Sewer Backup in Condo

[Mark Beekman]

I'm looking at a 1,000 sq ft, one-level condo (2 beds, 2 baths). The condo was vacant for a month and sometime during that month there was a sewage backup. Now, all of the carpets in the unit are soaking wet, there's mold two feet up on every single wall, and there's literally crap everywhere.

My first question is, is a month or less enough time for sewage water to damage structural lumber? Anything can be cleaned, but structural damage is a different animal.

My next question is, what do cleanups like this cost usually? Assuming that the only damage is what I see, I have no idea if I should expect a $3k quote or a $30k quote.

Anything else I should be taking into consideration?