Selling a Fire-Damaged House in Texas

Do not re-enter a fire-damaged home until the fire department or a qualified inspector confirms it is structurally safe — smoke, heat, and firefighting water can weaken framing, roofs, and electrical systems in ways that are not obvious. Some cities also require a permit or inspection before repairs, demolition, or reoccupancy.

Before any cleanup or repair work starts, photograph and video every room, damaged item, and structural issue. Keep receipts for temporary lodging, meals, and anything you buy because of the fire — these often qualify for reimbursement under your policy’s additional living expense coverage.

File your claim with your insurer as soon as possible — by phone, app, or online — and keep a dated log of every call, name, and document exchanged. Under Texas insurance rules, your insurer generally must acknowledge a claim within 15 business days, and once it has the information it needs, generally has 15 business days to decide whether to pay (extendable by 45 days if the company explains why in writing). After a claim is accepted, payment is generally due within 5 business days.

If your policy pays replacement cost, expect two payments: an initial payment based on actual cash value (replacement cost minus depreciation), and a second “recoverable depreciation” payment once repairs are actually completed. If you have a mortgage, the claim check is often issued jointly to you and your lender, and the lender generally must contact you within 10 days of receiving it.

Most Texas home sellers must complete a Seller’s Disclosure Notice under Property Code §5.008. The standard form includes a specific line item for “Previous Fires” — if you are aware of prior fire damage, it generally must be disclosed, whether or not repairs have been completed. A handful of transaction types are exempt from the disclosure requirement, including foreclosure and court-ordered sales, transfers between co-owners or close relatives, and new homes that have never been occupied — but most private sales, including as-is cash sales, are not automatically exempt just because the buyer is paying cash.

Selling as-is does not remove the disclosure duty, and it does not require you to repair the home first. Matamna can evaluate a fire-damaged property in its current condition, but we cannot advise you on your insurance claim, required permits, or your specific disclosure obligations — a public adjuster, contractor, or Texas real estate attorney can help with those.