That old adage about one person’s trash being another’s treasure? It’s rarely true.

Perhaps it’s a cherished childhood memento. Or letters from long time friends. Or even sweepstakes entries you swore you would mail in and return—eventually. Whatever the situation is, you have invariably found your home overcrowded with piles of clutter at some point. And perhaps to you, it’s something that could simply be fixed by a little spring cleaning. Except that’s not always the case.

Especially if you’re trying to sell your home fast, You might think listing your home at a lower price will solve the dilemma of selling a house full of trash. You might have even pondered whether or not a cluttered house has the advantage of presenting a cozy, lived-in feel. But think from a buyer’s perspective. If you can’t even be bothered to clean a house full of junk, can you be trusted to perform even general repair and maintenance?

Luckily, there are a few tips to help turn your house from a junkyard into a fast sale.

First Impressions Are the Last Impression

Virtually no buyer these days will schedule a tour without examining the state of your home online first. Unfortunately, many sellers assume staging for a listing can be minimal as long as the price is right. Online home searches are becoming the norm, and if you’re not decluttering your home prior to your listing, you’re not going to find many buyers who are willing to scroll through your picturesque descriptions.

Damage Isn’t Just Skin Deep

Electrical issues, molds and structural damage can easily occur in a house full of trash, particularly in homes over 15 years old. And while most buyers will insist on a thorough home inspection service prior to signing a contract, any major repairs as a result of damage will eventually need to be addressed. This isn’t something you should sleep on. It might seem excessive, but it can make a world of difference in the long run.

Go with the Pros

If you think you’re capable of handling the job of decluttering your home, you may want to think again. Light clutter can be one thing. But if you have years of debris piling up, you may want to call a professional cleaning service. In fact, if you do have issues such as severe mold and bacteria as a result, Lysol and a mop and bucket aren’t going to be sufficient. You don’t just owe it to your health. You owe it to your buyer’s, as well.

Selling a Hoarder House

It’s unfortunate, but many homeowners with secondary properties are increasingly finding their occupants are suffering from compulsive hoarding disorder. Particularly if they’ve found themselves with an inherited home. It might seem tragic to some. And it might seem like a nuisance to others. And for many people, it’s a problem they choose to ignore in the hopes that it will go away.

It won’t. It’s been estimated that compulsive hoarding disorder can occur in up to 6 percent of the population, with recent studies suggesting it may be responsible for 24 percent of all fire related deaths in the U.S.  And yet it’s only been recently that psychologists are attempting to discover what actually triggers compulsive hoarding.

Cleaning up a hoarder house isn’t something you should tackle your own. And the home’s occupants may not fully realize just what state they’re living in. And while it’s important that you should broach these conditions tactfully with guidance and reassurance, you may find selling a hoarder home to be virtually impossible even after a thorough cleaning.

Sell to a Cash House Buyer

Cash home buying companies like Enlight Homebuyers frequently specialize in purchasing distressed properties, including hoarder homes. A qualified home buying specialist typically has done so multiple times in the past and has the understanding and foresight to know the value of a home is what it could be; not what it is. They can give you a fair and reasonable offer for a hoarder home, frequently in little as a week. There’s no obligation, no embarrassment and no burden of cleaning both the physical and emotional debris.

And it can be a clean cut solution to an incredibly messy problem.

If selling to a qualified home buyer like Enlight Homebuyers is something that you’re interested in, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We would love to answer any questions you may have and give you a fair offer for your house. We buy houses in any condition! Give us a call at 801-939-0123 or fill out the form below. We look forward to hearing from you!