Waterlogged: What to Do When Water Destroys Your House

When water damage seeps into your home, it’s always a terrible ordeal. It’s hard to imagine that water can cause such destruction. Water is such an intricate part of life and when it destroys a home it seems like it has betrayed your trust.

Yet, water is natural and sometimes accidents happen – sometimes unforeseeable tragedies happen too and the best thing you can do is to find the strength to forge ahead.

This article is designed to help you figure out what to do when water damage destroys your house.

Overflowing

When a house is destroyed due to water damage, the water isn’t the only thing that is overflowing. Generally, while this is happening and for days, sometimes months afterward, emotions, anxiety, and displacement run rampant.

If there is any consolation in this, it is that this is a normal reaction. People deal with such a heartbreaking ordeal in a multitude of different ways. It is all part of the process of grieving and acceptance.

Although, at a time like this, it also reminds you what you are truly thankful for. So, while the water is rushing in and you are away from the danger with your family, hold on to the fact that you are all safe.

This doesn’t make the hurt, shock, and pain go away, but when you’re ready to start accepting what happened, it can help put things back in perspective.

During this time, it is important to worry about you, your needs, and the needs of your family.

Getting Organized

Once it is safe to return to your house, after coming to terms with the damage-which can be quite shocking, it’s time to get organized.

Safety is always the main priority. So, ensure that the house is safe to enter by checking with your town’s authority. If they tell you that the structure is unsafe, do not go inside.

Although, even if you are told the structure is sound, here are a few safety protocols to put into action before entering the home:

• Wear rubber gloves, boots, and eye protection
• Wear a respirator, if there is a possibility there’s mold
• Check for dangers before entering (exposed wires, cracks in the house, animals…)
• Bring fresh cleaning supplies with you and don’t leave it overnight

Drying Out

After assessing the issues and ensuring that you are prepared for cleanup, it is time to decide what can be salvaged and what needs be thrown away.

While, unfortunately, much of the house, including sheetrock, carpets, and insolation will have to be replaced, there is still a possibility that the foundation and framework of your house are still sound.

The most important thing is to get what you believe you can save-or want to try to save, such as pictures, passports, and legal documents. Get these items out of the house as soon as possible.

Once all forms of identification and memories are out of the house, it is time to get to work, figuring out what else can be saved.

Do It Right

When all the cleanup for the house is complete and it’s time to put the pieces of your life back together, you want to make sure you do it right. While there are some things that you can do, such as cleanup and smaller DIY jobs, you want to make sure the professionals take care of most of your home.

You should have a reputed house inspector check for mold and other infestations, as well as checking the foundation.

Everything you do, you want to be certain it’s done right, because you don’t want to have to go through a similar uproot in only a couple months, when the new wall must be torn apart to find the source of an issue.

So, leave it to the professionals. You’ll be happy you did.

Prepare for the Unthinkable…Again.

While we all hope that one tragedy is enough for a lifetime, it’s important to understand that there is always a possibility that something like this will happen again.

Therefore, it is important to be prepared for the worst, so that you can pick yourself up, wring yourself out, and go on with your life.

Here are a few ways you can protect yourself and your belongings against water damage:

• Place all your valuable documents and photos in a waterproof/fireproof box
• Get flood insurance-and read the fine print
• Make a flood plan telling each member of the family what’s expected of them
• Find programs and help with preparation within your community

Hopefully, this article has shed some light on what happens when water damage destroys your house (and what you can do about it). Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter how you prepare for any type of disaster, it doesn’t stop tragedy from striking.

So, for people who are either too distraught, too overwhelmed, or simply can’t fathom dumping such a large amount of money back into a currently destroyed house, there is an easier way. Max Cash Home Offers can buy your home, as is!

By choosing Max Cash Offers, you can simply walk away and start anew, with CASH in hand. There is no dealing with the dangerous and messy cleanup, no more worrying about mold throughout the house-months or even years after the home is rebuilt, and the time of displacement-which is often uncertain in these circumstances, is far less daunting. You could possibly be in a new house within a month, putting all the unpleasantness of water damage behind you.

If you would like more information about water damage or you would like to receive a cash offer for your home, contact us today!

Max Cash Home Offers offers instant cash offers on houses nationwide. We do not provide legal or financial advice. For information on foreclosure, eviction or any other legal situation make sure you contact a local attorney.