Can I sell a house that is full of belongings?
Yes. You do not have to empty, sort or clean a house to sell it to me. I buy houses exactly as they are, including houses where the rooms are full and some cannot be walked through, and the cleanout is my job after closing.
A house gets this way for many reasons: grief, illness, age, depression, or simply decades of keeping things. Nobody needs to explain it to me. I have seen many houses like this, and I will not judge it or the person who lived there.
What if it's a parent's or relative's house?
This is the most common situation I see. A parent passes away or moves into care, and the family opens the door to a house they cannot imagine emptying. You can take your time finding what matters, then leave the rest. If an estate has to settle first, I work around it.
See selling an inherited house for how probate fits in, and selling from out of state if you live far away.
Is it safe to clean out the house myself?
Often it is not. Heavily cluttered houses can hide mold, pests, rot, blocked exits, and floors weakened by weight or water. Lifting and hauling for weeks is hard on anyone. You do not need to take that on. Go in carefully, take what you want, and leave the heavy work to professionals.
If you do go through the house, wear gloves and a mask, bring someone with you, and stay out of rooms that are unsafe to enter. If you are not sure, ask me to walk it with you first.
How do I find important papers and valuables first?
Start with where people usually keep them: a desk, a nightstand, a dresser, a closet shelf, a kitchen drawer, a safe. Look for wills, deeds, insurance policies, bank and tax records, jewelry, cash and photographs. Tell me what you are still looking for, and I will set aside anything like it that turns up.
- Papers: wills, deeds, titles, insurance, pension and bank statements, tax returns.
- Valuables: jewelry, coins, cash, collectibles, firearms.
- Family things: photographs, letters, recipes, keepsakes.
How does Greg handle the cleanout?
After closing, I have the house emptied and everything hauled away. There is no charge to you and nothing is deducted from the price for what you leave behind.
If the house also needs serious repairs, which is common once a house has been hard to maintain for years, the offer accounts for that too. See selling a house that needs repairs.
What if the city has complained about the house?
Cluttered yards and porches sometimes draw city complaints and orders. They do not stop a sale to me. Tell me what the city has sent, and I will take on the orders after closing.
"That time came, we met, and I was extremely pleased with the offer and terms. Best part was I didn't have to do anything other than take the stuff I wanted and left the rest. Very smooth and honest transaction."
Greg Carpenter is a licensed real estate agent in Ohio. When Deforest Solutions makes you an offer, Greg is buying the house for himself, not as your agent.