If the world was a perfect place, the drywall and carpeting in your basement would dry out over time. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen. More often than not, the damage that your basement’s contending with worsens over time. If you let that damage sit for an extended period of time, you can lose more than your drywall and carpeting. You can compromise your family’s health as well as the value of your home.
Damaged Drywall, Carpeting, and Your Family’s Health
Damaged drywall and carpeting in your home are more than just temporary inconveniences. They also put the stability of your home at risk. Because these materials can retain moisture for an extended period of time, they can expose sensitive parts of your basement to additional hydrostatic pressure. As a result, your home’s supports may fail more quickly if you don’t get rid of your damaged drywall and carpeting.
Similarly, both of these materials can become incubators for mold spores. While mold spores do not enter your home via the water currents that can damage your drywall or carpeting, they will take advantage of the humidity. If you don’t remove your drywall and carpeting quickly, then the mold growths that have already taken root in your home can spread. There are a few different kinds of molds that can settle in your home, but all of them will put your family’s respiratory health at risk.
Losing Value on Your Home
Nothing’s stopping you from selling a home that’s contending with basement damage. If you try to sell a property with damaged drywall and carpeting, however, you should expect to do so at a loss. For starters, you will have to disclose your unrepaired basement damage in your home’s market listing. This can discourage potential buyers and keep them from coming out to your home.
What’s more, any buyers who do eventually make their way out to your home may need to be encouraged to buy. You risk losing up to 30 percent of your home’s market value by letting moisture damage in your basement go unrepaired. If you haven’t reached out to area professionals because you’re concerned about how much repairs may cost, weigh your potential losses against those costs. Repairing your home may save you money in the long run, even as it makes your home more comfortable to stay in while it’s on the market.