Case Study - Hoarder Property
3BR/1BA with severe hoarding and code violations - sold as-is for $165,000 with zero cleanup.
Patricia was the daughter of an elderly woman who had lived alone in a 3-bedroom, 1-bathroom Fort Lauderdale home for over 30 years. When her mother moved to an assisted living facility, Patricia was tasked with selling the property. What she found inside was overwhelming.
The 1,100 square foot home, built in 1965, was packed floor to ceiling with decades of accumulated belongings. Newspapers, magazines, clothing, furniture, appliances, and personal items filled every room. Pathways between rooms were barely 18 inches wide. The kitchen and bathroom were largely unusable. The garage was completely inaccessible.
Beyond the hoarding, the property had active code violations from the City of Fort Lauderdale. Overgrown vegetation had triggered exterior maintenance violations. Neighbors had reported the property condition, and fines were accruing at $250 per day.
Patricia got estimates from three junk removal companies. The cleanup quotes ranged from $18,000 to $32,000, with $25,000 being the middle estimate. That price covered removal only - not any repairs underneath. Patricia suspected there was water damage, pest damage, and possibly mold hidden beneath the clutter, but there was no way to assess until everything was removed.
No real estate agent would list the property in its current state. Multiple agents told Patricia she needed to clean out the house, make repairs, and resolve code violations before they would take the listing. That meant spending $25,000+ on cleanup, an unknown amount on repairs, and weeks or months resolving code enforcement issues - all before a single buyer could even view the home.
The code violation fines were compounding daily. Patricia was also paying her mother's mortgage, insurance, and utilities on the property. Every week of delay cost money.
We buy hoarder properties regularly and understand the scope of work involved. Our team conducted a walkthrough of the Fort Lauderdale home, assessed the visible condition, and factored in likely hidden damage based on our experience with similar properties.
We presented Patricia with a cash offer of $165,000 for the property as-is - contents included. Patricia did not need to remove a single item. We assumed responsibility for the cleanup, code violation resolution, and all repairs.
We also contacted the City of Fort Lauderdale code enforcement division and presented our purchase contract. The city agreed to pause fines pending the sale and our planned remediation. We closed in 14 days.
Patricia was relieved beyond measure. The property had been a source of stress, shame, and financial pressure for months. She used the proceeds to help cover her mother's assisted living costs. She did not have to spend a single day cleaning, sorting, or hauling - we handled everything.
"I was paralyzed. The house was too overwhelming to deal with and the fines kept growing. OneCashOffer bought it exactly as it was. I did not lift a finger. They gave me my life back." - Patricia