showings | One visit from us | Open houses and lockbox |
| Contingencies | No financing, appraisal, or inspection outs | All three |
| Timeline | As little as 7 days | 45–60 days after a contract |
FAQ
Questions sellers ask
- Do I have to repair anything first?
- No. Repairing before a cash sale usually costs more than it adds.
- Who keeps the insurance check?
- It is negotiable. Some sellers keep the claim and take a lower price; some assign it for a higher one. We will quote both.
- The house was condemned after the fire. Still interested?
- Yes. Condemnation and code cases are ordinary work for us.
- Who keeps the insurance proceeds?
- That is negotiable and it is part of the price conversation. Sometimes you keep the claim and we buy lower; sometimes the claim is assigned to us and the price goes up.
- Will the mortgage company release the claim check?
- Not usually until repairs are made or the loan is paid off. Selling pays off the loan, which resolves the standoff.
No obligation
Get a written offer
Tell us what is going on. We will be straight with you about whether selling is actually your best move.
Fire / Water Damage? Get your offer
No obligation, no fees, no repairs. Tell us about the property and you get a written cash offer within 24 hours of the walkthrough.
Related
Other situations we buy in
Fire, flood, or storm damage by city
Fire / Water Damage? Call (865) 277-6808 and we will tell you where you stand.
Call (865) 277-6808This page is general information, not legal or financial advice. Every situation is different — call us and we'll walk through yours.