Special offer
Evelina Tsigelnitskaya (SIB Realty)

Spam prevention
Ambassador
2,684,009
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

           I listed a vacation house owned by an out of town hoarder.  The place was packed from floor to ceiling; you couldn't even seen the lake from this lake front house!

    The owner gave me signed written permission to remove personal property, and have the place professionally cleaned.  The Seller did not want their personal property disposed of, so I rented a storage unit (in his name).  I hired "Two Men and a Truck" to take everything out of the house.  Then Molly Maid came and cleaned it.

Jul 21, 2018 07:12 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I would recommend a professional service to my sellers to get the condo cleaned out and prepped. At some point it would have to be done in any event... once the condo is sold someone has to move everything out. Why not do it upfront to make it more sellable and probably at a higher price if it shows better.

Jul 21, 2018 07:02 AM
Rainmaker
564,494
Maria Sapio
Keller Williams of Central PA - Carlisle, PA
Real Estate Agent- Carlisle, PA. Mariasapio.com

The owners will need to clean out the condo unit when it sells anyway - so why wouldn't they want to do it now?   It is in their best interest to have the condo clutter free for showings. 
I would recommend having the seller hire a moving company to box it all up and ship it wherever it needs to go before it is shown.  

Jul 21, 2018 07:08 AM
Rainmaker
5,216,398
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Ask for permission to have it professionally staged and the junk removed at their expense. If they are unwilling to pay ask for a longer listing period and explain time is money. Advise them to choose wisely!

Jul 21, 2018 07:02 AM
Rainer
117,135
Christine Kankowski North SD and Temecula
House Match Inc - Poway, CA
Excellent Sales and Property Management

All good answers here.  Sotrage unit, sell it all, just get sellers approval

 

Jul 21, 2018 09:08 AM
Rainmaker
716,049
Richard Bazinet /MBA, CRS, ABR
West USA Realty - Scottsdale, AZ
Phoenix Scottsdale. Sellers, Buyers & Relocations

Got to find a way to prepare and stage (package) the property to sell it.

Jul 21, 2018 07:04 AM
Rainmaker
4,882,355
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

If they are motivated to sell get several bids to have the place professionally cleaned, and have permission to get rid of all the junk.  Have them pay for the cleaning up front, and you should be good to go.

Jul 21, 2018 06:58 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,301
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

I'd have it all packed up & put in storage or the garage. Have owners pay for it.

Nina is right, shows better with less stuff.

Jul 21, 2018 11:34 AM
Ambassador
5,230,074
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Just did this, Evelina! I hired an estate sale company who hosted the estate sale and then removed all remaining items from the home. 

I then had some minor painting done, some light fixtures replaced, flooring refinished and hired a cleaning service for a deep clean. 

I wanted to stage the home but, the none of the children cared about the difference in the price of a staged home vs. a vacant property. It sold well over list and had we not done what needed to be done and left it cluttered, I am confident it would have sold below list!

Jul 21, 2018 10:58 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Nina Hollander has the right answer and that's the only procedure one should follow..... 

Jul 21, 2018 09:54 AM
Rainmaker
1,052,211
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Are the owners amenable to letting you get it done?

Have them pay for storage, hire help and declutter it.

Jul 21, 2018 09:33 AM
Rainmaker
4,160,550
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Evelina Tsigelnitskaya you need to get written signed agreement from the seller, then hire a professional cleaning service.

Jul 21, 2018 09:31 AM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

Owners need to authorize or hire professional service to clean up.

Jul 21, 2018 08:02 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Evelina,

I would follow Nina Hollander 's advice. A

Jul 21, 2018 07:10 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,134
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Recommend the professionals that will be needed to shape it up.

Jul 21, 2018 09:54 AM
Ambassador
3,854,909
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

 

Another option: Sell AS IS and note "Price reflects the as is condition!  

Jul 21, 2018 09:53 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

In agents remarks section....I give heads-up

Jul 21, 2018 09:18 AM
Ambassador
5,049,183
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

What Nina Hollander said. Perhaps an estate sale of contents and then cleaned and prepared for showings.

Jul 21, 2018 08:47 AM
Rainmaker
911,338
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

I would have them rent a storage unit and have their belongings moved there  until they can find time to go through and decide on what they want to keep. They pay for the storage and moving.

Jul 21, 2018 08:08 AM
Rainmaker
1,598,452
Valeria Mola
SIB Realty - Miami, Sunny Isles Beach - Sunny Isles Beach, FL
305-607-0709 SIB Realty Condos for Sale and Rent

It's too easy to just leave it the way it is and hope for the best. Buyers that are willing to pay top dollar - do not want to deal with all the excess garbage.

Jul 22, 2018 06:08 PM
Ambassador
6,393,404
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

I always suggest giving away everything worth giving and dumpster the rest, but if they are insistent then Freds route works too.

Jul 21, 2018 06:26 PM
Rainmaker
2,220,323
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

Never had this happened Evelina.

Jul 21, 2018 05:16 PM
Ambassador
3,587,960
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Hire a team of folks that seller pays for and get it staged and on the market.

Jul 21, 2018 04:27 PM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

I go over with them how showings could be better, how better showings may bring more money and what needs to be done, cleaned and or staged. Most sellers agree when they see higher sale sprices

Jul 21, 2018 03:34 PM
Rainmaker
1,153,794
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

I could not agree more with Fred Griffin. He gets another upvote from me.

Jul 21, 2018 11:59 AM
Rainmaker
1,543,727
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

What will they allow you to do? I do what it took to prep, with their permission. Or wait.

Jul 21, 2018 11:47 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,183
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Professional cleaning and staging. 

Jul 21, 2018 11:36 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

I'm with Nina and Fred on this one.  Give them the name of a haul away company to come and pick the stuff up, then do the same with a cleaning crew.

Jul 21, 2018 10:08 AM
Rainmaker
2,071,025
Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
SIB Realty - Sunny Isles Beach, FL

Agree with all of you. Thank you. 

Here how we did. 

Permission to "tune up" apartment in writing. 

Cleaning was $251.00

We moved furniture - rearranged everything. Put all personal pictures in the draws. Put in every room air fresheners, AC at 72 degrees.  1 hour job. 

Sent videos to the beneficiaries "Before" and "After". 

Condo went under contract within 2 weeks. 

 

 

Jul 22, 2018 05:03 PM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

I've managed many cleaning out of homes on behalf of out of area personal representatives for an estate.  I get the quote, have them approve it, sign an addendum to the listing, get all the paperwork in order and then get into action. 

Jul 22, 2018 08:16 AM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Have the Sellers make payment arrangements with those contractors

Jul 22, 2018 07:20 AM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Get it cleaned Evelina Tsigelnitskaya - and put it for sale - quickly.

Jul 21, 2018 11:07 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Offer to coordinate the hiring of a stager that will get it streamlined for showing. The seller should pay.

Jul 21, 2018 09:03 PM
Rainmaker
1,311,397
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

You need to reach an agreement with sellers Evelina Tsigelnitskaya . They are out of the country. Permanently? When will they return to retake whatever belongings that they want. Can they designate certain items that they are willing to pay to store? Will you arrange that for them? In our area, Salvation Army will pick up and dispose of what a seller does not want to keep. Maybe they will give you carte balance to dispose of everything. Maybe you can sell it as is with fixtures included. Are we talking about personal items: clothes, sundries, knick knacks, tools, etc.?

Will the sellers pay for prepping the property to give them the best return?

Nail down everting in writing (email) so there is no problem later.

Good luck!

Jul 21, 2018 07:46 PM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Good luck.

Jul 21, 2018 07:05 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Talk to the seller about putting everything into storage

Jul 24, 2018 06:18 PM
Rainmaker
5,868,554
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

I think I would do exactly what Fred did.   HOPEFULLY the Sellers will pay for it.

Jul 24, 2018 06:26 AM
Rainmaker
4,936,677
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hire a company to clean it out and charge the estate.

 

Jul 23, 2018 12:11 PM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

It should have been handled before leaving but get their permission for a POD and declutter.

Jul 22, 2018 10:22 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

See if they are willing to pay to have someone come in and clean it out.  It will be worth it for their bottom line.

Jul 22, 2018 05:54 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Unless the owner/seller shared their real 'sold price' I would not show the place until it was empty. IF the real 'sold price' was suitable for a trashed unit, I would and could sell it as is.

To most of us, we shake our heads and with a heavy heart say, "and this is the stuff this person chose to keep.' I just left such a place with 2 12 inch rotary dial TVs.

However, if you know about hoarders and those who suffer memory lose, one would be wise to check inside every vase, the pages of all books and of course the sugar jar. I've seen the hidey-holes yield tens of thousands of dollars.

Jul 21, 2018 02:06 PM