Sell a Fire or Water Damaged House
After a fire, a flood, a burst pipe or a long-running leak, the practical problem is rarely the damage itself — it is that the house has become very hard to sell conventionally. Lenders will not fund it, insurers may not cover it, and buyers cannot see past it. We buy fire and water damaged property as-is, including where the insurance claim is unresolved.
Why sellers in this situation contact us
No remediation first
We do not need the property restored, dried out or rebuilt before we buy
Open claims are workable
A pending or disputed insurance claim does not automatically stop a sale
No lender to satisfy
Cash removes the appraiser and underwriter who would otherwise block it
Smoke and mould included
Damage that scares off retail buyers is part of our normal assessment
We price the actual house
Our number reflects the property as it stands today, not as-if-repaired
The problems this situation creates
Financing is usually unavailable
Lenders will not fund a property with significant unrepaired fire or water damage, so nearly all financed buyers are excluded from the outset.
Remediation is expensive and uncertain
Fire restoration and serious water or mould remediation run into large numbers, and the final figure is often only clear once work is opened up.
Insurance proceeds rarely cover everything
Settlements are frequently less than the true cost to restore, and disputes drag on while the property sits.
Damage spreads
Water damage becomes mould; a fire-damaged structure exposed to weather deteriorates further every month it is left.
Insurability
A damaged property with a claims history can be difficult and costly to insure, which affects any future buyer's ability to close.
Disclosure is unavoidable
Fire and water damage are material and must be disclosed. Selling to a buyer who already understands the condition is a cleaner route than a partial repair you then have to explain.
When selling to us is not the right move
If your insurance settlement genuinely covers the cost of proper restoration and you have the time and appetite to manage the work, restoring and then listing will usually net you more. Selling as-is makes sense when the settlement falls short, the claim is contested, or you simply do not want to run a construction project.
Frequently asked questions
Will you buy with the insurance claim still open?
Often yes. How the claim and any proceeds are handled needs to be agreed as part of the purchase, and your insurer's terms and your policy govern what is permitted — so tell us early and check with your adjuster.
How much damage is too much?
We have bought properties with major structural fire damage. Extensive damage changes the number rather than our interest, and in the worst cases the value is essentially in the land.
Do I need a remediation or engineer's report?
Not to talk to us. If you already have reports, they help us be more precise. Commissioning them purely for our benefit is not necessary.
Is there mould, and does that matter?
Assume any prolonged water intrusion has produced mould, and tell us if you know it has. It is a standard part of our assessment. It is also a common reason financed sales collapse.
Should I accept my insurer's settlement offer before selling?
That is a decision to make with your own adjuster, broker, or an attorney who handles insurance claims — the settlement affects your position materially and we are not the right party to advise on it.
This page explains how selling a property for cash works. It is not legal, tax or financial advice, and it is not a substitute for advice about your own situation.
Where we buy:
About My California Home Solution
- My California Home Solution is a real estate investment company that buys houses directly for cash and sells off-market investment properties to investors.
- Service area: San Diego County and Riverside County, California.
- Office address: 1132 San Marino Dr #100, San Marcos, CA 92078.
- Calls are answered by a person Monday through Saturday, 7am to 5pm Pacific, and the office is closed Sunday. Online offer requests are accepted at any hour and receive an immediate automated confirmation.
- Typical closing window: 7 to 14 days, with the seller choosing the closing date.
- Sellers pay no agent commission and no closing costs, and no repairs are required.
- Contact: (760) 477-4552 or deals@mycahomesolution.com.
- My California Home Solution is a member of the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce. Membership is an affiliation, not an accreditation, rating or endorsement.
- My California Home Solution is a property-buying company, not a brokerage — when we make an offer we are the buyer, not your agent. Richard Farmer is a licensed California real estate broker (DRE #01229897) affiliated with Ktesius Realty Corporation (DRE #01842107), so brokerage services are available separately if listing suits you better.