You can sell a fire-damaged or water-damaged house in Bucks County as-is, without making repairs first. We Buy In Bucks buys houses after fires, burst pipes, roof leaks, basement flooding and sewer backups. You get a written cash offer within 24 hours and can close in as little as 5 days. Call (267) 751-9256 or request an offer below.
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Why Damaged Houses Are Hard to Sell
Most buyers need a mortgage, and most lenders will not finance a house with major fire or water damage until it is repaired. That leaves owners with two hard choices: manage a full restoration, often while living somewhere else, or sell to a buyer who can pay cash for the house as it is.
Restoration can take months. You may be dealing with an insurance adjuster, a mortgage company that has to sign off on the insurance checks, contractors, permits and inspections, all while still paying the mortgage, taxes and utilities on a house you cannot live in.
After a Fire: Insurance and Local Rules
When there is a mortgage, the insurance check for the building is usually made out to both you and the lender, and the lender may hold the money and release it in stages as repairs are done.
Pennsylvania’s Act 98 of 1992 lets municipalities adopt rules for fire insurance claims. In towns that have adopted them, when a fire loss is more than $7,500, the insurer cannot pay until it receives a municipal certificate showing there are no unpaid taxes or municipal charges on the property. If the loss is 60% or more of the policy limits, part of the payment can be held by the municipality until the building is repaired, secured or removed. Ask your township or borough how these rules apply to your property.
Selling a damaged house does not end your insurance claim, but how the claim and the sale fit together depends on your policy and where the claim stands. Talk to your adjuster, and to your own attorney if needed, before you sign anything. We will put in writing exactly how our offer treats the claim.
Water Damage, Mold and Flooding
Water damage often spreads further than it looks: into subfloors, insulation, drywall and framing, and mold can follow within days. Burst pipes in winter, failed sump pumps, roof leaks and sewer backups are the most common causes we see.
Homes near the Delaware River, Neshaminy Creek and other Bucks County waterways can also flood. If a house in a mapped flood zone is substantially damaged, local floodplain rules may require it to be raised or brought up to current standards before it is rebuilt, which can make repairs much more expensive.
Pennsylvania law generally requires sellers to disclose material defects they know about. Selling as-is does not change that, so tell us what happened. It does not stop a sale to us; we just factor it into the offer.
How We Help
- Tell us what happened. Call or fill out the form. Let us know about the insurance claim and any notices from the township.
- Get a written cash offer within 24 hours. We price the damage into the offer, so you do not have to fix, clean or board up anything first.
- Close in as little as 5 days. A licensed title company pays off the mortgage and any liens at settlement, and the rest goes to you.
Situations We Help With
- Kitchen fires, electrical fires and smoke damage
- Burst or frozen pipes, failed water heaters and roof leaks
- Basement flooding, sump pump failures and sewer backups
- Mold that has spread after a leak
- Houses the township has posted as unsafe or unfit to live in
- Owners who have already moved out and are paying for two homes
If the township has issued violations, see our page on selling a house with code violations. For houses in any condition, see how we buy houses as-is in Bucks County.
What You Should Know Before You Sign
- Compare your options. If insurance will cover a full restoration and you have time, repairing and listing the house may leave you with more money. Our cash offer vs. listing page lays out the trade-offs.
- Secure the property. Keep the house closed up and insured while it is vacant, and keep paying the mortgage and taxes until closing.
- Get independent advice. A public adjuster or attorney can review your claim, and a Pennsylvania real estate attorney can review the sale paperwork.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sell a house with fire damage before the insurance claim is settled?
Often, yes. How the claim and the sale fit together depends on your policy and the mortgage company, so talk to your adjuster before you sign. We will spell out in writing how our offer handles the claim.
Do I have to fix water damage or mold before selling?
Not when you sell to us. We buy as-is and factor the repairs into our offer. You should still tell us what you know about the damage.
Do you buy houses that have been condemned or posted as unsafe?
Yes. We buy houses the township has posted as unsafe or unfit to occupy, and we deal with the township after closing.
How fast can you close on a damaged house?
You get a written offer within 24 hours of seeing the house, and we can close in as little as 5 days through a licensed title company.
This page is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Local fire-claim and floodplain rules vary by municipality; confirm the details with your township or borough. Source: example municipal ordinance adopted under Pennsylvania Act 98 of 1992.