A little more than a year after Hurricane Helene swept through the Upstate, Joan Herlong of Herlong Sotheby’s International Realty says the storm’s damage has had a ripple effect.
“Helene had a lasting impact on several aspects of real estate in the Upstate,” says Herlong. “Before, no one inquired about hurricane damage. Now, it’s almost routine to ask whether a seller made insurance claims that were paid or denied.”
The other lingering consequence of Helene involves insurance.
“Obtaining home insurance was a no-brainer,” says Herlong. “Often all it took was a phone call. Now, if a roof has some age on it, we can’t assume anything. If the cost to insure a property is too high, the buyer’s financing is declined and the deal is off.”
At Herlong’s downtown Greenville office, Helene knocked over a huge tree, at least 200 years old. It lopped off a section of the building and crushed another portion. Renovation and restoration work will be completed in January 2026.
Trees are not a disclosure item on the South Carolina seller disclosure form – but it’s still important information.
“I love mature trees and the bower of shade they provide,” says Herlong. “Homes with healthy, mature trees tend to be more valuable. I don’t look at trees askance now, but I’ve gleaned wisdom the hard way about damage from fallen trees. I’d be remiss if I didn’t apply that wisdom to my clients’ benefit, by inquiring about the health and maintenance of trees close to a home.”
