Last updated: January 2026
Sell Your Fire Damaged House in Florida
Kitchen fire, electrical fire, lightning strike, or complete loss? We buy fire damaged properties as-is for cash. No need to rebuild, navigate insurance battles, or clean up. Close in 7-21 days.
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Understanding Fire Damage in Florida Homes
Experiencing a house fire is devastating. Beyond the immediate trauma, you're left with a damaged property, an insurance claim process that can take months, and difficult decisions about whether to rebuild, repair, or sell. For many homeowners, selling the property as-is is the fastest path forward.
Florida experiences thousands of residential fires each year. Common causes include kitchen fires, electrical faults, lightning strikes, dryer fires, and HVAC malfunctions. The severity ranges from minor smoke damage to total loss where only the foundation remains. We purchase properties across this entire spectrum.
Fire Damage Compounds Quickly
Beyond the immediate fire damage, secondary damage occurs rapidly. Smoke damage spreads throughout the structure. Water from firefighting causes mold growth. Structural integrity may be compromised. The longer a fire-damaged property sits, the worse—and more expensive—these secondary issues become.
Types of Fire Damage We Purchase
Kitchen Fires
The most common residential fire. Even contained kitchen fires cause significant smoke damage throughout the home. Cabinets, appliances, and often the ceiling/attic area are affected.
Electrical Fires
Often start in walls or attics and can spread before detection. These typically require rewiring the entire structure and often reveal additional issues in older homes.
Smoke Damage Only
Sometimes fire is contained but smoke spreads everywhere. Smoke odor is notoriously difficult to eliminate and can permeate drywall, insulation, HVAC ducts, and all soft surfaces.
Partial Structural Damage
Fire affected portions of the structure—perhaps a bedroom, garage, or section of the home. Remaining structure may be salvageable but requires significant work.
Total Loss
Complete structural loss where demolition is the only option. We purchase these for the land value, handling demolition and debris removal ourselves.
Arson/Suspicious Fire
Properties with fire investigations or arson involvement. These are harder to sell traditionally but we can still purchase once the property is released.
The Insurance Claim Process and Your Options
Navigating a fire insurance claim is complex and often adversarial. Insurance companies are businesses focused on minimizing payouts. Understanding your options helps you make the best decision for your situation.
Option 1: Rebuild with Insurance Money
If you have sufficient insurance coverage and want to stay in the home, you can rebuild. This typically involves:
- Filing a claim and working with your insurance adjuster
- Hiring a public adjuster if your claim is underpaid
- Selecting a contractor and managing the rebuild (6-18 months)
- Living elsewhere during construction
- Navigating permit requirements and inspections
Option 2: Settle with Insurance and Sell
Some homeowners prefer to settle their insurance claim and then sell the damaged property to a buyer like us. You keep the insurance payout and we give you cash for the property as-is. This works well when:
- You don't want to manage a rebuild project
- You're relocating or need to move quickly
- Insurance payout is less than rebuild cost
- You prefer cash now over a lengthy process
Option 3: Sell with Pending Insurance Claim
In some situations, we can purchase the property while an insurance claim is pending. This may involve assigning insurance proceeds as part of the transaction, or you completing the settlement before closing. We've handled many variations of this and can discuss options specific to your situation.
Under-Insurance Issues
Many Florida homeowners discover they're underinsured after a fire. Construction costs have risen dramatically, and policies often haven't kept pace. If your payout won't cover rebuilding, selling may be your best option to recover maximum value and move forward.
How Much is a Fire Damaged House Worth?
Fire damage reduces property value significantly. The exact impact depends on several factors:
- Extent of Damage: Minor smoke damage might reduce value 10-20%. Significant structural damage can reduce value 50% or more. Total losses are valued as land only.
- Location: Desirable neighborhoods and strong land values help maintain value even after severe fire damage.
- Lot Size and Zoning: Larger lots and favorable zoning increase land value for rebuild scenarios.
- Cost to Repair: We estimate repair costs professionally and factor this into our offer.
- Market Conditions: Strong markets support higher values even for damaged properties.
| Damage Level | Typical Value Impact | Repair Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Minor Smoke Damage | 10-20% reduction | $5,000-$25,000 |
| Single Room Fire | 20-35% reduction | $25,000-$75,000 |
| Major Structural Damage | 40-60% reduction | $75,000-$200,000 |
| Total Loss | Land value only | Complete rebuild |
Florida Fire Facts: What Makes Our State Unique
Florida has specific fire risks that homeowners should understand. Our state's unique weather patterns, older housing stock in certain areas, and climate create distinct fire scenarios:
Lightning Capital of the US
Florida experiences more lightning strikes than any other state—an estimated 1.4 million per year. Central Florida, particularly around Orlando and Tampa, sees the highest concentration. Lightning strikes cause numerous house fires each year, often starting in the attic or roof structure. These fires can be particularly devastating because they often start undetected and spread through the roof before being noticed.
Older Electrical Systems
Many Florida homes, especially those built in the 1960s-1980s during population booms, have aging electrical systems. Aluminum wiring (common from 1965-1973) and outdated breaker panels contribute to electrical fire risk. When these systems fail, the resulting fires often cause extensive damage before they're discovered.
Hurricane and Storm-Related Fires
Post-hurricane electrical issues cause fires when power is restored to damaged wiring. Generator-related fires also spike after storms when homeowners improperly use or fuel generators. These storm-related fires often compound already difficult situations for homeowners dealing with hurricane damage.
Florida Fire Statistics
- Florida averages 15,000+ residential structure fires annually
- Property damage exceeds $300 million per year from residential fires
- Cooking remains the #1 cause of home fires in Florida
- Lightning causes approximately 4% of structure fires but often results in total losses
- Most fire deaths occur in homes without working smoke detectors
The Fire Restoration Process: Why It Takes So Long
Understanding why fire restoration is so complex helps explain why many homeowners choose to sell instead of rebuild:
1. Emergency Stabilization
Board-up services, tarping the roof, and preventing further damage. Must happen within 24-48 hours.
2. Assessment and Documentation
Detailed inventory for insurance. Structural engineer evaluation if needed. Can take 1-2 weeks.
3. Water Removal and Drying
Water from firefighting must be removed and structure dried to prevent mold. Takes 3-7 days.
4. Smoke and Soot Removal
Professional cleaning of all surfaces. Ozone treatment. HVAC duct cleaning. Takes 1-3 weeks.
5. Demolition and Disposal
Removing damaged materials, hazardous debris, and preparing for reconstruction. Takes 1-4 weeks.
6. Reconstruction
Actual rebuild work including framing, electrical, plumbing, drywall, finishes. Takes 3-12+ months.
| Factor | Rebuild After Fire | Sell to FL Home Buyers |
|---|---|---|
| Timeline | 6-18+ months | 2-4 weeks |
| Your Involvement | Extremely high | Minimal |
| Where You Live | Temporary housing | New home quickly |
| Out-of-Pocket Risk | High (cost overruns) | None |
| Insurance Battles | Likely | You choose |
How FL Home Buyers Purchases Fire Damaged Properties
As a licensed general contractor, we're uniquely qualified to evaluate fire damage accurately. We understand repair costs, remediation requirements, and what it takes to restore a fire-damaged property. This expertise allows us to make fair offers based on real costs, not inflated estimates.
Property Assessment
We visit the property to assess fire and smoke damage, structural integrity, and repair requirements. Our construction background means accurate, not inflated, damage estimates.
Insurance Coordination
We'll discuss your insurance situation—whether you've settled, have a pending claim, or haven't filed. We can work with most scenarios.
Cash Offer
You receive a fair cash offer within 24-48 hours. We factor in damage, repair costs, and market value. The offer represents what you'll net—no hidden fees.
Quick Close
Accept and close on your schedule. Most fire damage sales close in 2-3 weeks. Longer if we're coordinating with insurance. You walk away with cash and close this chapter.
Real Example: Kitchen Fire in Boca Raton
A grease fire in the kitchen spread to the attic before the fire department arrived. The homeowner had insurance but discovered their policy was for $250,000 when the rebuild estimate came in at $340,000. Rather than pay $90,000+ out of pocket or accept an inferior rebuild, they decided to sell.
We purchased the property for land and partial structure value. Combined with their insurance settlement, they had enough to purchase a new home outright—no mortgage, no construction project to manage.
Result: Closed in 19 days after they settled with insurance. They avoided a year-long rebuild and moved into their new home within two months of the fire.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fire Damaged Properties
Can you sell a fire damaged house in Florida?
Yes. You can sell a fire damaged house as-is without making repairs. Traditional buyers rarely want fire damage, but cash buyers like FL Home Buyers specialize in purchasing these properties. We handle the restoration ourselves.
How much value does fire damage reduce?
Fire damage typically reduces home value by 20-50% depending on severity and extent. Complete losses where the structure is unsalvageable are valued based on land only. We evaluate each property individually based on actual damage and repair costs.
Will you buy a house with smoke damage?
Yes. We buy properties with smoke damage, which can be especially challenging to remediate fully. Smoke particles penetrate drywall, insulation, ducting, and soft surfaces. Professional ozone treatment and often extensive cleaning/replacement is required. We factor all this into our offers.
What if my insurance claim is still pending?
We can work with pending insurance claims. Options include: waiting until your claim settles and then selling; assigning insurance proceeds as part of the transaction; or purchasing subject to claim resolution. We'll discuss your specific situation and find the best approach.
How fast can you close on a fire damaged house?
We can close in 7-21 days for straightforward cases where insurance is settled or not a factor. If we're coordinating with insurance claims, the timeline depends on claim resolution. We're flexible and can close on your schedule once all pieces are in place.
Do I need to clean up fire damage before selling?
No. We buy properties exactly as they are after the fire. You don't need to hire a remediation company, board up windows, or do any work. Just take your personal belongings and leave the rest.
Get Your Cash Offer Today
Fire damage doesn't have to mean years of stress. Get a no-obligation cash offer and move forward with your life. Close in weeks, not months.
Get Your Cash Offer
Tell us about your fire damaged property. We'll give you a fair cash offer within 24-48 hours.