Dealing with Fire Damage? Do You Rebuild, Sell or Walk Away

A house fire is one of the most overwhelming things a homeowner can face. Amidst the shock, damage of your possessions, displacement, the smoke, and the smell that won’t go away, it’s hard to know what to do first.

And just when you think you’re moving in the right direction, the paperwork kicks in. Insurance claims. Adjusters. Contractors. Permits. Maybe even the city stepping in. (Woof.)

If you’re feeling stuck after fire damage (whether your home is barely touched or completely condemned), this post will walk you through your options, including one you may not have thought of yet: selling the house as-is for cash and moving on.

Once the fire is out, your first step should be calling a professional disaster recovery company like DRYUNOW. They can help secure the property, assess the structural and smoke damage, and guide you through cleanup and restoration options. Having experts on-site early also helps document everything properly for your insurance claim.

Next, file your homeowners insurance claim. An adjuster will inspect the damage and issue a repair estimate.

• If the damage is minor, you may receive funds to handle cleanup and basic repairs.
• If the damage is extensive or the home is uninhabitable, insurance might offer a rebuild budget or a lump sum cash settlement.

In severe cases, the city may also get involved.
In areas like Cleveland, Parma, Medina, and other parts of Northeast Ohio, homes deemed unsafe or condemned may trigger the city to withhold part of your insurance payout. This is often called a “demolition escrow” or “retained funds.”
The money is held until the property is either repaired or safely demolished, and nothing moves forward until those conditions are met. This can be a frustrating and time-consuming process.

Here’s where things get interesting.

If you’re already exhausted or don’t have the time, energy, or finances to go through a full rebuild, you don’t have to.

We help homeowners in this exact situation.
We can:

• Partner with you to help fulfill city requirements, so the insurance funds being held can be released properly
• Buy the house directly for cash, even if it’s been fire-damaged or condemned
• Handle the cleanup, paperwork, and demolition, if needed

This isn’t a traditional listing. There’s no commission, no repairs, and no need to make the house look good for showings.

• They’re overwhelmed by the insurance and permit process
• They don’t want to wait months for contractors and permits
• They’d rather take the insurance money, sell the property as-is, and move on
• The house had problems even before the fire (hello, deferred maintenance)
• The city is holding funds and they just want someone to help unlock them

How It Works

1. Reach out. We’ll take a look at your property and ask a few basic questions
2. We make you a no-obligation cash offer
3. If you accept, we can help work with the city to get any held insurance funds released

You walk away without the stress of rebuilding, managing contractors, or waiting on permits