Are you selling your Georgia house soon and you’re worried about its value after it has been drastically affected by flooding? The older a house is, the more susceptible it can be to water damage. And if the damages are not taken care of immediately, it can be more difficult and expensive to repair them — which can be a great no-no to your buyers.
But don’t give in to the worry because there are plenty of things you can do to still be able to sell your home quickly and at reasonable market price. You can clean, repair minor damages on your own, and retrofit specific areas with flood-proof materials before you broadcast your sale.
If you think repairing your property isn’t feasible, though, we also have another solution for you. But first, let’s take a look at what you can do if you intend to sell your home on the market.
Identify the Common Causes of Flood
There are two (2) common causes of intense flooding within residential properties. One that comes from the outside (e.g., typhoons, heavy rains, overflowing dam, etc.) and another that comes from within the property, a.k.a. a broken plumbing system. It is important to identify what causes constant flooding in your property so you can find more targeted solutions.
The tips you’ll see below are mixed. Their effectivity will depend on whether or not you have identified the root causes of flooding completely and how well you implement them. If you don’t have any engineering or construction background, we suggest hiring reputable professionals so you can ensure that everything is done properly.
Upgrade Your Plumbing System
Contractors say that you can lose as much as 400 liters of water per hour with a burst pipe that has a few centimeters hole. Even small leaks can lead to extreme water damage if left unnoticed for a long time. Then again, this all depends on the flow rate within your plumbing system. If these kinds of plumbing problems keep on recurring, then perhaps it’s time to upgrade your plumbing system.
Your piping and valves might have worn out overtime and has become unstable with high water pressure. Hence, it’s time to replace them with better, newer, and more durable parts.
Plant a Rain Garden
A rain garden is exactly what you think it is. It isn’t only a garden to beautify your property; it’s a garden that helps mitigate runoff during heavy rains or minor floods. The construction of advanced rain gardens is called bioretention, and it comes with upgrading the original soil to create a more efficient filtration system.
However, there are D.I.Y ways to create your own rain garden. Here are simple steps:
- Identify a location that’s at least 10 feet away from your home that’s not above a septic tank or sewage lines. It should also be on a flatter slope and at a lower elevation than your home.
- Know your soil type and how fast it absorbs water.
- Make a rough estimate of how much water your downspout drains every time it rains. You can also consider the maximum volume of runoff during heavy rains in your area. Number 2 and 3 will tell you how big your rain garden has to be.
- Choose native plants that have deep root systems.
- Place water-needy plants on the deepest portions of your rain garden and place less water-needy plants on the higher edges of the garden.
- Regularly weed out your garden and mulch it with shredded hardwood.
- While the plants are still young, you’ll need to dig a small channel to divert a portion of the runoff for now since young plants can’t handle so much water.
- Water your new garden at least once per week during dry season.
Construct a Swale
A Swale is a channel that diverts runoff away from your property while absorbing the water as it flows through it. It doesn’t retain water like a rain garden, but it directs water into a receiving basin like a deep well, a pond, and the like. Swales usually start at the end of a stormwater drain or downspout. If you have a short downspout, you can dig a swale and line it with river rocks and plants that thrive in moist conditions.
Remember that the size of the swale still depends on the amount of stormwater your property receives at a given time. If your area is prone to heavy rains and typhoons, then you might want to hire professional services to make your swale.
Reapply Coatings and Sealants
Does water flow along your inner walls and ceiling every time it rains? Once water enters your home, it will be more difficult to get it out, especially when your flooring is cement or tiles. So, when the next rain rolls in, try to observe where the leaks are so you’ll know where to place the sealants.
There are also different types of sealants. Their application depends on the material, the moisture conditions, temperature conditions and movement. If you see cracks on the exterior walls or your roof, it would be best to use either a silicone, epoxy, or siliconized epoxy sealant. You can also apply these in small cracks within your drywall.
Replace Floors with Water-Resistant Flooring
If your home is within a flood-prone area, the best thing you can do to preserve it is to make the structure water-resistant. This includes your flooring. Instead of using organic materials like hardwood, go for artificial flooring like porcelain tiles, ceramic tiles, and vinyl tiles and sheets. You can also go for plain concrete as long as it is tightly sealed.
Install a Waterproof Veneer on the Exterior Wall
Waterproof veneers are installed by licensed contractors since the sidings has to be taken out as well. This is one of those advanced upgrades you can do to flood-proof your home, but it’s a feature that’s highly valuable. Waterproof veneers are best for homes that are usually flooded by runoff that’s below 2 feet deep.
If you can do any of the tips above, then your buyers may not mind the history of your structure at all. You can score a great buyer on the market, while ensuring their safety from flood-related risks in the future.
On the other hand, if selling on the market doesn’t work out or you can’t afford to repair your home with water damage, talk to us at Spire. We buy homes in Duluth, Atlanta, Lawrenceville, Norcross, Loganville, and many other cities in Georgia as is. You won’t have to worry about fixing a single thing in your house because it is our business to help homeowners who are having difficulties finding a buyer. We will purchase your home directly from you without a real estate agent and we’ll take care of the entire process together with our licensed real estate lawyer. No repairs needed and no commission to be paid.
Contact us at (678) 318-1801 today!