Photos of the problem areas
Roof, kitchen, bathrooms, basement and any damage. Phone photos are fine.
Donate a house that needs major repairs, as is, with no fixes first
As-is house specialists: (888) 228-7320
Donate a House That Needs Major Repairs
A house with an original kitchen, an old roof or a furnace on its last season is hard to sell for what it is worth, because buyers and their lenders price every repair. Real Estate with Causes accepts houses as is, with no repairs, inspections or staging required before or after. If the house is sound but tired, or has damage from a leak or a storm, tell us what it needs and we will review it.
Tell us about the house
Every property gets a look. Name, phone and email are the only required fields.
Fully IRS Compliant
We Handle the Paperwork
Form 8283 Done Right
501(c)(3) Recognized Charity
What “as is” means on a donation
It means you do not fix anything. No roof, no furnace, no paint, no punch list from a buyer’s inspector. The condition of the house is simply part of its value, and the qualified appraisal reflects it.
Houses that need a full renovation are some of the most common gifts we receive. What matters is that the structure can be repaired and the house can be sold, not that it is ready to move into.
Water and storm damage
Past damage that has been stopped is a repair question. If an insurance claim is still open, tell us, because the claim and the gift need to be coordinated.
Why repairs before donating rarely pay
Money spent on repairs before a gift raises the appraised value, but rarely by as much as the repairs cost, and it delays the transfer while the carrying costs keep running. In most cases the better route is to donate the house as it stands.
The deduction is based on the fair market value of the house in its current condition, established by a qualified appraisal that you arrange and pay for. For a house held more than a year it is generally limited to 30% of AGI, with a five-year carryforward.
What to have ready when you call
Photos help more than anything else on a house that needs work.
Ages of the major systems
Roof, furnace, water heater and electrical service, as best you know them.
Any insurance or code paperwork
Open claims, adjuster reports or notices from the city, if there are any.
As-is house donation questions, answered
Will you accept a house that fails inspection? +
Yes. We do not require an inspection to accept a gift, and a house a lender would not finance is exactly the kind of property a donation suits. What matters is whether the house can be repaired and sold.
Should I make repairs before donating to raise the deduction? +
Usually not. Repairs rarely add as much appraised value as they cost, and they delay the gift while taxes and insurance keep running. Talk to your advisor, but donating as is is almost always simpler.
The house had a water leak last year. Is that a problem? +
Tell us about it. A leak that has been stopped is a repair question. Ongoing moisture, mold or an open insurance claim needs a closer look, and we will say what we see.
Does the city have to sign off on anything before I donate? +
Not generally. If there are open code violations or a repair order on the house, tell us, because they transfer with the property and affect its value.
Is there a point where a house needs too much work? +
Some houses cost more to fix than they would sell for. We discuss those on the phone and, where a donation is not the right route, we point you at the one that is, such as a local sale with a gift of the proceeds.
We do not provide tax or legal advice. See IRS Publication 526, Publication 561 and the Form 8283 instructions, and consult your own advisor.
Related guides
Tell us what the house needs and we will review it
Send the address and a few photos, and we will tell you plainly whether a donation works as is.