A property has A LOT of junk around the house (appliances, and all kinds of stuff).

[J Grant]

I agree with most of the above except one thing. Instead of calling animal control first, pls contact rescue organizations. They work with the ASPCAs etc, but they are no-kill. Most 'humane societies' are so overwhelmed, that the animals go in the front door and out the back in a black bag, or up the chimney in cinders. Esp if animals are not young and in great shape for immediate adoption, they will often be killed right away. Tragedy on top of their life of misery at the hands of humans. Most rescues are full, BUT they can reach out and often find fosters in emergencies with big hearts who will take on difficult cases of neglect so the rescued animals can eventually finally have a happy home. There are rescues all over the country for everything from bunnies, snakes, cats, horses, dogs, birds, farm animals, lizards... you name it. Many are inter-connected with other rescues and can help animals by getting them into a specialty rescue.

...and Tom D!! OMG!! LOL!! YOU hit the nail on the head!!

Many rescues do actually pull animals out of kill shelters and then find them homes.

The problem is a private rescue does not have the police power to enter a home and seize animals - animal control is often empowered as an arm of the police or works with them to seize animals and enter hostile occupants or abandoned properties -

 

[J Grant]

The unfortunate secret is a number of rescue dogs (not all of them, but some) are wrt being a no-kill shelter; technically, that is true; however, if an animal does not find a home in X months, they might send that animal back to a county-run kill shelter. and let them do the deed. I can't blame the rescue, they do not have the room to take in a new animal if they never do that - the fault lies with people who keep breeding unwanted pets, do not spay or neuter, and a pet instead of keeping it.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

I've been in hoarder houses where you can't see any of the walls and there's a path with piles of stuff all the way up to the ceiling.

I was in a hoarder house where boxes had set on the floor so long termites had eaten through the maple flooring and into these boxes. The heirs were sorting and tossing out things. The house was so ate up, it was never lived in again, but Memorial Day weekend, it no longer mattered. It was blown away by a tornado...and the heirs themselves had died earlier. So, the grand-nephews and nieces have now inherited the place.

If for secondary market, I would decline the assignment, or at a minimum, require it to be cleaned up as a condition. I would be explicit what I wanted gone. Non-working equipment and vehicles, tractors, etc. All tires and hazardous materials to go. All boxes of junk to be removed. etc. Not just a general requirement to be cleaned up. Specify exactly what you want to see gone for final inspection.

 

[gorillakimchi]

I've seen worse lol

 

[KHS445]

I work with the general thought that if what I can see is in good condition, I am fairly comfort with things I can’t see. This includes working conditions of appliances, HVAC, etc. Conversely, if what I see is in less than desirable condition, I will generally assume what I can’t see is also in less than desirable condition.

Even if all the junk and trash is removed, you are still left with a structure that is probably a condition 5, with a number repairs, updates, replacements, etc. necessary to be even be considered a 4.

 

[Dublin ohio]

I've seen worse lol

Had one just as bad on the inside. They had an outdoor pool that looked like it was filled with the primordial ooze. Ha d another one years ago that had so many junk cars leaking everything and a number of 55 gal drums of unknown contents. It was so bad that I "suggested" a phase 1 environmental study

 

[sputnam]

I would require at least some cleanup... at minimum, removal of hazardous materials... before I agreed to inspect the property. Had a few assignments where that was needed. The Client had the property cleaned up then, called us back.