So what all really goes into rehabbing a water damaged house???

[Jack Henry]

Hi All - So I have two rental houses in Houston. My property manager called yesterday and told me that two of my houses were under water. One had about 18" of water in it and the other had 48" in it. My insurance agent says TWIA isn't going to cover it and I don't have flood insurance. While I fight that fight, I want to know from people who have done it: what all goes into renovating a flood damaged house? My plan is to get a crew I have working on a flip in San Antonio to go down there when we can get it and just cut out all the wet sheetrock, pull the carpet/pad and any other flooring that isn't tile. I figure I will need to get new outside A/C units, but that can wait. I am assuming I'll need new appliances and maybe new cabinetry? Maybe new doors? What about things you can't see, like electrical, plumbing, or anything? I want to get the houses dry ASAP and then what to keep them from getting moldy? Spray bleach water everywhere once we rip out the wet stuff? What am I missing?

BTW they are both brick veneer on slabs if it matters. Thanks all for your advice!!!

[Linda Weygant]

Bring lots of fans.  LOTS of fans.  Soap - elbow grease - ionization machine (maybe), Dehumidifiers, shop vacs.

Assess from there.  

Might need all new electric, but not guaranteed.  Be able to bring in a generator if the electrical is shot - you still need to plug in power tools, etc.  Might want to do a sewer scope to see if sewer is still intact - they take a lot of water pressure in a situation like this and if the ground is as saturated as is being reported, sewer pipes can and do shift.

Not just bleach water for cleaning, but specialized anti-microbial solution.

TONS of patience and a huge sense of humor.  Ability to laugh at what's happening and kleenex for when you can't.

I've never had to deal with a house like what you'll be doing, but I've worked with and seen a house that had a major plumbing leak that sat for a weekend and this is the steps that were used to get started.