If you are a homeowner in Virginia with a house full of clutter, you may wonder how to sell your hoarder house. Sell a hoarder house can be difficult because of the work needed to clean it up. It already takes a lot of effort to sell a well-maintained property.
Imagine how challenging it can be to sell a hoarder house. It could take months or years to be staged for sale, and there’s no guarantee that someone will take an interest in it.
Selling a property affected by hoarding presents unique challenges, and this blog post will address all of them.
What is a Hoarder House?
A Virginia hoarder house is a property that has been overfilled by its homeowner or tenant with excessive personal items and debris due to difficulty in discarding them.
The tremendous amount of clutter can make the house unsafe to live in. The overabundance of different materials inside the home is a fire hazard, and the local building department can condemn the hoarder house.
In some cases, the occupant is buried alive underneath all their accumulated junk and garbage.
Understanding The Hoarding Disorder
Approximately 1 in 50 people are afflicted with a hoarding disorder. It is classified as a mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Association. It is characterized by compulsively and excessively acquiring random items, resulting in extreme clutter populating every square foot of the home that the hoarder has difficulty getting around.
Individuals with hoarding disorder find it difficult to part with possessions due to a perceived need to save them for future use. They hold a sentimental value to the hoarder, and thinking about giving up any of these can cause them great stress.
Hoarder homes often have dangerous living conditions, and it is up to family members to stage an intervention. In extreme cases, some people have even died suffering from hoarding disorder.
Threats And Challenges of A Hoarder House In Virginia
There may be risks and difficulties when selling a hoarder home in Virginia. The state of the property is one of the main issues. Before listing the house for sale, extreme hoarding situations may present health and safety risks that must be resolved. These threats involve:
Safety Risks: Hoarder houses can be dangerous because they are filled with too much stuff, making it hard to move around safely. This can lead to falls, fires, and other accidents.
Damage to the house: When a hoarder keeps accumulating things, it can cause damage to the structure of the house. The weight of all the stuff can strain the foundation, walls, and floors, making the house unstable or even collapse.
Pest Problems: Hoarding attracts pests like rats, bugs, and mold. This can create health risks, make the damage worse, and make it harder to clean up the house.
Health concerns: Hoarder houses are usually dirty and can have mold, bacteria, and other harmful things. The dust, allergens, and pet waste in the house can make respiratory problems worse and trigger allergies or asthma.
Fire Dangers: Cluttered spaces are more likely to catch fire. If exits are blocked, electrical outlets are overloaded, or flammable materials are around, fires can spread quickly and put people and nearby homes at risk.
Code Violations: Hoarder houses often break local housing and building rules. These rules concern fire safety, how many people can live in a house, and keeping things clean. Breaking these rules can lead to fines, legal trouble, and even having the house taken away.
Emotional and mental health challenges: Hoarding is often linked to psychological and emotional problems. It can be challenging but essential to address the hoarder’s mental health needs and find the proper support to help them overcome the situation.
Reasons to Sell a Hoarder House in West Virginia
There may be various reasons for wanting to sell a hoarder house in West Virginia. Some of the main reasons why people sell their hoarder houses are:
High Ownership Costs
The excessive clutter and hoarding behavior in a hoarder house can also lead to high ownership costs. This includes the cost of storage units, increased utility bills due to limited functionality, and repairs or renovations needed to address damage caused by hoarding. Selling the property can alleviate these expenses and help manage financial stress.
Legal Liability
In severe hoarding cases, there may be legal liability concerns. This can include health and safety hazards, such as blocked exits or infestations that harm the well-being of residents or visitors. Selling the property can help to mitigate these risks and avoid potential lawsuits.
The desire for a fresh start
Living in a hoarder house can be emotionally draining and may hinder personal growth and progress. Selling the hoarder house allows the owner to start a new, a clutter-free and more organized space, promoting a healthier and more positive lifestyle.
Relocation or downsizing
Hoarder houses can be challenging to manage, particularly when moving or downsizing. Selling the hoarder house simplifies the process of relocation or downsizing, making it easier to transition to a more manageable living situation.
How To Sell A Hoarder House In Virginia?
Selling a hoarder house in Virginia can present unique challenges, but with careful planning and execution, it is possible to navigate the process successfully.
Here are some tips to help you along the way:
Hire Professionals to Do a Deep Cleaning
If you have hoarder house for sale decluttering and thoroughly cleaning the house is the first stage . While it is possible to ask family and friends for help, it is recommended that you get a professional Virginia cleaning crew to undertake the backbreaking work of hauling out years (or sometimes decades) of accumulated junk.
Piles of trash in hoarder houses often reach the ceiling, and merely venturing inside without the proper gear and training can threaten life and limb. The cost of cleanup for hoarder houses can vary widely and depends on a lot of factors:
- The size of the house
- The time it takes to complete the cleaning
- Fire hazards such as papers, flammable liquids, and explosives
- Possible physical hazards such as sharp edges, rusted steel, broken glass
- Location of the property
- Unattended death from living in a hoarder house
Check for Any Other Issues
Hoarder homes are very unlikely to have kept up with maintenance. Once all the garbage has been hauled out, there’s no telling what you might be in for.
Some things that will be uncovered include:
Structural problems
The Virginia house’s structural framing likely sustained damage from years of neglect. Floors, ceilings, and walls may have rotted underneath those piles of garbage, so an home inspection may be done to determine the extent of the structural repairs that need to be done.
Pest infestation
Stacks of garbage can be a breeding ground for rodents and other pests that can be harmful. The clutter can also hide a problem, such as a termite infestation, which will be discovered once it spirals out of control. Call pest control immediately after all the trash has been hauled out.
Hazardous materials
All that rot and general uncleanness can provide a conducive environment for mold growth. You’ll have to contact mold remediation professionals in Virginia to remove this health hazard.
There might also be lead paint or asbestos present, especially if it’s an older house, so you may need to contact other professionals to address these.
Biological and medical wastes
Used diapers, tampons, needles, animal and human feces, and sometimes even dead animals can be considered a biohazard and require proper handling.
Sewage problems
Dealing with a Virginia hoarder house can be disheartening, but with a sewage backup, the nightmare is compounded. If the house has a failed septic system, expect to shell out more money to bring it up to standard.
Fix All the Issues and make some Upgrades
Next would be finding a reputable contractor to undertake the necessary repairs, upgrades, and renovations. Apart from tidying up and fixing things, think about improving the property.
Painting, replacing fixtures, and landscaping can all be done to enhance the house’s curb appeal. These improvements contribute to creating a more visually appealing and attractive exterior, thereby increasing the overall desirability of the property to potential buyers.
Prepare the Home for Sale
After spending money on cleanup and repairs, the former ugly and stinky duckling hoarder house is now a swan in respectable shape. You can hire a staging crew to make the house visually appealing.
Do some essential yard work and add greenery to the front lawn to boost curb appeal. While you’re at it, consider getting a real estate photographer to showcase the home’s best features.
Professionally taken photos and a detailed and compelling description in your listing would attract a vast pool of prospective buyers.
Options For Selling A Hoarder House
Selling Virginia property is challenging enough, but when selling a hoarder house, you have a couple of hoops to jump through before you can list it on the open market and reach the widest pool of potential buyers.
Real Estate Agent
Working with a real estate agent can facilitate marketing the home and drawing in potential buyers. The agent can employ various strategies to showcase the property’s positive aspects while being transparent about its current state.
This approach helps manage expectations and increases the likelihood of finding a buyer who appreciates the house’s potential despite its challenges.
For Sale by Owner
Selling the property yourself or listing it “for sale by owner” may reduce commission costs. As the owner, you will handle all aspects of the sale, including marketing, negotiations, and paperwork.
It’s crucial to recognize that the unique challenges of selling a hoarder’s home may require extra patience and diligence to attract a suitable buyer.
Cash Home Buyer
If you seek a convenient and expeditious solution, it might be worth contacting HR property Doctor buyers specializing in purchasing houses. This can be a practical option, especially if the hoarder house requires substantial repairs or extensive cleanup.
These specialized buyers are accustomed to dealing with properties in various conditions and can offer a straightforward and efficient transaction.
Why choose HR Property Doctor
Although hoarder homes can be challenging to sell, locating a buyer and closing the deal with the proper preparation and work is feasible. Consider options like contacting a Hr Property Doctor specializing in buying houses as-is or dealing with a real estate agency.
You can sell your hoarder house and start a new chapter if you take the necessary actions to declutter and fix the property. To streamline the process and save time, we recommend completing the online form below or contacting us at 757.974.8334.
We are experienced in purchasing homes in any condition, even those that may appear unsightly, and we provide hassle-free cash payments or all-cash bids.