If your house has suffered a fire there is a good chance that at some point you are going to wonder – “how safe is it to stay in a fire-damaged house?”

If you are asking that question – and searching online for an answer today – the quickest and shortest response is “no, it is not safe to stay in a fire-damaged house.” We’ll get into the specifics of why in just a moment.

Of course, every situation is different. There are more than likely a lot of factors that will go into your decision of whether or not to stay in your house after a fire.

Factors that you may end up considering include the scale of the fire and the time the fire occurred.

If your home suffered a very minor fire then you may be able to stay but you still need to be cautious about smoke and soot damage.

You see, as we’ll discuss more shortly, lingering smoke damage can cause problems long after extinguishing the flames. That’s why when it comes to a house fire, no matter what the size, it is always safer to stay somewhere else until you are sure it is safe to return.

So Why it is Generally Not Safe to Stay in a Fire-Damaged House?

If your house has sustained a larger fire there could be structural damage as well as electrical damage that could make staying in the home very unsafe.

Structural damage could lead to collapses that could put your safety in jeopardy and electrical issues could even result in a new fire.

Something else to be aware of is that not all fire damage is readily visible. There could be damage to support beams, the roof and other areas that you can’t easily see.

That’s why it is always best to have a fire-damaged house checked out by a professional inspector before you ever consider staying in it.

A good inspector can tell you if the house is structurally sound and OK to remain in.

What Do I Need to Know About Smoke Damage?

This should be one of your biggest concerns and a main factor in you and your family NOT staying in a fire-damaged house.

Smoke particles can spread out and get into the curtains, into furniture, into and behind walls, in the carpet and other flooring, into the HVAC system and air ducts and in many other areas of your home – including ducting, wiring and pipes that are very difficult to get to and clean.

That’s why no matter what size fire you have you need to have a professional fire restoration company come in and thoroughly clean the home.

What are the Health Risks of Being Around Smoke Damage?

If smoke damage is not removed and you end up breathing in the toxic particles you could suffer a number of unwanted health issues.

Your lungs and sinuses can be impacted severely leading to breathing issues. You can also get bothersome skin and eye irritations. It can also lead to nausea, chronic headaches, allergies and more

That’s not all, if you continue to breathe in smoke particles, which can contain tar, carbon, heavy metals and other toxins, you could develop brain damage, cancer and you could even die.

Another issue with smoke and soot damage is that it is very difficult to clean. It can create a greasy type of layer that is very hard to remove.

That’s why it’s essential, after any size fire, that you have a fire restoration company come in and thoroughly clean and decontaminate the entire property.

What About Staying in a Repaired Fire-Damaged House?

If properly repaired, a house should be perfectly safe to stay in following a fire.

The key here is to ensure you make all recommended repairs properly. Furthermore, it is important to verify the thorough removal of any smoke and soot damage.

The best way to ensure all of this is true is to have the house analyzed by a highly qualified, experienced inspector.

Repair a Fire-Damaged House or Sell “As Is”?

When faced with the stress and uncertainty of the often extensive repair process required by fire-damaged houses, many homeowners opt to sell the house instead.

There are a number of benefits to selling a fire-damaged house as is:

• First, you avoid a long drawn-out repair process that can be disruptive to your life and very expensive

• Second, you also eliminate any ongoing concerns you may have about the safety of a fire-damaged house (concerns which can go on even after a house is fixed)

• Third, you won’t have to worry about electrical damage that was missed or smoke damage that wasn’t spotted

• Fourth, you can use the money from the sale of the house along with your insurance settlement to get an even nicer home

• Fifth, you can move on from the fire and get your life back to normal much faster than if you went through a long repair process

Who Should You Sell to?

Fire-damaged houses are notoriously hard to sell, even if they have been fully repaired because most people simply don’t want to buy or live in a house that has been damaged by fire.

That’s why one of the best ways to sell your house is to a company like We Buy Fire Damaged Houses that specializes in buying burned homes.

The company offers a great price and pays all cash so that you can get your money fast. You also don’t have to worry about any real estate agent commissions that reduce your profits.

To receive a free, no obligation quote for your fire-damaged house, simply fill out the short form below.