As a homeowner, I tried to take good care of my property.
Every year, I made sure to drain the hot water tank, clean the gutters and inspect the roof.
I was diligent about replacing HVAC filters, washing down exterior siding and caulking around windows. Living in Jacksonville, it was also necessary to safeguard against mold growth, termites and cockroaches. I worried about potential damage from humidity, UV light and high windows. It never occurred to me that my house would be destroyed due to a dryer fire. I emptied the lint trap after every single load. However, I failed to schedule professional cleaning of the dryer vent. Over the years, lint collected inside the vent. Lint is extremely flammable. I should have noticed that the dryer was running for longer cycles. I should have been worried by the clothes coming out of the dryer feeling hot to the touch. The fire started when no one was at home. By the time the fire was detected, it had spread and caused significant damage. Along with the fire, there were issues caused by the smoke. While I could have invested into major repairs, I was unwilling to deal with the inconvenience, stress and cost. I decided that the best solution was to sell the house and move on. The fire scared me. I no longer wanted to live in that particular house. I wanted to get out from under the burden as fast as possible. I worked through a cash home buyer. I got a cash offer the same day I submitted the contact form and closed on the property in just over a week.