If youre selling a home owned by a hoarder, there’s a big chance that you’re going to have a nerve-wracking job on your plate. Extreme collectors typically save almost anything, sometimes even trash and things they no longer use. So expect to find all sorts of thingsfrom dead animals to rotting foodin the many nooks and crannies of the property.
But once you’ve sorted things out and cleaned a hoarder’s dwelling, you’re sure to find a buyer that would see the property as a diamond in the rough. To make your task a bit easier, below are five tips for selling a hoarder home.
1. Offer As Is
The fastest and easiest way to sell this kind of property is to sell it as it is. There may be buyers who flip houses and are interested in buying the home even if it needs many repairs and deep cleaning. Putting the house for sale without repairs and getting rid of clutter will surely make things easier for you, but you can expect to sell it at a discount.
If you want to sell a hoarder’s home without all the hassles, you can approach reputable real estate investment companies like Gem State Cash Offer that are willing to pay cash for even the most problematic homes and at a fair price. However, if you’re selling a house in, say, Boise or Utah where properties for sale are scarce but demand is high, you should still be able to find buyers willing to offer you competitive prices.
2. Do Some Quick Repairs
One thing you should understand about people suffering from hoarding disorder is that they have a compulsion to accumulate things and have a severe problem with discarding most of their belongings. All of their efforts are geared toward saving almost everything and acquiring more things to add to their stash. Thus, you should expect that a hoarder’s house will be poorly maintained and desperately in need of repair.
Fixing all the damage in a hoarder’s house can be costly, be extensive, and may take a lot of time. If you’re in a hurry to offload the property, you can concentrate on quick repairs that could help improve the home’s value and marketability.
- Focus on repairs that would improve curb appeal.
- Work on the roof if needed.
- Fix the windows, doors, and home’s exterior.
- Repaint the walls.
- Improve the exterior lighting.
3. Hire Cleaning Professionals
According to realtors, there are factors affecting a home’s marketability. Aside from structural issues and poor location, another major deal-breaker for potential buyers is an unkempt and cluttered house. If you live in places like Utah where it may not be easy to sell a hoarder’s house or the prices of homes are on the rise, you should invest a little in hiring professional cleaners.
Since most houses owned by hoarders are filthy and sometimes infested with pests and rodents, you need an expert cleaning crew to wash out stains, sanitize the surroundings, shampoo carpets, and get rid of mustiness and foul odors.
4. Update The Houses Look
People who hoard love gathering a wide range of items, but it doesn’t mean that they use any of the objects they collect to enhance the look of their home. Thus, its highly probable that a hoarder’s property hasnt been refurbished or upgraded for a long time. No matter how dated the house may look, you dont need to do a complete makeover for it. Here are some tips on what you can do to revamp the look and feel of the home for sale:
- Update the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
- Change all dated lighting fixtures to LED lighting.
- Upgrade the kitchen countertops and cupboards.
- Redecorate to make the house look more modern.
- If you have money to spare, retile the bathroom.
5. Focus On Cosmetic Changes
Embarking on extensive renovation projects would be a waste of time and money. So don’t bother installing a swimming pool, remodeling the attic or basement, or investing in high-end furniture and appliances. If you want every penny to improve the value of a hoarder’s house for sale, you should set your sights on fixing superficial or aesthetic defects caused by years of neglect and poor maintenance. This may include:
- Fixing dripping taps
- Replacing moldy sealant or dirty grout in the bathroom and kitchen
- Repairing squeaky stairs, doors, and floors
- Getting rid of soiled or worn carpets
- Changing worn, missing, or dated hardware such as cabinet handles, broken faucets, showerheads, and bidets
The Bottom Line
Selling a hoarder’s home may be cumbersome, but it’s not impossible, especially if the property is in a prime location. If you have time and money, you can follow tips that would transform an otherwise hard-to-sell property into a clean and decent home thats attractive to buyers. However, if youre in a hurry, you can always sell the house as is, for cash, and at a reasonable price via a reputable real estate investment company.