How to Sell a Hoarder House in Massachusetts

Can You Sell a Hoarder House in Massachusetts?

Yes, a hoarder house in Massachusetts can be sold even if the home is too cluttered, damaged, code-violating, smelly, infested with pests, or has been neglected for years. But there’s a need to use a different selling approach for a hoarder home than a standard home.

Emotional family scenarios, property inheritance issues, safety concerns, and significant clean-up issues are involved in many hoarder houses in Massachusetts. Some homeowners opt to do the cleaning and the renovating first before listing, and others choose to go ahead and sell the home as is to prevent the period of time, expenses, and stress involved in cleaning and fixing the home.

Knowing your options prior to getting started will help you avoid unnecessary expenses and make better decisions as to whether to clean and repair, list traditionally, or sell directly.

What Is Considered a Hoarder House?

A hoarder’s house is a home that has an excessive amount of items, trash, debris, or clutter that prevents the use of the home.

There are various types of hoarder homes, some of which are mildly cluttered and others with severe conditions that result in:

• fire hazards
• blocked exits
• structural concerns
• mold growth
• pest infestations
• water damage
• sanitation problems

Older hoarder homes in Massachusetts can also experience other problems, such as outdated electrical systems, failing heating systems, or moisture penetration and code violations that can get worse over time.

While not all homes that are cluttered are considered severe hoarding properties, more often than not, clutter has an impact on marketability and value.

Can You Sell a Hoarder House As-Is in Massachusetts?

Yes. Many hoarder houses in Massachusetts are sold as-is.

When selling as-is, the seller is not intending to make repairs or a complete renovation prior to closing. This is often the preferred choice when the costs of clean-up, emotional stress, or property damage are too burdensome.

This type of sale, called an as-is sale, is typical when:

• the homeowner is overwhelmed
• The property was inherited
• The house has major deferred maintenance
• cleanup costs are too expensive
• there are health or safety concerns
• The family wants a faster sale

While the as-is nature of a sale doesn’t mean that you have no disclosure responsibilities, it can ease the pressure to make lots of repairs before you put your house on the market.

Do You Have to Clean a Hoarder’s House Before Selling?

Not necessarily.

Perhaps one of the most common myths is that a hoarder’s house has to be completely cleaned out before it can be sold. In reality, lots of Massachusetts hoarder homes don’t sell with a full clean out, particularly in the event of an investor or cash buyer.

The correct method is contingent upon:

• the severity of the hoarding
• the local housing market
• property condition
• safety concerns
• financing limitations
• the seller’s timeline

Some sellers opt for a partial cleanout because any kind of improvement, no matter how small, can make buyers more interested in purchasing. Others determine that the emotional and financial cost of the cleanup is not worth the effort.

Cleanup can be very costly in severe hoarding situations with biohazard concerns, mold issues, animal damage, or structural issues.

Why Are Hoarder Houses Difficult to Sell Traditionally?

Retail buyers can have a difficult time ignoring clutter and property damage because they are visible.

Severe cases of hoarding can cause the buyer to almost entirely focus on:

• cleanup costs
• hidden damage
• safety concerns
• odors
• pest issues
• repair uncertainty

Even many distressed real estate properties are difficult to finance for many buyers.

Lenders may be less inclined to lend if the home has:

• blocked access points
• severe sanitation issues
• missing systems
• unsafe conditions
• significant deferred maintenance

Many hoarder homes in Massachusetts that end up being sold to buyers do so because they are first offered to investors, contractors, or cash buyers.

What Problems Are Common in Massachusetts Hoarder Houses?

Hoarder houses may have much more damage than is noticed at first glance.

Older Massachusetts homes are more susceptible, as a combination of New England weather, aging infrastructure, and moisture exposure can lead to long-term neglect.

Common issues include:

• hidden water damage
• mold growth
• rodent infestations
• damaged flooring
• overloaded electrical systems
• plumbing leaks
• collapsing ceilings
• furnace neglect
• frozen pipe damage
• foundation moisture problems

At times, whole rooms are impassable for a number of years until they are cleaned up and inspected.

Older neighborhoods in Bristol County, Hampden County, and Worcester County may also have old materials or systems that can make renovations very expensive.

Should You Renovate a Hoarder’s House Before Selling?

Not necessarily. You should consider renovations only if doing so is likely to increase the property’s value by more than the cost of the improvements. In many cases, basic cleanup and decluttering may be all that’s needed before selling.

Some may think that doing major renovations will guarantee that they make more money. But when hoarder homes are renovated, it’s not uncommon for more problems to be discovered, which can add up quickly and lead to unexpected surprises.

After the cleanup starts, the contractors may find:

• mold behind walls
• structural deterioration
• electrical hazards
• plumbing failures
• pest damage
• asbestos concerns
• code violations

For a lot of homeowners, the more secure monetary move is to sell the home the way it is, instead of gambling on high-cost remodels.

This is particularly the case when:

• The property was inherited
• The seller lacks repair funds
• the home has been vacant
• the seller lives out of state
• multiple heirs are involved
• The property already needs major updating

Can You Sell a Hoarder House With Code Violations?

Yes, but code violations and other property issues can impact buyer interest and financing options. Common issues found in hoarder homes throughout Massachusetts include:

• condemned conditions
• sanitation complaints
• fire hazards
• occupancy violations
• unsafe structures
• excessive debris
• pest concerns

Since most traditional financing programs have minimum standards, a traditional buyer with financing may find it difficult to obtain a home with severe code problems.

A cash home buyer however typically does not depend on lender approval and is more lenient with these problems.

Sellers should be aware of the following before listing the property:

• whether open violations exist
• whether fines are accumulating
• whether permits were previously closed properly
• whether the town requires corrective action

How Much Does Cleanup Cost for a Hoarder’s House?

The amount of cleanup work can vary widely due to the property’s degradation.

Basic junk removal and cleaning are required for some homes. Others involve:

• biohazard remediation
• mold remediation
• demolition work
• pest extermination
• structural repairs
• hazardous material removal

Sometimes, large hoarder cleanouts in Massachusetts may cost tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the property condition, labor, disposal needs, and more.

This is among the reasons that lots of families will not totally clean their house prior to selling.

The emotional burden of going through decades of things can also be overwhelming, particularly following a death, probate, or family crisis.

Should You List a Hoarder House on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)?

It depends; sometimes, but not always.

This strategy will largely depend on the condition of the property and what type of buyers you are looking for.

In a healthy Massachusetts housing market, some slightly messy homes might manage to perform quite well with the traditional MLS exposure.

But seriously troubled hoarding homes typically experience:

• buyer financing issues
• failed inspections
• negative first impressions
• limited showing access

Even if a property is in poor condition, properties with good underlying land value or good location may be able to draw in investors fast.

Investors are sometimes proactively looking for distressed homes in markets that are still strong in Massachusetts.

Who Buys Hoarder Houses in Massachusetts?

The most common buyers include:

• real estate investors
• cash home buyers / house flippers
• contractors
• landlords
• developers

These buyers are more likely to be able to assess distressed properties since they know what it will take to get them to their desired condition and are not as easily turned off by things they see that are cluttered or damaged.

When it comes to buying a home from a traditional retail buyer, they typically look for move-in-ready properties, particularly in the more expensive brackets.

Do You Need to Disclose Hoarding in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts sellers might still be required to disclose any known material defects of the property.

For instance, where the seller is aware of:

• mold
• water damage
• structural issues
• pest infestations
• fire damage
• plumbing failures

Under certain circumstances, those issues may have to be disclosed.

But not all clutter is necessarily considered a structural defect.

Since the disclosure laws may be complex in distressed property sales, many sellers will seek the input of a Massachusetts real estate attorney prior to placing the home on the market.

What Happens if the Hoarder House Is Inherited?

Many homes for hoarders are inherited through probate.

In such cases, family members are likely to be struggling with:

• emotional stress
• probate court requirements
• estate cleanout challenges
• multiple heirs
• unpaid taxes
• liens
• vacant property concerns

When the family lives across the country, or when the family finds out how bad the property is unexpectedly, it can be even more difficult to cope with a hoarder’s house that was inherited.

Some relatives opt to take the time and effort to gradually clean and renovate the home. Some conclude that the easiest and quickest way to solve the problem is to sell it as-is.

Is Selling a Hoarder House for Cash a Good Idea?

Sometimes.

Hoarder house sellers often find cash buyers appealing, as they might:

• purchase as-is
• avoid lender delays
• close faster
• accept severe property conditions
• eliminate repair requirements
• simplify the transaction process

Nevertheless, sellers should do due diligence to check offers and be aware of the trade-off between convenience and resale value.

Sometimes, simple preparation and cleanup can have a significant impact on the final sale price. In some others, the cost of cleanup could exceed any value that’s added.

How Do You Prepare a Hoarder House for Sale?

Sometimes, little changes can make all the difference.

Many sellers start out by concentrating on:

• removing trash
• clearing entryways
• improving lighting
• addressing odors
• securing utilities
• improving exterior appearance

Perfection isn’t always the aim of the game. In many cases, it’s just a matter of making the property safer and easier to appraise.

If a home is in distress and the heating system goes down, or the pipes freeze, in Massachusetts winters, the house can deteriorate quickly. Basic maintenance issues could be resolved and potentially stop further damage while preparing the property for sale.

Final Thoughts on Selling a Hoarder House in Massachusetts

Yes, you can sell a hoarder house in Massachusetts, even if the home is littered and cluttered and has been neglected for a long time.

The right selling strategy will be based on the severity of the condition, the local market, the seller’s financial situation, and how much time and/or energy the owner is willing to put in before selling.

Partial cleanup and traditional MLS exposure are helpful to some homeowners. But for others, it’s a simpler, less stressful solution to sell the home as-is to a cash buyer.

Hoarder houses are typically fraught with emotional family dynamics, inherited property issues, and challenging cleanup decisions. It is important to be aware of the choices you have and make an informed and financial decision before spending lots of time and money.