Hi, my name is Christie and I’m a first-time homeowner trying to repair my home after discovering serious hidden damage.

My home was built in 1960, and recently I noticed the floors in my bathroom and hallway beginning to sink. I initially thought it was a minor flooring repair, so I called a contractor to take a look.

Once the work began, we discovered several hidden problems that I had no way of knowing about before. There were multiple leaks in the crawl space that had been slowly damaging the flooring underneath the house. While inspecting further, the contractor also found leaks in the attic, damaged areas in the laundry room walls, and black mold in the ceiling.

Over the past year I have also experienced serious respiratory issues including pneumonia, bronchitis, and severe asthma. Finding mold in the home may explain the health problems I have been dealing with.

I used my entire savings of $12,000 to begin repairs and address the first major issues that were discovered. However, once the flooring was removed, the contractor found that the bathroom had been installed without proper concrete board support under the tile, which contributed to the floor collapsing. Unfortunately, the second bathroom has the same structural problem and will also need to be repaired.

During this process I also realized the original contractor I paid said the money I had already given him would not go toward the additional repairs that were uncovered. That didn’t make sense to me, so I decided to pause and get multiple estimates from other contractors. After researching and comparing quotes, I found a contractor who provided the most reasonable and honest estimate to repair the damage properly.

The estimated costs for the remaining repairs include:

• Mold remediation: $8,000

• Ceiling and insulation repairs: $6,500

• Plumbing repairs from crawl space leaks

• Structural repairs to both bathrooms: approximately $15,000

I have already used all of my savings to begin the repair process, but I am still short approximately $25,000 to complete the work and make the home safe again.

I have also reached out to organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together for assistance, but these programs currently have long waitlists and I have not received a response yet because they are overwhelmed with requests.

As a first-time homeowner this situation has been overwhelming and unexpected. I am doing everything I can to fix these problems and make my home safe again.

Any help, whether through a donation or simply sharing this fundraiser, would mean more than I can express. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for any support you can give.