Do You Have To Disclose Hoarding When Selling A House In Massachusetts

Published on June 14th, 2023

Do You Have To Disclose Hoarding When Selling A House In Massachusetts

Many individuals are unfamiliar with the term "hoarder house". Some learn about hoarding homes from television, while others learn about them after discovering a relative or friend has this condition. The as is value will be less that if you cleaned it up.

Hoarding disorder is a mental disorder that causes individuals to have an obsessive-compulsive attachment to objects, making it difficult for them to function normally. People who suffer from hoarding disorder tend to accumulate more clutter than is necessary. The junk will continue to accumulate until the living conditions become unsafe.

Some hoarder homes end up being condemned, and selling hoarder houses can be challenging unless you have an excellent team of real estate agents and a professional organizer on board.

How To List a Hoarder House on The Market In Massachusetts

With limited inventory, a hoarder's house may still appeal to potential buyers, though restoration can be time-consuming and costly.

Deep Cleaning

To sell a hoarder's home, you must first declutter. A professional cleaning service will almost certainly be required to dispose of the clutter properly. Other items will have to be stored.

A hoarder's home necessitates more than regular housekeeping. Extreme cleanups can cost up to $2,000, and cleaning one room in a hoarder's home can take up to 8 hours.

Carpets should be replaced or professionally cleaned, and cleanup should include the garage, storage shed, and yard, typically equipped with heavy-duty cleaning equipment.

Make Necessary Repairs

Expect major problems once the house is spotless.

Depending on the scale, structural problems and repairs can cost you a lot of money. Animal feces removal, mold removal, and termite and water damage repair may be required in hoarder houses. Always request certifications for these treatments and include them in the seller's disclosure notice when selling a hoarder house.

Make Updates

In addition to repairs, cleanups, and other costs, you must stage the hoarder house. Under normal circumstances, you may be able to utilize the old furniture from the house, but in a hoarding house, the furnishings are most likely dated and damaged. Occasionally, smells linger after the clutter has been removed.

You may need the assistance of staging companies to make the living space appealing and inviting to prospective buyers.

Disclose Hoarding

When selling hoarder homes, it is necessary to inform your real estate agent and any potential buyers of the previous hoarding situations of the property, as transparency is crucial when selling real estate.

Selling A Hoarder House In Massachusetts

Work With Competent Real Estate Agents

Not all real estate agents are qualified to assist you in selling a hoarder's house. To sell hoarder houses, only work with realtors with experience selling these properties. You may also spend significant time searching for a small pool of real estate agents who provide specialized concierge services for hoarder houses.

Undergo All Repairs

To ensure your hoarder house appeals to real estate investors and home buyers, you must employ an extreme cleaning crew for interior demolition, removal of hazardous materials, and other extreme cleanups.

Note that hazmat protective clothing will be required as deep cleaning will require the use of dangerous chemicals.

Selling Hoarder Houses on Cash Offer In Massachusetts

You must find a reputable cash home buyer to sell a hoarder house.

But how do you distinguish between fair and dishonest real estate investors?

A critical step is conducting customer testimonial research on various cash buyer companies. These are typically the best indicators that you're dealing with someone who has experience buying houses.

You should also ensure that their financials are correct.

Once you find a reasonable cash offer, you can sell your hoarder house as is.