If the weather has gotten bad lately in your area, it’s possible your roof has sustained some sizable damage. There may be small holes on the roof (from the rain), along with lots of dents on the siding due to debris hitting it. Plus there are probably broken shingles scattered over the yard because the wind blew them off and into the street. All this damage begs the question – will buyers even look at your house if it’s all beat up? Do I need to invest thousands of dollars in repairs before I can sell? The answer is yes and no, respectively. You can sell a house that has been damaged by a storm or hail every day of the week and there are actually several ways to go about doing so!

So here in this blog we give you information regarding how to sell a house after hail damage. So stay tuned with this blog.

Table of Contents

Assess the Damage First

Make sure you understand what you have to deal with before proceeding. Walk around the outside of the building and make a list of things you can see wrong: dents in your gutters, bruises on your siding, missing or broken shingles or vents, and broken window screens. Call a professional to check for hail damage, because some things won’t be visible from the street. Get a written estimate so you know exactly what needs to be repaired and how much it will cost to make those repairs, and make your decision based on that information.

Decide Whether to Repair or Sell As-Is

Having determined how much damage exists in your property, you may have two choices. You can either complete any necessary repairs to maximise value prior to listing or you can sell your home in its current condition, without making any repairs.

If you repair your home prior to listing and it will likely net you the most value, especially in a seller’s market where buyers are looking for move-in ready homes. However, repairs take time, contractors tend to be busy following a natural disaster such as a hurricane, and costs quickly add up.

Listing an un-repaired home and allowing the prospective buyer to negotiate based on a disclosure of damage may be quicker and less nerve-racking. This option is definitely the best course of action if you don’t have enough cash to make repairs, you’re in a hurry, or you’re tired of relying on contractors to respond.

Work With Your Insurance Company

If you’re insured for hail damage, you can file a claim against your policy before putting your house on the market. Be sure to document all of your claim activities with pictures and contractor reports. Many types of buyers, & in particular investors, are familiar with buying homes that have open or unresolved insurance claims. A buyer will probably purchase your home without having to track down contractors for repairs. Just make sure you fully disclose the status of your claims during the sale process.

Be Upfront With Buyers

Most states consider disclosure non-negotiable so you should disclose hail damage to avoid legal issues later. Being truthful from the start will increase the amount of trust between you and your potential buyers which could lead to more serious buyers and avoid last minute withdrawals because of a surprise inspection report.

Consider a Cash Buyer

Mortgage buyers typically need to have the house appraised and inspected to buy the property; this means that if the house has experienced storm-related damage, it complicates things. Whereas cash buyers and investors generally will buy houses in any condition and will not need to make repairs, wait, or have any sort of financing contingency. Therefore, this method of purchasing a home is typically faster and reduces the uncertainty of purchasing a home damaged by a storm.

The Bottom Line

You don’t have to let hail damage stop you from selling your house. If you have a good understanding of the damage, talk openly with your insurance provider and have a buyer for your house, you can sell your house without having to pay for repairs that you may or may not want to make. If you do not want to return to the contractor and get estimates or show your home multiple times, AJ Buys Houses buys houses in “as-is” condition, including any hail damage, to help you sell quickly and with less hassle.

FAQs

Do I have to fix hail damage before I sell my house?

No, you are not normally legally able to sell it in that condition. You may do so as-is; however, you should be aware that buyers (especially those financing) will likely request repairs or a price reduction when they find the damage you have. If you want to avoid any back-and-forth, selling to a cash buyer is usually the best way to go.

Will hail damage scare off buyers?

That depends on the situation. While it’s true that a buyer who wants to move into a home that’s completely finished may not want to buy a property needing repairs, many buyers, especially investors and those with cash to purchase, are actually looking for properties which need some repair work because they can buy them at a good price based on the condition of the home as is. Just because the home has some dings or dents on the siding does not mean that you cannot sell your house.

Do I legally have to tell buyers about the hail damage?

In the majority of states it is required by law that you disclose any problems you are aware of, regardless of whether an insurance claim has been filed or if repairs have started. If you try to hide a problem, it is very likely that you will face substantial legal and/or financial consequences. Therefore, being upfront about defects will benefit you overall.

What if my insurance claim is still open when I sell?

That’s perfectly alright. A good portion of cash buyers will gladly buy properties with open or unresolved claims. You simply need to be honest about the status of open claims so that your potential buyers can determine the best course of action at closing.