What to Know About Selling Hoarder Houses
Do you need to sell a hoarder’s house?
The term “hoarding house” or “hoarder’s house” is foreign to many people. Some people learn about hoarding homes from television, and others discover them because they find out that a relative or friend has this affliction.
Hoarding disorder is a mental problem that causes people to have an obsessive-compulsive attachment to things, which leads to difficulty functioning normally. People with a hoarding condition tend to accumulate more clutter and junk than necessary. The junk will continue to grow until the home is eventually unsafe.
Some hoarder homes end up becoming condemned houses.
If you inherit the responsibility for one of these properties, you might wonder if it is possible to sell a hoarder’s house.
When you are thinking of selling your hoarder house, there are a few things you need to know to make the process as smooth as possible.
Working as a Massachusetts Realtor, I have sold several hoarder homes. These properties are challenging sales due to the nature of the property and its occupant. It is essential to follow proper steps to increase your odds of having a successful transaction. Selling a home in bad condition is always challenging, but hoarder properties takes it to another level.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to go about selling your home.
Understand The Hoarder Phenomenon
Before you can sell your house, you must understand the hoarder phenomenon. Hoarders are individuals with an extreme compulsive need to collect objects, even if they don’t use or need them. This can lead to significant problems, such as low self-esteem and a lack of control.
A hoarder house indicates a person unable to organize their life or possessions. An ungodly amount of things will fill their home.
Think about entire rooms, counters, stoves, sinks, and stairways filled with everything you have accumulated for years.
If a hoarder cannot fit all of their possessions into their home, they may begin to spread out their belongings into other parts of the property, such as the garage, storage sheds, and yard.
People with hoarding problems tend to be unable to let go of possessions that have zero value.
If you have a friend or family member who is a hoarder, you need to start by getting them professional medical help. Most hoarders don’t realize they have a problem. An entire home can be filled with junk; they will see this as “normal.”
Someone with this affliction doesn’t have the mental capacity to realize they have a problem.
Understanding the Levels of Hoarding
Hoarding is not a singular phenomenon but exists on a spectrum, ranging from mild clutter to severe accumulation that threatens a home’s structural integrity.
Recognizing the level of hoarding can significantly influence the approach to selling a hoarder’s house. Hoarding falls into five levels, from a fundamental and average home with excessive clutter to extreme cases where entire rooms are inaccessible, and rotting food, pests, and possibly human waste are present.
This classification system helps in understanding the severity of the situation and tailoring the cleanup and selling strategy accordingly. For instance, a level one hoarding situation might require minimal intervention, whereas levels four and five may require professional cleaning services to handle biohazards and structural damages.
Decide if You Want Top Dollar or a Quick Sale
When selling a hoarder’s house, you first need to decide whether you want to get the most money for the property or sell it quickly. Answering this question will determine the next step in the process.
Selling hoarder houses as-is will be much different than fixing up the property to maximize the sale price.
If you want to sell the property as quickly as possible and move on, selling it as-is to a real estate investor or contractor is your best bet.
An investor will specifically look for this type of property. Their goal is to buy it cheap and resell it for a significant profit. Companies like We Buy Ugly Houses or other companies that buy houses for cash are the perfect candidates for these types of properties.
They buy homes in any condition, along with all the warts. By selling a hoarder house in this fashion, you’ll absolve yourself of quite a bit of work but will sell for fifty cents on the dollar.
When selling a hoarder’s house for the most money, you must do an extensive clean-up. The goal should be to make it into a turnkey home.
The Psychological Aspect of Hoarding
Understanding the psychological aspects of hoarding is crucial for anyone selling a hoarder home. Hoarding is recognized as a mental disorder characterized by an individual’s inability to part with possessions, regardless of their actual value.
This condition often stems from trauma, anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues. Recognizing the psychological aspect of hoarding can facilitate a more compassionate and practical approach to dealing with a hoarder’s house.
It involves the physical cleanup and supporting the hoarder through the emotional process of letting go. Engaging mental health professionals and offering resources for cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), the only known treatment for hoarding, can be an invaluable part of the process for families and individuals dealing with hoarding behavior.
Preparing a Hoarder House For Sale
The first phase of getting a hoarder’s house ready for sale will be getting rid of all the junk. As you have probably figured out by now, this will be a monumental task. Hiring a professional junk removal company for a large job will be wise.
Trying to eliminate endless amounts of garbage without professional assistance could be backbreaking. There are professional junk removal companies that will remove almost everything out of a hoarder’s home. One of the most recognizable names in the industry is 1-800-GOT-JUNK.
They might be one of the most expensive, but they are highly rated and have excellent reviews. While the vast majority of the stuff will be junk, there could be some valuable items you’ll need to set aside.
It would be best to attempt this before the junk removal company arrives. Since there are so many things that will be removed from the house, they’ll need to know if there is anything you want to keep.
Donating to a Charity of Choice
When you are assisting a family member in selling a hoarder’s house, it is probably unlikely there are many things you’ll want to keep. In rare circumstances, donating to a charity is a great choice.
When a family member is selling their house full of possessions that are not currently being used or are taking up too much space, it can be challenging to know what to keep and what to let go.
In some cases, donating the items to a charity may be the best decision. If there is anything you decide to keep, make sure it will serve a purpose in your home or office and can be easily moved if necessary.
Many people can use assistance in this fashion. Many charities will come to your home for a donation pickup, and some of these companies will pick up large furniture.
Have The Home Professionally Cleaned from Top to Bottom
Once you have removed all the junk and oversized items from the house, it’s time to have it cleaned. Potential home buyers will need to see the property in its best light. There should be no evidence that it was once a hoarder’s house.
Every nook and cranny of the home should be scrubbed. Hiring a professional cleaning service to handle years of hoarding in a property will be necessary. A professional cleaning will help to restore your home’s appearance and make it more appealing to potential buyers.
Fix Any Other Deficiencies or Problems
Does the home have problems due to a lack of maintenance? Could the interior of the house use a couple of coats of paint? Fixing visible issues is essential. Home buyers today will pay a significant premium for a turnkey property.
A large percentage of buyers do not want to take on any work. You will want to do your best to make purchasing the home accessible for the buyer and take care of any glaring deficiencies.
Painting has one of the highest returns on investment. It can drastically change the appearance of any home that needs it.
Some hoarder homes need more than basic fixes. If you are dealing with a long-term hoarder house and want top dollar, you may need to hire several contractors to fix the place.
It is likely that flooring will need to be replaced, and maybe even some woodwork, such as baseboards. A hoarder’s house often becomes a toxic residence where light cleanup or fixes won’t cut it.
Legal and Regulatory Considerations
Selling a hoarder house is not just about cleaning and staging. It’s also about navigating potential legal and regulatory hurdles. Depending on the location, hoarder houses may violate municipal code or homeowners’ association (HOA) regulations, especially if the property’s condition risks the neighborhood’s safety or aesthetics.
Before listing the house, it is crucial to address any legal notices or fines and ensure the property complies with local regulations. This might involve hiring a professional to assess the property for any violations and take corrective actions.
For example, removing outdoor clutter or repairing structural damages that could be deemed hazardous. Addressing these issues upfront can prevent delays in the selling process and avoid potential legal complications with buyers post-sale.
Consult With a Local Real Estate Professional
A real estate agent should be able to offer some perspective on what it will take to sell the home for the most money. They will be able to advise on the next steps on what should be done to enhance the appeal further. What’s important is the return on investment (ROI).
An excellent agent should be able to advise where your money will be best invested. There is little point in investing money unless you will get it back, which enhances the salability.
General Home Selling Advice
Once you have gotten to this point, selling a hoarder’s house is no different than any other property. You will want to follow some of the best home-selling tips, including the following:
Interview Multiple Real Estate Agents
When you don’t take the time to vet a real estate agent properly, you’re playing Russian Roulette with your largest asset. Having problems due to the Realtor chosen is not uncommon.
It stems from the fact that so many buyers and sellers don’t ask the real estate agents the right questions. Don’t make this mistake. Take the time to interview at least three agents.
Understand their marketing proposals and what they will do for you. The level of service can differ from one real estate agent to the next.
Price Your Home Correctly
When selling a home, nothing is more vital than pricing your home accurately according to the current real estate market. Make sure you carefully review the market analysis the agent provides. See the data through the eyes of the buyer, not what you need or want from the sale.
Don’t choose the real estate agent that gives you the highest price. The comps don’t lie; people do. Nothing is worse than an agent who will tell you what you want to hear to get a listing.
Exceptional Real Estate Photography is Crucial
The first showings for a property happen online before a buyer ever steps foot in your home. If the photography is awful so will your results. Don’t accept anything less than professional photography for your home. Make sure you ask this question upfront.
A Comprehensive Marketing Plan
Understand what the agent is going to do for you both online and offline. Make sure your house looks outstanding online—it is where all the potential buyers will be viewing it. Find out what the brochures that the buyer will take away from your home will look like. Is it well done?
Finding a Hoarder House For Sale
What if you are looking for a hoarder house for sale instead of selling one? Besides working with local real estate agents who can look for hoarder houses for sale for you in the MLS, the next best thing is searching on Google.
Try hoarder houses for sale near me, and you may come up with something worth looking at. If you are ambitious and see one of these properties, you can always reach out to the owner and see if they are interested in selling.
Final Thoughts on Selling a Hoarder House
Selling a hoarder’s house can be an overwhelming experience, but with the help of a professional, it can be done quickly and efficiently. Take your time to make the property as appealing as possible.
By following these tips you should have some success. If you need help selling a home in rough condition, feel free to ask for assistance. I would love to help.
About the Author: Bill Gassett, a nationally recognized leader in his field, provided the above real estate information on selling hoarder houses. Bill has expertise in mortgages, financing, moving, home improvement, and general real estate.
Learn more about Bill Gassett and the publications in which he has been featured. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-625-0191. For the past 38+ years, Bill has helped people move in and out of Metrowest towns.
Are you thinking of selling your home? I am passionate about real estate and love sharing my marketing expertise!
I service Real Estate Sales in the following Metrowest MA towns: Ashland, Bellingham, Douglas, Framingham, Franklin, Grafton, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hopedale, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Natick, Northborough, Northbridge, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Sutton, Wayland, Westborough, Whitinsville, Worcester, Upton, and Uxbridge Massachusetts.
About the author: Bill Gassett, a nationally recognized leader in his field, provided the above Real Estate information on selling hoarder houses. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-625-0191. Bill has helped people move in and out of many Metrowest towns for 35+ years.
Are you thinking of selling your home? I am passionate about real estate and love sharing my marketing expertise!
I service Real Estate Sales in the following Metrowest MA towns: Ashland, Bellingham, Douglas, Framingham, Franklin, Grafton, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hopedale, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Natick, Northborough, Northbridge, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Sutton, Wayland, Westborough, Whitinsville, Worcester, Upton, and Uxbridge MA.
