Fair Sale Homes has advised many owners and purchased homes in Los Angeles affected by water damage, fire damage, or neglect over a period of time. In this case study, we are sharing a real owner situation where the owner needed to sell this fixer house in Glassell Park as is. Fair Sale Homes shares this experience so home owners can understand the challenges, available options, and solutions to consider when selling a heavily damaged home in Los Angeles.
Ceiling of an uninhabitable water damaged house in Glassell Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.
A heavily damaged house in Los Angeles can be a nightmare to sell. Since Los Angeles is already an expensive real estate market, most home buyers are not interested when there is visible damage on a MLS property listing, and therefore, prefer homes ready for immediate occupancy after closing on their purchase.
In this case study, Fair Sale Homes shares our experience advising a Los Angeles homeowner sell her vacant house, water damaged house in the Glassell Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Property Owner Situation and Goals
In early 2024, a home owner contacted us about her childhood home in Glassell Park, a dynamic neighborhood in Los Angeles. Since her parents, the home had been left vacant and unmaintained for many years. She needed to sell the house quickly and already knew that the property condition would not be conducive to a quick sale if she went through traditional sale with a real estate agent.
Property Condition and Deferred Maintenance
After many years of being left vacant with a very old roof, the house suffered through many years of rainfall. Both on the interior and exterior, the house showed clear signs of water damage left ignored over a long period of time.
- Damage to the roof at multiple points
- Foundation crack at multiple points
- Nonfunctional plumbing with a cracked cleanout
- Discolored ceilings (signs of water intrusion and possible mold)
- Ceiling holes providing visibility into the attic and sky
Roof Damage
Both roof shingles and flashing around edges were complete missing. The roof was tarped in multiple areas.
Foundation Damage
Foundation cracks evident at two points, visible from the exterior of the house.
Kitchen Damage
Holes in the kitchen ceiling and water damage to an aged kitchen sink and countertop.
Financial Obligations Ongoing
The owner was still on the hook for paying expenses such as the monthly mortgage, property insurance, and property taxes. Luckily, she was in a stable job situation where these financial obligations did not create a situation of where she suffered from financial distress. Often times, when owners have property that is uninhabitable and unrentable over a prolonged period, financial stress occurs.
Successfully Selling the Damaged House Fast
After a phone call, we met the owner in person in order to further understand her goals and walk-through the propertly. Shortly thereafter, Fair Sale Homes reached an agreement on price and terms with the owner to buy the damaged house with an all cash offer. We did not charge any commissions or fees. Given the condition of the house and our plans to develop more affordable housing units on the large lot, we did not request any repairs. In the end, the owner kept more money in her pocket. She not paying comissions and also, by not spending any money on repairs.
Fair Sale Homes proudly provided a convenient sales process and closed in a timely manner. In the end, the seller of this Glassell Park house was able to use her profits to close on the purchaes of her new dream home in Glendora, CA.
Fair Sale Homes Advises On Unique Properties
As direct buyers of vacant land, teardown houses, water damaged homes, and fire damaged houses, we are in the business to rehab or develop properties, and ultimiately, provide respectable housing in the Los Angeles community. Often times, owners request professional buyers at Fair Sale Homes step in to advise on the right price for heavily damaged homes because of our experience.
Have a vacant property? An uninhabitable properly with code violations? Recently suffered a fire or water damage to your house? A direct sale to professional buyers at Fair Sale Homes can further provide you options to sell a home without stress in Los Angeles. Our professional buyers make it easy to sell any home fast, with a guaranteed closing date you can select. The pros at Fair Sale Homes work with a full-service in-house team of professionals to make the process efficient. At Fair Sale Homes, sellers never pay commissions or closing costs. Call Fair Sale Homes at (626) 863-7006.