Clutter In A Home

[Chase UW]

I am an UW and have a question regarding a home that is full of clutter. I am looking at an appraisal and there is clear evidence of a hoarder in the home. The living room, bedroom and kitchen reflect a ridiculous amount of clutter to the point that it would affect proper access for fire or ambulance safety. Also, the kitchen has such a large level of clutter that it could pose a safety hazard.

The appraiser states "the home was found to be cluttered with a large amount of personal property but no physical or functional inadequacies".

I am sure that you guys have seen it all in regards to this one but do you ever put the report in subject to status to have the clutter removed for safety concerns?

 

[Randolph Kinney]

I am sure that you guys have seen it all in regards to this one but do you ever put the report in subject to status to have the clutter removed for safety concerns?

The appraiser should have checked with the client on how they want the report - as-is or subject to.

However, you are the UW so you can condition the appraisal for additional information and cost to remove the clutter, making that a requirement before approving the loan.

 

[RSW]

I am an UW and have a question regarding a home that is full of clutter. I am looking at an appraisal and there is clear evidence of a hoarder in the home. The living room, bedroom and kitchen reflect a ridiculous amount of clutter to the point that it would affect proper access for fire or ambulance safety. Also, the kitchen has such a large level of clutter that it could pose a safety hazard.

The appraiser states "the home was found to be cluttered with a large amount of personal property but no physical or functional inadequacies".

I am sure that you guys have seen it all in regards to this one but do you ever put the report in subject to status to have the clutter removed for safety concerns?

It would all depend on who the intended user was. For FHA, USDA and the VA, I would condition it to be cleaned up. For conventional loans: Maybe not.

 

[glenn walker]

I would not make an issue out of it .. but I don't care how people live LOL

 

[Mr Rex]

I smell an opportunity to appear on Hoarders on A&E. Obviously the appraiser should have cancelled the chump change appraisal fee and reached out to the production staff for a finders fee.

 

[Deleted member 134708]

I do as this appraiser does.

An appraisal is 1 data point in the lending decision. Property was valued as-is. Appraisers job done. Now it's up to everyone else if they would like to lend the borrower money or not.

I wouldn't lend my money to folks with mental diseases, but I would lend someone else's money to them.

 

[Ken Masla]

I am an UW and have a question regarding a home that is full of clutter. I am looking at an appraisal and there is clear evidence of a hoarder in the home. The living room, bedroom and kitchen reflect a ridiculous amount of clutter to the point that it would affect proper access for fire or ambulance safety. Also, the kitchen has such a large level of clutter that it could pose a safety hazard.

The appraiser states "the home was found to be cluttered with a large amount of personal property but no physical or functional inadequacies".

I am sure that you guys have seen it all in regards to this one but do you ever put the report in subject to status to have the clutter removed for safety concerns?

If a true hoarder, boxes and trash would've been piled to the ceiling in each room with smell of cat waste everywhere.

Is it truly a hoarder or just a dirty home?

 

[TJSum]

It depends on the degree of clutter, if it interferes with actually seeing the house, then I would have called the client to see if they wanted me to cancel the assignment or write it "subject to". Unless of course what you are able to see already reveals a C6, then you can complete it "as is" knowing the only market appeal would be for an investor to make a cash purchase for a total gut rehab, etc.

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

It is not my call to make it subject to. It is the clients call, and their UW.

 

[Tom Woolford]

It's not my job to tell a lender, or their underwriter, what to do. If the contents are not affecting the security or longevity of the building, I'd just point out the clutter and that I could not completely visualize every room, make an extraordinary assumption, and move on. Your move Mr. Lender.