If your house in Columbus, Ohio has fire damage and you’re not sure what to do next, you are not alone.
Maybe the fire started in the kitchen. Maybe it hit the basement or spread through the whole house. Now you’re dealing with smoke damage, insurance, contractors, and a property that no longer feels like home. On top of that, you might be feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and unsure of your next move.
I’m Dave Payerchin with Sell House Columbus. I’m a local cash home buyer, and for over 14 years I’ve been buying houses all over Columbus, Central Ohio, and throughout the state of Ohio. I’ve worked with many homeowners who’ve gone through house fires, and I’ve seen how stressful it can be.
The good news is:
You do have options with a fire damaged house in Columbus.
In this article, I’ll walk you through your main options and explain how selling the property as-is for cash to a local buyer might help you move on without dealing with a long, stressful rebuild.
Quick note: I’m not an attorney and I’m not an insurance adjuster. This is not legal or insurance advice. I’m simply sharing what I’ve seen helping other homeowners in this situation.
Your 3 Main Options for a Fire Damaged House in Columbus, Ohio
If you own a fire damaged house in Columbus, you typically have three main choices:
- Rebuild or repair the property yourself
- List the property with a real estate agent
- Sell the property as-is for cash to a local buyer
Let’s look at each option.
Option 1: Rebuild or Repair the Property Yourself
For some homeowners, rebuilding or repairing the house makes sense—especially if:
- You love the property or neighborhood
- You plan on living there long-term
- Your insurance is going to cover a large portion of the repair or rebuild
Pros of rebuilding after a house fire
- You may end up with a fully renovated home
- You stay in a location you’re familiar with
- If done well, the property could be worth more once everything is repaired
The downside of rebuilding
The biggest downside?
You’re suddenly in the construction business.
That can mean:
- Dealing with contractors, bids, and change orders
- Pulling permits and passing inspections
- Possible cost overruns and delays
- Having to move out temporarily while the work is done
- Projects that can take many months, sometimes longer than a year
Many people I talk to after a house fire are already emotionally drained. The thought of managing a full rehab project feels like taking on another full-time job.
For some, rebuilding is still the right path. For many others, it’s simply too much to deal with.
Option 2: List the Fire Damaged Property with a Realtor
Another option is to list the property with a real estate agent.
This can sometimes work if:
- The fire damage is limited
- You’ve already handled some of the repairs
- You’re not in a huge rush to sell
A good agent can help you market the property and may find a buyer willing to take on the remaining damage.
The challenge with listing a fire damaged house
The problem is that many traditional buyers—and especially their lenders—want nothing to do with fire damaged properties.
You can run into:
- Home inspections that reveal more damage
- Appraisals that come in low
- Lender-required repairs
- Buyers backing out once they understand the full extent of the damage
If the damage is light and you have time and money to work through the process, listing might work. But for many fire damaged properties in Columbus, this isn’t the most realistic or stress-free path.
Option 3: Sell Your Fire Damaged House As-Is for Cash
The third option is to sell your fire damaged house as-is for cash to a local buyer like me at Sell House Columbus.
This is usually the route people choose when:
- They just want to move on
- They don’t want to rebuild or manage contractors
- They don’t want showings, open houses, or buyers nitpicking every detail
- They want something simple and predictable
Here’s how our process works.
How Our As-Is Cash Offer Process Works in Columbus, Ohio
Step 1: Reach Out
You can call or text me directly at 614-300-5151,
or visit us online at SellHouseColumbus.com and send a message through the website.
We’ll have a quick conversation about:
- What happened
- The current condition of the house
- What you’re hoping to accomplish
There’s no obligation—just a real conversation.
Step 2: We Take a Look at the Property
Depending on your situation, this can happen a few different ways:
- I visit the property in person
- You send photos or a video walkthrough
- We send someone from our team to take pictures for you
We’re looking at:
- The overall structure of the house
- The extent of the fire and smoke damage
- The neighborhood and lot
We’re not there to judge you or your belongings. We’ve truly seen it all.
Step 3: We Run the Numbers and Make a Cash Offer
This is where we’re different from a lot of companies.
We’ll actually walk you through the numbers so you can understand how we arrive at our offer.
We look at:
- What the property could be worth after repairs
- What it may cost to repair or rebuild
- Our costs and risks as investors
- What we can realistically pay in cash, as-is, in its current condition
There are no made-up numbers or “magic formulas.”
Just full transparency from start to finish.
If the numbers make sense for you—great.
If they don’t, that’s okay too. There is never any pressure to say yes.
Step 4: Simple, Straightforward Agreement
If we both decide it’s the right move, we send you a simple agreement, usually through a DocuSign-type platform.
- No tricky fine print
- No confusing legal language
- No surprises
We want you to understand exactly what you’re signing.
Step 5: Close Through a Licensed Title Company
We close the transaction through a licensed title company here in Ohio.
The title company:
- Makes sure existing loans or liens get paid off
- Handles all the paperwork
- Makes sure you get your money
If you’re out of town or out of state, a mobile notary can come to you so you don’t even have to travel back to Columbus to close. We’ve done this many times for owners who live in other cities or even other states.
Common Questions About Selling a Fire Damaged House for Cash
“Do I need to fix anything first?”
No.
We buy fire damaged houses in as-is condition.
That means:
- No repairs
- No cleaning
- No trash-out or hauling anything away
You can leave the property exactly as it sits, and we’ll take it from there.
“Are you going to lowball me?”
I hear this one a lot.
My promise is to always be fair and transparent about how we come up with our offer. We’ll show you the numbers we’re looking at so you can see how we arrived at our cash offer.
If it doesn’t make sense for you, you shouldn’t take it. There will never be any pressure from us.
“Will this affect my insurance claim?”
This is a great question.
Every insurance situation is a little different. That’s why I always recommend you:
- Talk to your insurance company
- Speak with an attorney if needed
We’re happy to work around your insurance timeline and whatever process they require. Our goal is to keep things as flexible and convenient for you as possible.
A Real Example of a Fire Damaged House in Ohio
I worked with a homeowner here in Ohio who had a fire damaged property and was completely drained from the whole ordeal. They didn’t want to rebuild. They didn’t want to manage contractors. They just wanted to be done.
We were able to:
- Buy the house for cash, as-is
- Close through a licensed title company
- Help them move on without doing any repairs, remodels, or showings
No endless drama, no guessing, no construction project—just relief.
That’s the kind of outcome we try to create.
If you’d like to see how our overall house buying process works in Columbus, you can check out our main page about how we buy houses in Columbus, Ohio HERE
Ready to Talk About Your Fire Damaged House in Columbus?
If you have a fire damaged house in Columbus or anywhere in Ohio and you want to understand your options, I’d be happy to talk.
You can:
📞 Call or text me directly at 614-300-5151
🌐 Or fill out a form here on SellHouseColumbus.com and send us a message
We’ll review your situation together, walk through your options, and if it makes sense, I can make you a fair as-is cash offer on your fire damaged house.
No pressure. No obligation.
Just a real conversation with a local, proven cash home buyer who’s been helping Ohio homeowners for over 14 years.