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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it wouldn't be too hard to tidy up a bit

81 replies

Bearbehind · 21/02/2014 21:23

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-29307840.html

I put this on another thread but thought it was so revolting it deserved its own thread.

How can anyone not be embarrassed to invite people in to photograph this, let alone think anyone will want to come and view it? Confused

OP posts:
YoureBeingASillyBilly · 21/02/2014 22:16

Whats the point in not showing the photos? Viewings cost time and people out of the office who could be doing other work. At least when people make a viewing based on the photos they wont be turning up and then running as soon as the agent opens the door. At least the agent can know its a serious viewing.

wowfudge · 22/02/2014 05:43

Yeah - no photos usually signals horribly dated interior that will cost a bit to bring into the 21st century. This looks like an inherited property that has then been let to tenants. Basically a good house, but as others have said, you'll need a skip - preferably an eight yarder - and professional cleaners. But how the hell can people live like this?

MadIsTheNewNormal · 22/02/2014 06:07

I doubt it's students - they are messy, yes, but not consistently messy to that degree across every bedroom. There is usually at least one who attempts to hold back the tide at their own bedroom door!

Also none of the obvious signs, like books, desks, posters, pinboards etc.

I think it's a mentally ill hoarder/loner or some total crackhead. At least there are no obvious signs of children there, which is a relief.

I once went to view a house which was a forced sale/repro and it was just like that. It totally bewilders me that people can live in such filth and utter chaos for so long. I just don't get it.

MadIsTheNewNormal · 22/02/2014 06:07

It's a lovely house though!

steff13 · 22/02/2014 06:15

It looks like a cute house. Even if the real estate agent didn't do a "deep clean," you would think he/she might make the effort to get rid of the junk. I know that's not something real estate agents generally do, but I doubt the house is going to sell in that state.

I've seen listings before that say "no chain." What does that mean?

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 22/02/2014 06:26

So cheap though..used to ridiculous Edinburgh prices. I would buy it.

Jaynebxl · 22/02/2014 06:39

Steff no chain means you won't have to wait for the people selling the house to find somewhere else, buy and move out. This house is the end of the chain. That's usually really appealing because being in a big chain can add months to the whole process. It did for us.

skinoncustard · 22/02/2014 06:48

Edinburgh is expensive, but this house is in Birmingham!! But still a mess, think there must be a story behind it all. Underneath the mess there appears to be a decent house. Estate agents couldn't care less, someone will see past the mess and probably get a good deal.

MadIsTheNewNormal · 22/02/2014 06:52

Does anyone know the area well? Is it a good deal? You'd think it would have to be really - quite a lot of money needs to be spend before you could move in. The trouble is, it's hard to see past all that mess to see whether the bare bones of the house are in good enough nick or whether it needs a total renovation as opposed to a light refurb.

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 22/02/2014 07:05

Estate agents are just that- agents. They have no power or authority to just go in and clean it up. If it's a repo then the bank own it and IME dont do anything to increase sale price. They just hand it to an agent or put it up for auction. If its part of a deceased's estate then it's up to whoever has inherited it to clean it for sale. There could be a load of relatives spread out across the country/world none of which is willing to assume responsibility or may not realise that no-one else has. Possibly all just leaving it to solicitor to sort the sale and split the money.

CoolaSchmoola · 22/02/2014 07:19

We viewed a house once where the owner had died.

It was EXACTLY as it was the day she died, all furniture in place, kitchen cupboards full of utensils etc - washing still in the machine!! The beds were still made up. Clothes still in the wardrobe.

But her family had removed anything of value, so an ornament here and there, there was an empty jewellery box etc. It was very very sad as it was obvious that it was all about the money.

Maybe that's what happened here, what we can see is the carnage left after someone turfs through a house searching for valuables/saleable items.

I think the owner died after living in a mess and their nok just rummaged through everything, including clothing, looking for items with value, and then cba

CoolaSchmoola · 22/02/2014 07:21

... to put in any effort to clean it up because they know it will sell regardless and they're only interested in the money.

(posted too soon)

MadIsTheNewNormal · 22/02/2014 07:33

the amount of time and effort it would take to clear it may not make enough difference to the overall price achievable if the property is in a poor state of repair. You could send in professional house clearance people but they will charge quite alot of money so I guess the owner just wants rid as quickly and cheaply as possible and the onus will be on the purchaser to get it cleared out - that will be the price they pay for a relative bargain.

If it's just dealing with a few skiploads of rubbish, as opposed to wearing a gas mask while you wade through a seething sticking cesspit of filth, vomit, dead skeletal cats in wardrobes, urine filled milk bottles on every surface, shit-smeared walls and used hypodermics then I'd say it's not to bad a task.

MadIsTheNewNormal · 22/02/2014 07:33

too

PsychicPaper · 22/02/2014 07:37

As much as I hate to say it DP's student rental looked a lot like that.

They were also too tight to heat it, and thought airing it would just let the cold in.

Suffice to say I did not stay over Confused

AwfulMaureen · 22/02/2014 07:46

Sad It feels wrong to be pointing and sniggering at it.

youarewinning · 22/02/2014 07:47

I agree there seems to be a sad story behind it.

The house looks to be very carefully and well decorated - the detail in the lounge is lovely. Not keen on the green bath though! Kitchen cupboards look in good repair too.

Looking at piles of clothes and certificates, paper work etc that's left on tops of piles of clothes on the bed I would say this is people who left quickly.

MoreBeta · 22/02/2014 08:00

To be honest, I expected worse. I recon a couple of blokes with small truck could clear that in a day and take it all down the tip.

It would probably cost you £500 to do it though. The house itself looks in quite good otherwise.

brettgirl2 · 22/02/2014 08:04

I think the pics are there because it's a nice house (plus if you view you will know what to expect).

If I owned it and lived in aus I would ask the estate agents who might clear it but I guess there's a story.

I find it less off putting than the well kept but chintzy tbh..... You have to pay more for that!

Jemma1111 · 22/02/2014 08:18

I'd say its a young couple who lived there (loveheart in the kitchen window) and my guess would be that they've deliberately turned it into a 'shithole' as they were probably forced to leave it.

Also, if whoever lived there genuinely lived like slobs then I wonder why the front garden isn't completely messy and overgrown.

Worriedkat · 22/02/2014 08:59

DH and I have bought 2 houses that looked like this. The first one, the couple just felt comfortable living like it. The second was tenants who didn't want to leave. It cost us a couple of grand to clear and clean ready for new flooring, but we always got a huge reduction on asking price so it was economically worth it ten times over. Ethically I'm not so sure, though if we hadn't bought the properties someone else would have.

JamNan · 22/02/2014 09:07

Looks like a repo to me.

They must have left in a hurry or maybe they were locked out and the place was trashed by the bailiffs. There is a horrible sense of violence and haste.

margarethamilton · 22/02/2014 09:08

DH owned a house on this street when we first got together. It was his house when he was a student at Birmingham university. He let it some time later to tenants who fucked him over. When we went to clear it out, the place was in some disarray but not this bad.

It was a decent place but parts of Erdington are quite studenty and there are lots of rental properties. I suspect tenants have left and the landlord wants rid. Renting DH's place out just wasn't worth the hassle or expense for us.

ThePearShapedToad · 22/02/2014 09:19

Oh. My. God

You're right. It needed it's own thread

Joysmum · 22/02/2014 10:07

I develope property. That's the sort of house I'd love to get my hands on. People generally don't see past the mess but I do. I makes no different to me how clean it is because I'd be gutting and returning from scratch to rent on or sell so it doesn't matter the state of what would be skipped anyway.