- Buyer will have to invest at least $50,000 toward rehabs.
- Fix and flop buyers are not deterred by feces-filled, urine stained homes.
- YouTube is an effective way for agents to fully convey to potential buyers what is inside rundown homes.
Nestled among a community of 4-bed, 3.5-bath homes sits what may Houston’s filthiest home.
Said to have temporarily housed 12 dogs, six cats and a pot belly pig, the 3,493-square foot Champions-area home was listed in late December for $125,000 and received significant attention.
The sale of the home is currently pending with 15 different offers on the table, according to listing agent Paul Gomberg, who is with Keller Williams Realty Conroe/Lake Conroe. The majority of offers, roughly 70 percent, are from fix and flip types.
While he typically doesn’t dabble in rundown homes, Gomberg received the listing from a previous client he sold a home to last March. While the client’s new home was being remodeled the animals were left alone inside the old house.
The result: a home completely dominated with animal hair, feces and the stench of urine, especially the second floor. A number of the rooms were also heavily littered with trash.
Full disclosure via YouTube
The home’s interior was in such a state of filth that Gomberg posted a video to YouTube to fully disclose to potential buyers what awaited them. As of January 20th, the video had received nearly 56,000 views.
“It’s more than a seller’s disclosure,” he said, describing the initial stench as horrible. “I didn’t want to end up in some sort of lawsuit.”
While the interior of the home has since been cleaned up the urine smell still lingers.
Because the animals were constantly peeing on the floor for an extended time the urine seeped through the carpet and into the subfloor.
It’s likely other “surprises” await the buyer of this home, with Gomberg estimating additional rehab costs of $50,000 to $60,000.
While this is a steep post-purchase investment, the home was recently appraised at $280,000, as it sits on a 12,000-square-foot lot and features a sizable backyard with a pool.
If fully rehabbed he estimates the home could sell for between $310,000 and $320,000.
