When fire damage strikes your property, selling might seem impossible. But as this real story shows, there are solutions available even for severely fire-damaged houses in Stockton. Here’s how we helped one local homeowner move forward after a devastating fire.
The Initial Call: Reaching Out for Help After a Fire
It started with a hesitant phone call from Jose. On that Monday I received that call from Jose about a house that he was “interested in possibly selling.” I could tell that Jose was tentative; he was uncomfortable talking to me. His questions weren’t rehearsed and he was a little unsure of what to ask.
Like many homeowners dealing with fire damage, he was skeptical that anyone could help with his situation. He’d seen our “We Buy Houses Stockton” sign near his house and, after some encouragement from his wife, decided to make the call. He said he really didn’t believe that anyone could help him, least of all from a sign on the side of the road.
I assured him that I was a good listener, that I was real, and that my business was real. I explained that I could probably help him unravel the problem that he was faced with if he’d let me help.
After reassuring Jose, I asked him to tell me about the house. How many bedrooms and baths are there? Was there a garage? What condition was the house in?
Jose’s Situation: More Than Just Fire Damage
Jose had inherited the 2 bedroom, 1 bath Stockton house from his parents who had passed away five years earlier.
He told me he owned the house free and clear, and was considering selling it. He also told me that the house had been vacant for all of that time and that he had been meaning to “fix it up”, but he just didn’t have the time and money to do so.
He then said, “There is one small problem, there was a fire at the house two weeks ago.” The garage had suffered some damage in the recent fire, and overall the property had been:
- Vacant for five years
- Recently damaged by vandals who started several fires
- Severely burned in the garage area
- Tagged by the health department for cleanup
- Facing potential fines from both city and county
- Completely uninsured
Jose explained to me that someone had broken into the house the past weekend and started several small fires and that the garage had the worst of the damage. The police and fire department were called and the fire was put out.
He stated that he did not think that the house suffered any substantial damage. But then said he had got a notice from the health department that he needed to clean up the mess. He didn’t know where to start.
Jose said he didn’t have any money, there was no insurance on the house and that he didn’t know what to do or who could help. The city and the county had already posted notices and they wanted the mess cleaned up or they would start to fine him until it was cleaned up and fixed. Jose was upset. I wanted to help him, like so many other Central Valley homeowners I’ve helped in similar situations over the years.
Assessing the Fire Damage
As I was driving to my 10:00 am appointment on that dreary day in February, I was focused on the house, what Jose had told me and what I was about to see.
When I drove up to the front of the house on 8th St, I wasn’t expecting much. I was very familiar with this Stockton neighborhood and I was fairly certain that what I was going to find was less than a beautifully maintained property.
I was right.
While I could not see the fire damage from where I had parked, I could see that the front porch was falling down, the front door was boarded up, along with some of the windows, the roof was cluttered with debris from tree branches and that the roof itself was deteriorated beyond any possible repair.
When I arrived at the property, the situation was more severe than initially described:
- The front porch was collapsing
- Windows and doors were boarded up
- The roof was deteriorated and debris-covered
- The garage was completely destroyed by fire
- The back portion of the house had significant fire damage
- Water and smoke damage was extensive
I also noticed that the chain-link fence surrounding the property was locked with heavy duty chains and pad locks.
Jose greeted me as I got out of my truck and then informed me that he had no keys for either the gates or the house, but I was free to “hop the fence and walk around.” Good thing I wore my boots and jeans.
I gathered a hammer, flash light and gloves from my tool box and hopped the fence for my initial tour. As I rounded the west front corner of the house I was expecting to see a partially burned garage. What I saw was a garage completely leveled by a fire. Water, soot, ash and debris were strewn everywhere.
As I maneuvered my way through the mess, step by step, I was reminding myself to be careful, to watch out for anything that could fall. I noticed that while the garage was not attached to the house, the make shift lean-to or patio cover that once connected the two, was partially standing. Its post charred and blackened.
As I turned the next corner to what was at one time the back of the house, I saw the full extent of the fire damage to both the garage and house.
As I stood staring at the rusted security door, with its metal frame just barely hanging there, I noticed that there was no door behind it. The back door had completely burned in the fire and the only thing attached to the house was one hinge of the security door.
As I stood back to take it all in, I saw that the entire back half of the house had caught on fire and it was stopped before it could ignite the rest of the house.
I walked back out to the front of the house and there was Jose, who promptly asked “What do you think?”
I calmly said, “Well you were right, the house needs some work, have you seen it back there?”
He replied that he was just too upset and that he had not gone back to see the damage because he was afraid of what he might find.
Jose and I discussed the damage at length and then after about a minute of pause he asked me one simple question… “Are you still interested in buying the house?”
How We Help Sell Fire-Damaged Houses
Despite the extensive damage, I was still interested in purchasing Jose’s property. I explained that I needed to do a little more research on the property and neighborhood to arrive at a price, but I was definitely interested.
I could tell Jose was relieved, but not as relieved as he was two weeks later when he received his check from the title company.
My name is Peter Westbrook and when I buy houses in Stockton, I pay cash.
As a local cash home buyer, I can close quickly without banks. I always use a Title Company and I will always do the best I can to offer you the most money for any property that I evaluate. I have been told that my offers are higher than most and that they appreciate my candid approach to business.
Here’s why my cash home buying process works for fire-damaged houses:
- We buy properties in any condition
- No repairs or cleanup required
- Cash offers mean quick closings
- We handle all post-fire complications
- No real estate commission fees
- Professional title company handling
Need To Sell Your Stockton House Fast?
The Outcome: A Quick Solution for a Difficult Situation
Within two weeks of that initial phone call, Jose received his check from the title company. No cleanup required, no contractor estimates needed, no dealing with city code violations – just a straightforward solution to a complicated problem.
Selling Your Fire-Damaged House in Stockton
If you’re facing a similar situation with fire damage, here’s what you should know:
- Fire damage doesn’t make your house unsellable
- You don’t need insurance to sell your property
- Quick solutions are available to avoid mounting fines
- Cash offers can help you move forward faster
- Professional buyers can handle all the complications
Get Help With Your Fire-Damaged Property
As Stockton’s trusted house buyer, we specialize in helping homeowners in challenging situations. Whether your property has suffered fire damage, vandalism, or years of neglect, we can help you find a solution.
Contact Peter Westbrook at (209) 481-7780 for a confidential consultation about your fire-damaged property. We serve Stockton and surrounding areas including Elk Grove, Sacramento, Lodi, Galt, Woodbridge, Acampo, Lockeford, Linden, Ripon, Manteca, Modesto, Ceres, and Tracy.
Remember: No matter how severe the fire damage, there’s always a solution. Let’s discuss your options with no obligation and no pressure.