By Vanessa Saunders, MBA, MIMC , Broker Owner, Global Property Systems Real Estate.
For some reason, in 2020 I came across more hoarder houses in the Hudson Valley than I have in my entire 20-year real estate career. Maybe it's due to depression caused by Covid-19 lockdowns, people's lack of social contact or all the uncertainties that we have been through during the last year. Perhaps some people find comfort in having their "stuff" around, even though it creates unpleasant situations (to others) and often dangerous living conditions which can become life-threatening.
I usually run across hoarders because family members need to get the hoarder into a better living arrangement and need to sell the house to finance it. Others have inherited a hoarder house after the relative living in it has passed. Whatever the reason, hoarder houses present an entirely different set of challenges than day-to-day real estate.
Hoarding as a psychological disorder.
According to the US National Libr; ...