Selling your home can be complicated. Just about everything affects the value of your home. One thing that can affect your home’s value is water damage and all of the complications that it can bring.
Staying on top of the repairs and maintenance of your property is a part of homeownership. Water damage, whether hidden behind a wall or visible, can decrease the value of your home, sometimes significantly. Damage can be limited by first identifying water damage, then contacting a professional to have the damage repaired.
With home prices increasing rapidly, a quality repair can help your home to retain value. In this post, we’ll explore the types of water damage that can negatively impact the value of your home.
Damages That Can Lower Your Home’s Value
Certain types of water damage can significantly lower the value of your home. Damage from issues out of your control, like a hurricane or a burst pipe can be a worst-case scenario. This type of damage can have immediate and long-term effects on your home’s value if not dealt with promptly.
Here’s a look at three significant effects water damage can cause and what you can do to prevent a loss of value.
• Structural Issues
Storm damage or flooding can cause serious damage to your home’s structural integrity. After an event, finding and resolving any structural issues in the floors, ceilings, walls, and basement can help to minimize any loss of value.
After an incident, it’s important to carefully inspect your home for structural damage like rotting wood, sagging floors, or cracks in the walls. It is crucial to identify damage to limit the loss of value.
If you suffer flooding, the best option is to hire a professional home inspector to assess any damages.
• Foundation Issues
If you’ve experienced significant amounts of water, whether, from a burst pipe or a natural disaster, it can cause significant damage to your home’s foundation. If your basement floods, it can cause irreversible damage to your home’s foundation. Checking your foundation for structural issues after an event is crucial.
Foundation issues can be the most expensive damage to deal with and can impact your home’s value the most. Catching problems early can keep your repair costs lower. Structural damage only gets worse the longer it goes unaddressed.
Foundation issues are not a D.I.Y. repair. You should speak with a disaster restoration company. They will have the experience and equipment to secure your home and repair your foundation after water damage occurs.
• Mold
When your home is inundated by a flood or broken pipe, your risk for mold goes up. This side effect of water damage can be as bad as the damage itself. Mold can be harmful to you and your family. Symptoms can range from a stuffy nose and itchy eyes to breathing issues or allergic reactions. Mold can also cause long-term damage to your home. It can affect drywall, studs, and the insulation in your walls.
If you detect a mold problem, call a remediation specialist. The sooner you deal with mold, the better. Your health, the health of your family, and the health of your home depend on it.
Water can wreak havoc on your home and lower its value if you don’t address issues immediately. Regular maintenance and inspections can help you prevent the problems associated with long-term water damage.
However, when the unexpected occurs, a water damage restoration company can offer solutions to repair your home so it retains value. They will have the experience, expertise, and equipment to handle any water damage quickly, thoroughly, and professionally.
Guest post by Angela Anderson of ATI Restoration
