Sell a Hurricane or Storm-Damaged House in Florida
A storm takes minutes; the aftermath takes months. Maybe you're living under a blue tarp waiting on an adjuster who keeps rescheduling. Maybe the claim came back denied, or the payout won't come close to what contractors are quoting. Maybe the insurer non-renewed you over the roof, and now you can't get coverage at all. When the house that was supposed to shelter you becomes the thing keeping you up at night, it's okay to want out.
We're Florida Home Buyer Direct, family owned and buying Florida houses since 2012 — through plenty of storm seasons. We buy hurricane- and storm-damaged houses exactly as they sit: tarped roofs, water damage, torn-out drywall, unfinished repairs, claims open or denied. No repairs, no waiting on contractors, and no hoping a retail buyer's lender says yes. Here's how it works and what your honest options are.
How we can help
We look at the house as it sits today — tarp, water stains, gutted rooms, whatever the storm left behind — and give you a written cash offer within 24 hours of seeing the property. Our offer already accounts for the repairs, so there's nothing you need to fix, patch, or even clean up first. You don't need contractor quotes, and you don't need the insurance fight resolved to get a number from us.
If you have an open or denied insurance claim, that doesn't automatically stop a sale — but how the claim is handled needs to be spelled out clearly in the contract, and it depends on your policy and your mortgage. We put it in writing so there are no surprises, and we'll encourage you to check with your insurer, and an attorney if needed, about your claim rights before you sign. We'd rather slow down a day than have you give up money you're owed.
Because we pay cash, there's no lender, no appraisal, and no insurance requirement on our side — the exact things that sink retail sales of damaged houses. We can often close in as little as 7-14 days, we pay all normal closing costs, and there are no commissions or fees. You pick the closing date, whether you need out before the next storm season or need time to line up your next place.
What you should know about how this works in Florida
Here's why storm-damaged houses are hard to sell the normal way: most retail buyers need a mortgage, and mortgage lenders require homeowners insurance. In Florida, insurers commonly require a 4-point inspection — covering the roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC — before writing a policy on an older home. If the house can't pass, the buyer can't get insurance, which means they can't get the loan, which means the sale dies. A cash buyer isn't subject to any of that.
Roof age has its own rules. Under Florida's insurance reforms, an insurer generally can't refuse to write or renew a policy solely because of roof age when the roof is less than 15 years old. Once a roof is 15 or older, homeowners generally have the right to provide an inspection showing at least five years of useful life remaining. In practice, older or storm-worn roofs are still a leading cause of non-renewals — and a house that can't get insured is very hard to sell to a financed buyer.
On claims: Florida law sets deadlines for filing new, reopened, and supplemental hurricane claims, generally measured from the date of loss — and those windows have been shortened in recent years. If you have storm damage and haven't filed, or you're weighing a supplemental claim, check the deadline with your insurer promptly. We're not attorneys or adjusters — for advice about a specific claim, talk to your insurer, a licensed public adjuster, or a Florida attorney.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, talk with a Florida attorney or a HUD-approved housing counselor.
Your options — honestly, selling to us is only one of them
Selling as-is isn't the only path. If your claim was denied or underpaid, you can dispute it — a licensed public adjuster can re-document the damage, and attorneys who handle insurance disputes can push back on a denial. If the claim pays properly, repairing the house and listing it with an agent will usually bring the highest price. After federally declared storms, state and federal disaster assistance programs sometimes offer help or low-interest repair loans worth investigating.
The honest math: our offer accounts for the full cost of repairs plus the risk of what we'll find once walls are opened up, so it will be below what a fully repaired house would sell for. If you have the time, the temporary housing, and the stomach for the claims-and-contractors process, restoring and listing may net you more. If you don't — if you need certainty, a firm date, and to be done — that's exactly what we're for. We'll tell you which side of that line your situation looks like.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell my house with an open insurance claim?+
Generally yes — an open claim doesn't automatically block a sale. How the claim and any proceeds are handled depends on your policy, your mortgage, and what the purchase contract says, so it needs to be addressed clearly in writing before closing. We're not attorneys — before signing anything, confirm your claim rights with your insurer, and talk to a Florida attorney if the claim is large or disputed.
My claim was denied. Is selling my only option?+
No. Denials get challenged all the time — you can request the denial in writing, hire a licensed public adjuster to re-document the damage, or talk to an attorney who handles insurance disputes. Some homeowners pursue the claim and still decide to sell as-is rather than manage repairs. It's worth understanding what the claim might be worth before you decide. We'll never pressure you to skip that step.
The house failed a 4-point inspection. Can it still be sold?+
Yes — just usually not to a financed buyer. A failed 4-point typically means no insurance, no insurance means no mortgage, and no mortgage means most retail buyers are out. Cash buyers don't need insurance approval to close, which is why houses with old roofs, old panels, or old plumbing usually sell as-is for cash. That's the exact gap we exist to fill.
Do I have to fix the roof before selling?+
Not to us. We buy houses with tarped, leaking, or end-of-life roofs, and our offer accounts for the replacement cost. If you were selling retail, a bad roof would likely block the buyer's insurance and financing — so the usual retail advice is to replace it first. With a cash sale, you skip that expense entirely and let us deal with the roof after closing.
My insurance was non-renewed because of the roof's age. What can I do?+
You have options: shop other carriers, get a roof inspection showing at least five years of remaining useful life — which insurers generally must consider for roofs 15 years or older — replace the roof, or look into Citizens, Florida's insurer of last resort. If none of those fit your budget or timeline, selling as-is for cash avoids the insurance problem altogether. We're not insurance advisors — a licensed agent can walk you through coverage options.
How fast can you close on a storm-damaged house?+
Often in as little as 7-14 days, because damage doesn't slow a cash closing — there's no appraisal, no lender, and no insurance condition on our side. The main variables are title work and, if there's an open claim, getting its handling agreed in writing. If you need more time, you pick a later date. Either way, you stop paying for tarps, storage, and worry on a date you choose.
When you submit the form, we'll give you a quick call to hear what the storm did and where things stand with insurance — no obligation, no pressure. We'll come see the house as-is (tarps and all), and you'll have a written cash offer within 24 hours of seeing the property. If you accept, you pick the closing date — and from that day forward, the repairs, the roof, and the what-ifs are our problem, not yours.
Ready for a fair, no-pressure offer?
Tell us about the house. We'll call you right away, answer your questions, and get you a tailored offer — usually within 24 hours of seeing the property.
Prefer to talk to a person right now?
(386) 261-9339