Can you sell a house with stuff in it? Yes! and depending on the situation, it may not be as big of a deal as you think. This article we break down how much it will cost and know how to leverage it as part of the home sale.
How did I get so much clutter?
You’ve made the decision to sell. You’ve packed up the essentials and you are ready to bid farewell to your unwanted property. However, there’s a mountain of junk that you would label non-essential on your next endeavor and its more than your local trash company is willing to haul away. You start thinking to yourself, how did I get so much junk? Can I sell a house with stuff in it? Well, you are not alone! There are many homeowners who have been in the same situation and there are many reasons why you have made such an accumulation. If you are thrifty like most of us, then you may keep items that you would consider savable later. Other times we become packrats because we don’t find a good way to get rid of what we have.
Can you sell a house with stuff in it if it isn’t that much?
It is house selling etiquette to have the home at least cleared out so it can be move in ready. Though you don’t have to do a deep clean of the property, it is always appreciated by the people moving into the home. Check your contract to as they may outline what exactly needs to be done before moving out.
Can you sell a house with stuff in it if it’s A LOT of stuff?
Yes and no. It depends on the expectations up front. If you want to sell the property as-is and let them know you want to sell a house with stuff in it then go ahead. If you are selling a home that is need of massive renovations and are selling to an investor or a ‘we buy houses’ company, then it is very common. You can leave all the property or trash behind and let them take care of it.
If you are however, selling to a person who plans on moving into the home, then cleaning out the house will most likely need to be done ahead of time. Private home buyers typically plan on moving into the property and will need the space to move in their own items.
“the new owners may want this…”
According to Greg Shaver from 1-888-JUNK-POT in Clinton Township, MI, this is a common phrase he hears in the industry. There is always a consideration that your old items may be wanted by someone moving in and you should pass along the potentially wanted items. Greg lets us know, that from his experience, new buyers will not want to deal with all the items left over by previous owners and that it is best to remove everything upon leaving the house.
Should I even attempt to take care of this myself? How much will it cost?
Wondering how much a service like these costs? Pricing varies across states, but as an example, here is Greg Shaver’s fees, which charge by the truck load:
Pricing by cubic feet
1/8 load (50 cubic feet): $150
1/4 load (100 cubic feet): $225
3/8 load (150 cubic feet): $275
1/2 load (200 cubic feet): $350
5/8 load (250 cubic feet): $400
3/4 load (300 cubic feet): $450
7/8 load (350 cubic feet): $500
Full load (400 cubic feet): $550
So, can you sell a house with stuff in it? YES, you can, situation depending, you may need to take additional steps the ensure you are within the rules/etiquette of selling your home. It is best to let your real estate professional know ahead of time as they may need to take additional steps to ensure the transaction is with expectations.
At Anderson Home Paths, we purchase homes in metro Detroit all the time with massive amounts of needed clean up and repairs. It is a common occurrence for us, and we are more than happy to take the task off your moving checklist. If you live in the metro Detroit area, then give us a call for a no obligation quote.