After moving past the shock and sorrow of their house being damaged by fire, many homeowners are faced with a decision and often choose rebuilding a burned house instead of selling a fire-damaged house.

Often this decision is made out of emotion and without considering all that will go into rebuilding a burned house.

In this article, we are going to take a closer look at what rebuilding a burned house involves so that homeowners can make better-informed decisions instead of relying solely on emotions.

Emotions can be Really High After a House Fire

One important thing to keep in mind if your home has been damaged by fire is that it is natural to feel sadness and loss.

You may have seen valuable possessions be damaged or even destroyed. You may have spent years in the home and, as a result, have numerous memories of the time you and your family spent there. Maybe you raised kids in that home. Maybe you and your spouse grew closer in that home.

The reason it is important to understand the intense feelings that can come when a home is damaged by fire is because you don’t want to rush into any decision based solely on emotion.

To make the best decision for you and your family you need to be level-headed and capable of analyzing all sides of the situation.

It’s natural to want to repair the place you call “home” but is it the right decision economically? Here are some things to look at when making that decision …

How Extensive is the Damage?

The first thing you’ll want to do when considering rebuilding a burned house is to get a good understanding of the damage.

To do this you’ll need to have a licensed professional come in and assess the damage for you. Even if you are a contractor, dealing with damage from a fire is different than other typical household repairs.

That’s why you need a professional – someone who is both trained and experienced in evaluating house fire damage.

This professional will know how to spot damage that is not easily visible to the naked eye. For example, there could be unseen structure damage or water and mold damage from the efforts to put out the fire.

Another type of damage that will need to be considered and that we’ll talk more about in a minute is smoke damage.

All of this needs to be considered to fully understand the time and cost associated with rebuilding a burned house.

Who is Going to Repair the Damage?

After inspecting the house, the next step is to find a reliable contractor for the repairs. Again, you will need someone who has experience rebuilding a burned house.

Workers who repair fire damage need special training and often require special equipment. In other words, their labor doesn’t come cheap. That’s why finding a trustworthy contractor who can provide a solid repair estimate is important.

To be extra careful, you should ask the contractor to run the numbers for the worst possible scenario. If everything that can go wrong does, what will it cost you?

Hopefully, you won’t have to pay anywhere near this amount but knowing what that amount is can help you make a better informed decision as to whether to rebuild a burned home or try to sell a fire-damaged house “as is.”

As with any construction project, things can go wrong. Maybe during the repairs the workers discover additional fire damage behind the walls that wasn’t noticed before … and then, of course, there is always smoke damage to consider.

Should I be Worried About Smoke Damage?

In a word, “yes.” The truth is smoke damage is often the bane of homeowners looking to rebuild a burned house.

It can be hard to identify and extremely hard to get rid of. To make matters worse, smoke damage can be hazardous to both human and pet health.

Smoke damage can lead to respiratory issues. You see, even though the smoke is gone, its effects linger in furniture, carpets, walls, air ducts and more. Breathing in smoke remnants, including soot and other particles, can cause various breathing, sinus, and lung problems.

Breathing in soot and other smoke particles can also lead to more serious health issues if the exposure is prolonged. Remember, all the health problems that many of the cleanup workers at the Twin Towers experienced after 9/11?

Clearly, a burned house doesn’t compare to the towers in scale but can still cause health issues without proper precautions. That’s why you’ll need to pay extra for workers who are properly trained and properly equipped.

Breathing issues aren’t the only possible physical effects from breathing in smoke damage. Smoke and soot residue can also irritate the skin causing rashes and outbreaks that can’t be treated by lotion alone. You may have to go the doctor to find a solution.

One more common physical problem from smoke damage is eye irritation.

Smoke and soot can seriously irritate eyes, causing itchiness, redness, and constant discomfort, even with closed eyes. This irritation can result in difficulty seeing and even in difficulty sleeping.

Unfortunately, Smoke Damage is Notoriously Hard to Get Rid of

You may have to throw away some furniture and replace carpet and other flooring.

Only by considering all of these factors can you make a good informed decision about rebuilding a burned house.

As stated earlier, many homeowners choose to rebuild, given the home’s sentimental value.

If you decide, however, to avoid the cost, stress and frustration that can accompany rebuilding a burned house, We Buy Fire Damaged Houses buys a wide range of houses that have been damaged by fire.

The company offers great prices so with your insurance settlement you could find an even better house in a better area … or in the same area.

To learn more about We Buy Fire Damaged Houses and to see if they are interested in buying your fire damaged home for a great price, fill out the short form below.