Owning a home can be a great experience but, that doesn’t mean that there may not be bumps along the way that require emergency cash to pay for home repairs. Home repairs are a part of the homeowner’s experience. While you may be able to plan for some, others are unexpected.
Emergency home repairs can not only be devastating to your finances but can also mean further damage to your home. Luckily there are many options when looking for emergency cash to pay for home repairs.
From things as simple as credit cards to home equity loans, there are tons of loan programs out there to help homeowners, even if their credit score isn’t great. Below you’ll find more information on getting the cash you need for your emergency repairs.
Look into Your Homeowner’s Insurance (if Applicable)
If you have homeowner’s insurance, this may be a great place to start when you need cash for home repair. However, before filing a claim it will be important to factor in the deductible amount on your homeowner’s insurance policy. If the repair cost is low, then you are better off going another route to find the funds.
If using your homeowner’s insurance seems like the right option for you, then you should contact your insurance company immediately. The sooner they know about the damages, the quicker they can get the ball rolling for allocating the funds towards the repair.
In addition to that, contacting your insurance will give you a refresher on their policies and how your home may be protected. After you file a claim for your insurance, they will send an inspector to figure out the damages, and then the proper funding can be sent out.
When home repairs are so extensive that you have to temporarily relocate, keep track of those expenses with receipts, as some policies may be able to cover those costs.
Also, if your home repair requires appliances, check out manufacturer’s warranties to see if they can replace or fix it, for example, refrigerators, water heaters, and air conditioning units may all be replaceable through the manufacturer’s warranty.
Apply for Assistance Programs Developed by the Government
State and local governments have many programs in place to assist a wide demographic of homeowners (first time buyers, low income individuals/low income homeowners, seniors, etc.).
- One of the major resources is HUD (the department of housing and urban development). They work with all kinds of situations of crises when dealing with homeownership. Through them, you may be able to find emergency cash, and take care of other matters related to homeownership.
HUD provides resources that can help people refinance an existing mortgage, get started or transfer to FHA loans, and provide natural disaster relief, just to name a few.
- Also, each state has housing programs, federal emergency management agencies (FEMA), community development programs, and non profits that may be able to help.
Consider a Loan for Your Emergency Cash Needs to Pay for Home Repairs
For those who don’t have homeowner’s insurance, or where it doesn’t make financial sense to file a claim, then they may want to consider a loan. There are many kinds of loans that can be used to cover emergencies for home repairs, here are a few:
- Home Equity Loan home equity loans use your home’s value to make funding available. In this scenario, you’ll usually get a lump sum of cash that you can use for the necessary repairs.
- Home Equity Line of Credit/HELOC like Home Equity loans, a HELOC also uses the borrower’s home as equity. However, the difference here is that with others, you will get lines of credit instead of a large lump sum.
- General Personal Loans/Unsecured Personal Loans Personal loans can come in all kinds of amounts, loan terms, and can be used for all kinds of expenses including home maintenance. The first step is going to be to reach out to lenders/financial institutions to find the right one for you.
- Credit Cards credit cards are also flexible with their loan amounts, and usage. Keep in mind in most cases, your credit score should be at least fair to qualify for credit cards, without paying a ton in interest rates.
- Title Loans title loans are one type of secured lending that makes funds available by using the borrower’s vehicle as collateral. When working with online lenders, the funds can usually be made available as soon as the next business day. And having bad credit is okay when applying for these loans. When looking for a title loan lender, make sure to pay attention to interest rates, as they can be high.
- Payday Loans payday loans use the borrower’s paycheck as collateral. These are generally short term loans and are also made for those with bad credit or no credit history. These are another loan type where interest rates can be high, so make sure to keep that in mind while searching for a payday loan lender.
- Consider Refinancing an Existing Loan the goal of refinancing is generally to get better rates and find a monthly payment that fits your needs better. In some cases, refinancing can also mean additional funds. If you already have a loan that you are paying and want adjustments then you may want to consider refinancing for that reason, and additional funds.
See If you Can Do it Yourself to Save Some Cash
In some cases, you may be able to fix the repair yourself. This works well for smaller home repairs. Keep in mind for major repairs it is best to leave it to the professional service providers. As going in yourself may add even more damage and cost to the original repair. This is especially true if you don’t have a ton of experience with home improvement or home repair knowledge.
Learn About Home Maintenance to Keep Repairs Low
Another huge part of the homeowner’s process will be maintaining the new repairs that you just did. By providing the proper home maintenance when an issue comes up, you can prevent further damage to your property. For example, fixing a leaky roof could prevent paying for a completely new roof in the future. Not to mention, proper home maintenance could mean keeping your finances/your emergency fund in a good spot.
If you need emergency cash to pay for home repairs, there may be many options to consider. But if you have homeowner’s insurance, it will be worthwhile to look into your policy first.
If that doesn’t fit your needs, then government assistant programs or loans may be a good option. However, if the repair is small, you may want to consider fixing it yourself. If you are dealing with an appliance, check to see if the manufacturer can pay to repair or replace it.
Give Max Cash Title Loans a Call Today
If a loan sounds like the right option, then check out Max Cash Title Loans. As the #1 nationwide title loan marketplace, we make finding and applying for title loans simple and secure.5 Once approved, you could get the funds you need for home repairs as soon as the next business day.1 2 Apply for a title loan with us on our website or call 1 855 561 5626.2
Once you finish your home repair, it’s important to maintain it. This can save you money in the future and prevent decreasing the value of your home.