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WHEN I FIND A GOOD BARGAIN, EVEN I DON'T NEED IT, I BUY IT.
I PAY A BIG, HIGH PRICE FOR THE HOARDING.
LOST THE HOUSE, LOST MY LOVED ONES.
Mark: WE BUY HOUSES THAT NEED REPAIR.
THIS LOOKED LIKE A GOOD ONE.
IT WAS A BIT OF A BIDDING WAR, BUT WE WERE THE LUCKY WINNERS.
WOW.
Mark: OH.
WE'VE PROBABLY PURCHASED ABOUT 300 HOUSES,
AND THIS IS THE WORST OF ALL TIME.
I HOPE NO RAT CRAWLS OUT AND BITES ME.
HOLY [BLEEP] MAN! WATCH OUT!
GET OUT OF HERE!
THESE ARE THE LARGEST RODENTS I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.
I AM PUTTING MY FINGERS INSIDE OF ONE OF THE TUNNELS RIGHT NOW.
Mark: OH, GEEZ.
SHE HAS NO COGNITIVE GRASP OF HOW BAD THIS IS.
Michelle: I DON'T WANT TO ARGUE.
THIS IS A BOOK, AND THEY NOT BOOK.
Beaton: IF MICHELLE DOESN'T LET THESE ITEMS GO,
THEN THE GORE BROTHERS ARE GONNA DO IT FOR HER.
Michelle: 1843! IT'S ANTIQUE!
[ SCREAMS ]
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
[ HUMMING BEETHOVEN'S "FUR ELISE" ]
MY NAME IS MICHELLE.
I LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES 33 YEARS.
[ HUMMING CONTINUES ]
I SPEAK FIVE DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.
I HAVE A ONE-STORY, THREE-BEDROOM HOUSE.
HOME, HOME, SWEET HOME.
[ CRUNCHING ]
THIS IS MY KITCHEN.
MY FAVORITE ROOM IN THE HOUSE.
I LOVE TO BAKE AND COOK
AND HAVE FRIENDS AND FAMILY COME OVER FOR DINNER,
AND I CAN BAKE A REAL NICE CAKE.
THIS IS MY STEAM POT FOR CRAB, MY FAVORITE STEAMED CRAB.
OH, POTS AND PANS ARE IN THE KITCHEN.
WATER COMPANY, FOR SAFETY ISSUE,
JUST SHUT IT OFF ONLY A MONTH AGO.
I LOVE MY KITCHEN.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE GOURMET KITCHEN IN THE FUTURE.
I WAS A LAW STUDENT FOR 10 YEARS,
FROM 1986 TO 1996.
I DIDN'T TAKE THE EXAM TO BECOME OFFICIALLY,
BUT I DID STUDY AND PREPARE FOR IT.
Narrator: FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES,
56-YEAR-OLD MICHELLE HAS LIVED IN THIS THREE-BEDROOM BUNGALOW
JUST OUTSIDE TACOMA IN WASHINGTON STATE.
Michelle: WHEN I FIND A GOOD BARGAIN,
EVEN I DON'T NEED IT, I BUY IT.
NOT ONE OR TWO.
I BUY MULTIPLES IN 10 OR 20, OKAY?
AND I GET EXCITED.
I THOUGHT I GOT A GOOD DEAL.
I'M A BARGAIN SHOPPER.
THIS IS THE LIVING ROOM.
THERE'S A FIREPLACE RIGHT HERE.
IT'S PRETTY RELAXING,
AND I GOT TV DOWN THERE, COUCH THERE.
I HAVE TWO CHILDREN FROM MY FIRST MARRIAGE.
MY FIRST MARRIAGE -- DIVORCE.
Narrator: IN THE DIVORCE SETTLEMENT,
HER HUSBAND WON CUSTODY OF THEIR TWO CHILDREN,
AND MICHELLE WAS LEFT WITH NOTHING BUT THE HOUSE
AND THE CLUTTER INSIDE OF IT.
THE HOARDING PUSHED MY CHILDREN, SON AND DAUGHTER,
AND MY HUSBAND AWAY.
MY CHILDREN, I TELL THEM ALL THE TIME I LOVE THEM,
BUT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO COME VISIT
BECAUSE THE CONDITION OF MY HOUSE,
AND THAT MAKE ME SAD. THAT MAKE ME DEPRESSED.
IT'S LIKE I'M SINKING.
THIS IS MY FAMILY ROOM.
THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF YOU SEE IN HERE,
AND I JUST THROW WHATEVER DIDN'T USE, LIKE A STORAGE.
OH, THERE'S SOME GIFT FROM CHRISTMAS
IS STILL HERE UNOPENED.
IT'S HEAVY. I HAVEN'T OPENED IT.
YEAH.
OH.
OH, IT'S SHEETS.
I HAVEN'T HAD A CHRISTMAS AT HOME FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
I USED TO CELEBRATE,
HAVE CHRISTMAS TREE IN LIVING ROOM
AND HAVE KIDS COME OVER, YOU KNOW,
AND THAT WAS THE SAD PART.
I MISS THEM A LOT.
[ SNIFFLES ]
AFTER DIVORCE, I LIVE ALONE IN THE HOUSE.
I FEEL SO ALONE. I FEEL UNLOVED.
AND WHEN I GO SHOPPING, WHENEVER I CAN AFFORD IT,
IT DOES MAKE ME FEEL GOOD.
Narrator: EVENTUALLY, MICHELLE WOULD FIND LOVE AGAIN,
AND AFTER A BRIEF COURTSHIP,
SHE MARRIED HER SECOND HUSBAND, JACK.
BUT MICHELLE'S COMPULSIVE HOARDING
STRAINED THAT RELATIONSHIP, AS WELL.
IT WAS A WEDDING DRESS, BUT YEAH, AND IT'S BEEN DAMAGED.
GOOD MEMORY. HAPPY, GOOD, HAPPY TIME.
USED TO BE A FAVORITE ROOM, YOU KNOW.
HE WOULD SLEEP IN THE CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY,
IN FRONT OF HOUSE.
I SLEEP INSIDE THE HOUSE.
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?
I'M GUILTY.
I'M GUILTY.
HOW DID I MAKE THIS?
Narrator: AT ONE TIME, MICHELLE WAS ABLE TO CONTAIN THE MASSIVE HOARD
TO THE INSIDE OF HER HOME,
BUT RECENTLY, TO THE CHAGRIN OF HER NEIGHBORS,
THE CLUTTER HAS SPILLED OUT INTO HER YARD, AS WELL.
MICHELLE'S MY NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOR.
I'VE KNOWN HER, OH, ABOUT 30 YEARS.
SHE'S A VERY INTELLIGENT PERSON. SHE'S A LINGUIST.
SHE'S AN INTERPRETER,
AND MICHELLE WAS REAL FANATIC ABOUT KEEPING THAT YARD CLEAN,
AND THEN THINGS REALLY, REALLY CHANGED.
SHE STARTED ACCUMULATING STUFF IN THE BACKYARD
AND KEPT PUTTING IT OUTSIDE ON THE DECK BACK THERE.
JUST STARTED GETTING MORE AND MORE AND MORE STUFF,
AND SHE STARTED LOADING UP ALL HER VEHICLES,
AND SHE'D GET ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND SHE'D LOAD IT UP.
I AM VERY WORRIED ABOUT MICHELLE.
SHE NEEDS HELP, BADLY.
Narrator: BUT THE COMMUNITY'S CONCERN FOR MICHELLE'S WELL-BEING
IS ALSO TEMPERED WITH FRUSTRATION.
THE RAT INFESTATION THAT STARTED ON MICHELLE'S PROPERTY
HAS QUICKLY SPREAD TO NEIGHBORING HOUSES.
Sharon: IT GOT TO WHERE YOU COULD SEE THE RATS
RUNNING ON THE WINDOWSILLS IN THE HOUSE
DURING THE DAY, YOU KNOW?
I SAID, "MICHELLE, YOU'RE GONNA GET SICK.
"YOU'RE MAKING THE NEIGHBORHOOD SICK.
YOU'VE GOT TO GET CLEANED UP. YOU'VE GOT TO."
AND I CALLED THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SEVERAL TIMES.
Narrator: AND WHILE HER FAMILY AND NOW FRIENDS
HAVE TURNED THEIR BACK ON HER,
MICHELLE'S PROBLEMS HAVE ONLY JUST BEGUN.
AFTER LOSING HER JOB FIVE YEARS AGO,
SHE HAS FALLEN NEARLY $20,000 IN DEBT DUE TO BACK TAXES.
FINALLY, JUST SIX MONTHS AGO,
THE CITY FORECLOSED ON MICHELLE'S HOME
AND FORCED HER TO MOVE OUT.
I WAS DEVASTATED.
FROM HOMEOWNER FOR 33 YEARS TO HOMELESS.
I PAY A BIG, HIGH PRICE FOR THE HOARDING.
LOST THE HOUSE.
LOST MY LOVED ONES, MY SON AND DAUGHTER.
Narrator: THE CITY FORECLOSED ON MICHELLE'S PROPERTY
AND PUT IT UP FOR AUCTION.
IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG
FOR THE HIGHEST BIDDERS TO CLOSE ON IT.
HOWEVER, THERE WAS JUST ONE CATCH --
THEY NEVER SAW THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSE.
I'M MARK GORE.
WE BASICALLY BUY HOUSES THAT NEED REPAIR,
IN DESPERATE REPAIR, USUALLY, AND FIX THEM UP,
EITHER RENT THEM OR RESELL THEM.
WE'VE PROBABLY PURCHASED
OVER 400 HOUSES AT FORECLOSURE AUCTIONS,
AND IF IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S OCCUPIED,
LIKE THIS HOUSE DID,
THEN WE JUST HAVE TO EVALUATE BASED ON CONDITIONS OUTSIDE.
TONY AND I BOTH THOUGHT THIS LOOKED LIKE A GOOD ONE.
THERE WAS A BIT OF A BIDDING WAR.
I BELIEVE IT STARTED AT $15,000, AND THEN UP TO $49,000.
WE THOUGHT IT WAS WELL WORTH THAT.
WE WERE THE LUCKY WINNERS.
WE THOUGHT WE REALLY GOT A STEAL OF A DEAL,
AND THEN TONY AND I JUST DROVE OVER THERE AND TOOK A LOOK.
Tony: WE'RE WALKING AROUND, AND THEN WHEN WE LOOKED DOWN,
WE REALIZED THE PLACE HAD HUGE RAT HOLES ALL AROUND THE HOUSE.
WE SLID THE WINDOW OPEN, TOOK A LOOK INSIDE.
Tony: AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT CLICKED.
THERE WAS NO WAY I WAS GONNA GO IN THAT HOUSE.
THIS PLACE WAS FULL OF RATS.
[ DOG BARKING ]
Sharon: FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, MICHELLE HAS NOT BEEN WELL FOR YEARS.
MICHELLE'S BEEN SHARING THAT HOUSE WITH RATS.
I MEAN, RATS AND RATS, UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF RATS.
I WAS TOLD PUTTING RED PEPPERS OR UNPLEASANT FOOD,
HOT FOOD ALONG ENTRANCES
WOULD HELP TO KEEP THEM ON THEIR OWN SIDE OR OUT OF THERE.
THEY'RE FEARLESS. THEY DON'T RUN.
Narrator: AFTER SUFFERING THROUGH
MORE THAN A DECADE OF MICHELLE'S HOARDING,
HER NEIGHBORS WERE DELIGHTED TO HEAR
THE HOUSE WAS PURCHASED BY NEW OWNERS.
BUT THE REAL-ESTATE INVESTORS
WHO PURCHASED THE PROPERTY SIGHT UNSEEN
AREN'T SO ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THEIR INVESTMENT.
WHERE'S MY MASK?
Tony: THE FIRST THING WE WERE THINKING,
WE HAVE TO GET AN EXTERMINATOR IN
AND GET THE RATS OUT
AND TRY TO SALVAGE WHAT WE CAN NOW.
BECAUSE IF WE LEAVE IT LIKE THIS MUCH LONGER,
THERE'S GONNA BE NOTHING LEFT TO SALVAGE.
Narrator: THREE WEEKS HAVE PASSED
SINCE THE GORE BROTHERS HIRED AN EXTERMINATOR
TO RID THE PROPERTY OF RATS.
TODAY, THEY ENTER THE PROPERTY FOR THE FIRST TIME.
Tony: OKAY, SO NOW WE'VE COME BACK
TO SEE HOW MUCH DAMAGE IS ACTUALLY INSIDE,
AND HOPEFULLY THERE AREN'T THAT MANY RATS.
I DON'T LIKE RATS AT ALL.
SO, I WAS A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT GOING IN THIS HOUSE.
I WAS HOPING THE EXTERMINATOR HAD ENOUGH TIME,
AND THAT THEY WERE ALL DEAD OR GONE.
Tony: WHOA!
OH!
OH.
OHH.
OH, INSIDE THAT HOUSE IS JUST TOTALLY DISGUSTING.
THE SMELL IS THE PART THAT YOU JUST CAN'T EXPLAIN.
JUST GARBAGE EVERYWHERE.
IT WAS JUST ALL CLOTHES AND EVERYTHING.
Tony: I THOUGHT A LOT OF THE STUFF
WOULD HAVE BEEN CLEANED OUT BY MICHELLE.
SHE'S HAD A LOT OF TIME TO GET TO IT,
BUT OBVIOUSLY, IT'S PROBABLY TOO BIG OF A JOB FOR HER,
AND SHE MIGHT NOT BE EVEN CAPABLE OF CLEANING IT OUT.
OH, MY GOD.
Tony: OH, GEEZ.
WHOA.
HOLY COW.
LOOK AT WHAT THAT IS RIGHT THERE.
YEAH.
BEING IN MICHELLE'S HOUSE, YOU DO WORRY ABOUT DISEASE
AND CATCHING SOMETHING THAT YOU SHOULDN'T BE GETTING
AND DYING FROM IT.
Tony: IT BLEW MY MIND THAT SOMEONE COULD ACTUALLY LIVE LIKE THAT
BECAUSE I WOULD MUCH RATHER JUST PITCH A TENT IN THE BACKYARD
AND LIVE IN A TENT THAN LIVE IN, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
OH, GOD.
OH.
[ Laughing ] YEAH.
YEAH.
YEAH.
YEAH.
I THINK IT WILL BE A TOTAL MIRACLE
IF WE CAN GET THAT PLACE CLEANED.
KNOWING THAT THERE WAS ALL THESE RATS RUNNING AROUND
AND NOT KNOWING
IF ONE'S GONNA POP OUT FROM BEHIND OR SOMETHING,
I WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE IN THE HOUSE.
THAT FREAKED ME OUT RIGHT THERE.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, I SAW A RAT COME RUNNING ACROSS THE KITCHEN,
ACROSS THE TOP OF THE GARBAGE,
AND THEN ANOTHER BIG ONE CAME RUNNING ACROSS BEHIND IT.
TONY, YOU GOT TO --
THEY'RE POPPING OUT FROM EVERY CORNER
AND FROM UNDER EVERYTHING.
WE COULD BE WALKING ON THEM AND SITTING ON THEM,
SO I JUST -- I HAD TO GET OUT OF THERE.
OH!
WHEW.
OH.
SO, THESE RATS AREN'T SCARED OF PEOPLE AT ALL.
RIGHT IN DAYLIGHT, AND THEY'RE RUNNING AROUND.
YOU KNOW IF YOU SEE ONE RAT DURING THE DAYLIGHT,
THERE'S PROBABLY ABOUT ANOTHER 100 IN THERE SOMEWHERE.
SUPPOSEDLY, THE EXTERMINATOR CAUGHT A BUNCH ALREADY.
I DON'T KNOW.
I'M GONNA TALK TO THE EXTERMINATOR.
I WANT OUR MONEY BACK.
[ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: AFTER WITNESSING THE CONDITIONS OF THE HOUSE,
THE GORE BROTHERS REALIZE THAT IF THEY HAVE ANY CHANCE
OF GETTING A RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT,
THEY NEED TO GIVE MICHELLE AN IMMEDIATE ULTIMATUM.
WE'VE GIVEN MICHELLE LOTS OF WARNING,
AND SHE STILL HASN'T DONE ANYTHING.
YEAH, SHE'S NOT GONNA GET NOTHING DONE.
AND WE GOT TO TELL HER SHE'S GOT TO GET HER ACT TOGETHER, LIKE, ASAP.
GET HER STUFF OUT RIGHT NOW.
Tony: WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, THE HOUSE HAS TO GET CLEANED.
SO, IT'S GONNA GET DONE WITH OR WITHOUT HER.
Mark: WE'VE PROBABLY PURCHASED ABOUT 300 HOUSES TO RENOVATE,
AND THEY ARE HOUSES
THAT NOBODY ELSE REALLY WANTS TO TAKE,
SO THEY'RE KIND OF LIKE THE WORST OF THE WORST,
AND THIS IS THE WORST OF THE WORST.
THIS IS THE WORST OF ALL TIME.
Narrator: AFTER SEEING THE INTERIOR
OF THE HOME THEY RECENTLY PURCHASED,
REAL-ESTATE INVESTORS MARK AND TONY GORE
ARE FOLLOWING UP WITH THE EXTERMINATOR
THEY HIRED WEEKS AGO TO RID THE PROPERTY OF RATS.
Tony: I THOUGHT MAYBE
HE WAS NEGLECTING THE HOUSE A LITTLE BIT
AND NOT DOING HIS JOB
BECAUSE, TO ME, IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE
HOW THERE COULD BE SO MANY RODENTS STILL ALIVE.
HI.
HI, I'M DENNIS DAY, DAY & KNIGHT PEST CONTROL.
HEY.
I WANT MY MONEY BACK.
I'M MARK.
YEAH, THIS ONE WAS QUITE THE PROJECT.
I'VE BEEN IN THE EXTERMINATION BUSINESS
FOR CLOSE TO 30 YEARS.
I HAVE SEEN IT ALL.
WE SEE A LOT OF LARGE RODENTS.
WE SEE A LOT OF REALLY BAD SITUATIONS.
THIS SOUNDS LIKE AN EXAGGERATION,
BUT THESE ARE THE LARGEST RODENTS
I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.
I'VE HAD NIGHTMARES ABOUT THIS HOUSE
OF RATS JUMPING AT YOU, COMING OUT OF THESE WINDOWS.
AND IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THIS COMPLETE YARD,
THERE'S TUNNELS OVER ALL OF IT.
YEAH.
WE HAVE POKED HOLES INTO ALL OF THIS
SO THAT WE COULD GO AHEAD AND GET OUR TRAPS DOWN.
WE PUT TRAPS INSIDE OF ALL OF THIS,
AND YOU CAN REACH INTO HERE QUITE A DISTANCE.
THIS SHOWS YOU THE SIZE OF THE RODENTS
WHO ARE COMING IN AND OUT.
I AM PUTTING MY FINGERS INSIDE ONE OF THE TUNNELS RIGHT NOW.
Mark: OH, GEEZ.
YOU'RE TRUSTING.
YEAH, YOU'D NEVER CATCH ME STICKING MY HAND IN THERE.
NO, I DON'T THINK SO.
RIGHT HERE, YOU PROBABLY HAVE 25 TO 30 HOLES HERE CONNECTED,
AND ANOTHER 10 TO 15 ON THIS BACK SIDE.
SO, IS THIS THE WORST AREA OF THE WHOLE HOUSE?
NO, BEHIND THE HOUSE IS, BY FAR, WORSE.
IT'S WORSE THAN THIS?
OKAY, LET'S GO TAKE A LOOK.
THIS IS WHERE WE FIRST KNEW
THAT WE REALLY HAD SOMETHING UNUSUAL FOR US TO WORK WITH.
IT WAS JUST A CARPET OF RAT DROPPINGS.
WE'VE USED CLOSE TO 75 TRAPS.
AFTER WE CAUGHT A FEW OF THESE,
THEY BECAME SO USED TO THESE, THEY WERE JUST POPPING THESE.
EVERY TRAP THAT I HAD AT THE END,
THEY WERE POPPING, SETTING THEM OFF THEMSELVES
AND TAKING THE FOOD.
LET ME REMIND YOU,
THIS IS ENOUGH TO BREAK YOUR FINGER.
OH! [BLEEP]
RODENTS BECOME WHAT WE LIKE TO CALL TRAP SHY.
AFTER THEY'VE BEEN EXPOSED
TO SOMEBODY TRYING TO CATCH THEM WITH TRAPS,
THEY BECOME VERY INTELLIGENT AND SET THOSE TRAPS OFF
TO BE ABLE TO GET THE BAIT WITHOUT BEING CAPTURED.
THIS IS THE SIZE
OF THE SMALL ONES THAT WE'RE CATCHING IN HERE.
Tony: WHOA.
Mark: THAT'S NOT A BAD SIZE.
THAT'S A SMALL ONE?
THAT IS A SMALL ONE.
SO, I GOT ONE GOOD QUESTION FOR YOU, DAN.
SURE.
I'VE GOT ONE, THANK YOU.
[ LAUGHTER ]
ONCE YOU GET THIS THING CLEANED UP,
WE CAN COME IN, AND I CAN GUARANTEE YOU,
THERE WILL NOT BE ANY RODENTS HERE.
UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, WE'RE ALMOST AT A STANDSTILL.
Narrator: AS THE BAD NEWS ABOUT THEIR PROPERTY
CONTINUES TO POUR IN,
THE GORE BROTHERS FINALLY GET THEIR CHANCE
TO CONFRONT MICHELLE WHEN SHE ARRIVES AT THE HOUSE.
HI, MARK.
THIS IS TONY.
Tony: I'VE NEVER MET MICHELLE BEFORE TODAY.
SHE'S HAD LOTS OF TIME TO GET IT CLEANED UP,
AND I WANT HER TO KNOW
THAT IT HAD TO GET DONE RIGHT AWAY.
WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TIMELINE LEFT.
SHE NEEDED TO GET ON IT,
AND WE NEED TO DEAL WITH IT RIGHT AWAY.
WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE, IT'S OUR HOUSE, OUR STUFF NOW.
Mark: SO, YEAH, WE WENT THROUGH YOUR HOUSE TODAY.
UH-HUH.
WE'RE KIND OF SURPRISED.
BAD.
YEAH, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REALIZE THAT, BUT IT'S --
THAT'S NOT SAFE TO BE LIVING THERE.
[ RUSTLING ]
Tony: AS WE WERE TALKING TO MICHELLE,
A LITTLE RUSTLING STARTED HAPPENING
IN THE TREES NEXT TO US, AND GUESS WHAT?
IT WAS ANOTHER BIG, GIANT RAT RUNNING AROUND.
OH! OH, IT'S A MOUSIE! [ LAUGHS ]
[ LAUGHS, SCREAMS ]
THERE'S ONE HERE, RIGHT THERE!
RIGHT THERE! WHOA!
[ LAUGHS ]
THAT ONE'S A LITTLE SMALLER.
THAT'S NOT A MOUSE. HOW DO YOU CALL THAT?
Day: IT'S A RAT.
THEY'VE BEEN IN THIS HOUSE FOR CLOSE TO TWO YEARS,
AND SOME OF THEM ARE HUGE.
I HAVE A FEELING MICHELLE KNOWS
THAT THESE LITTLE "MICIES," AS SHE CALLS THEM,
RATS HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME,
AND SHE'S DEALT WITH THIS BEFORE.
IT'S NOT A CUTE, LITTLE MOUSE.
THIS ISN'T SOMETHING YOU FIND IN DISNEYLAND.
THIS IS A RAT. THIS DOES HARM.
MY CONCERN FOR YOU, MICHELLE, IS THEY HAVE NO BLADDER.
SO WHEREVER THEY GO, THEY PEE,
AND SO THIS PEE GETS IN ALL THE CLOTHING,
GETS IN ALL THE FOOD, AND YOU CAN'T SEE IT.
BUT SMELL REALLY BAD, THOUGH.
IT WILL SMELL BAD, BUT WORSE THAN THAT,
IT GETS INSIDE OF YOUR BODY AND CAN MAKE YOU ILL,
AND IT COULD PUT YOU IN THE HOSPITAL AND EVEN KILL YOU.
NO GOOD.
AND SO, THIS PLACE HAS GOT TO BE CLEANED UP,
AND YOU NEED NEW THINGS.
ALL THE ITEMS ARE SOAKED IN RODENT URINE.
THIS HAS TO BE CLEANED UP FOR HER HEALTH
AND FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S HEALTH.
THIS IS GONNA BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT,
BUT IT HAS TO BE DONE.
[ SNIFFLES ]
Michelle: MICHELLE?
HELLO? WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?
YOU JUST LOST YOUR HOUSE.
YOU'RE HOMELESS NOW. YOU DON'T HAVE A HOME ANYMORE.
Narrator: AFTER FAILING TO PAY ALMOST $20,000 IN BACK TAXES,
56-YEAR-OLD COMPULSIVE HOARDER MICHELLE
LOST HER HOME TO THE CITY.
NOW SHE HAS ONE FINAL CHANCE TO CLEAR HER BELONGINGS OUT
BEFORE THE GORE BROTHERS THROW THEM ALL AWAY.
LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST DR. BECKY BEATON
SPECIALIZES IN COMPULSIVE HOARDING
AND HAS AGREED TO MEET WITH MICHELLE
IN AN EFFORT TO PREPARE HER
FOR THE MASSIVE CLEANOUT JUST 24 HOURS AWAY.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING IN AND HAVING A LOOK.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT THAT?
A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS.
THAT'S OKAY.
IT'S REALLY UNDERSTANDABLE TO BE NERVOUS.
I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW, I'M NOT GONNA JUDGE YOU FOR IT.
HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN GOING ON, THOUGH,
JUST TO KIND OF GET AN IDEA?
WELL, JUST A YEAR AND A HALF.
A YEAR AND A HALF?
SO, IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD
AND HAVE A LOOK AROUND,
AND THEN I'LL COME BACK OUT, AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT.
SOUNDS GOOD.
Beaton: AS SOON AS I WALKED AROUND THE SIDE OF MICHELLE'S HOME,
I STARTED TO SMELL IT.
AND THE SECOND I POKED MY HEAD INTO MICHELLE'S HOME,
I WAS REALLY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY.
I KNEW THERE WERE RATS EVERYWHERE,
HUGE RATS,
AND IT WAS VERY, VERY DANGEROUS.
HEY, MICHELLE.
Narrator: BUT JUST A GLIMPSE INSIDE OF MICHELLE'S HOME
IS ENOUGH FOR DR. BEATON TO REALIZE
THE SEVERITY OF THIS CASE.
I CAN'T IMAGINE YOU ACTUALLY LIVING IN THERE,
IN THAT CONDITION.
I MEAN, WHEN THE CONDITIONS ARE THAT UNSANITARY,
I THINK OF DEPRESSION, OF JUST NOT CARING ANYMORE.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO ME.
I DID REALIZE I LET IT GO FOR SO LONG.
MM-HMM.
AND YOU SAID TO ME EARLIER
THAT YOU FELT LIKE IT'S BEEN GOING ON
A YEAR AND A HALF OR TWO YEARS.
AND I -- I'M CONCERNED THAT IT'S BEEN GOING ON LONGER.
I MEAN, IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE 8, 10 YEARS, MINIMUM.
NO. [ CLEARS THROAT ] NO.
IS THERE PART OF YOU THAT DOESN'T WANT ME TO KNOW
HOW LONG YOU WERE LIVING LIKE THAT?
NO. I TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
ONE INDICATOR THAT MICHELLE'S HOARDING
HAS BEEN GOING ON A LONG TIME
IS HOW ESTRANGED EVERYONE IS IN HER LIFE.
HER CHILDREN, HER HUSBAND, HER NEIGHBORS.
PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH MICHELLE.
YOUR HUSBAND LEFT.
YOUR KIDS AREN'T REALLY HELPING OUT,
AND I'M FEELING LIKE THE HOARD
PROBABLY PUSHED SOME OF THEM AWAY.
YES. AGREE.
YOU'VE LOST YOUR HOME, AND YOU'VE PAID A HUGE PRICE
TO HANG ON TO ALL OF THESE THINGS.
I REALIZE IT, AND I'M READY TO LET IT GO.
I DETERMINED TO LET IT GO.
I'LL DO WHATEVER I DO TO GET THE HOUSE BACK.
ARE YOU WILLING TO PUT THAT TO THE TEST A LITTLE BIT?
YES.
MICHELLE TOLD ME THAT SHE WAS WILLING
TO LET MOST THINGS GO IN HER HOME,
BUT I WANTED TO TEST HER.
SO I CHOSE TO HAVE MICHELLE BRING LAW BOOKS OUT OF THE HOME
BECAUSE SHE SAID SHE WAS VERY ATTACHED TO THEM,
AND I WANTED TO CHALLENGE HER ATTACHMENT ISSUES.
TELL ME WHY THESE LAW BOOKS ARE SO SPECIAL TO YOU.
YOU SPENT 10 YEARS IN LAW SCHOOL?
YES.
OKAY.
SO, LOOKING AT THEM RIGHT HERE, THE CONDITION OF THEM,
DO THEY STILL LOOK VIABLE TO YOU?
UNDER THE COVER, THEY'RE STILL READABLE.
THESE ARE COVERED IN RAT FECES AND URINE.
I CAN CUT OFF THE COVER. I DON'T NEED A COVER.
I JUST NEED THE INSIDE WORD.
HOW OFTEN ARE YOU REFERENCING THESE LAW BOOKS?
SO, YOU'RE RESEARCHING CASES ACTIVELY NOW?
UH...
THE TYPE OF HOARDER MICHELLE IS HAS TO DO WITH HER IDENTITY.
SHE HOARDS ITEMS THAT SHE FEELS ARE RELATED
TO HER VARIOUS SKILLS AND SCHOLARLY PURSUITS.
SHE HAS PIANOS BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO BE A PIANIST.
SHE'S GOT LAW BOOKS 'CAUSE SHE WANTS TO BE AN ATTORNEY.
ALL THOSE THINGS ARE THESE SORT OF FALSE IDENTITIES
OF WHO SHE REALLY WANTS TO BE, BUT HAS NEVER ACHIEVED.
MICHELLE, THIS IS A HEALTH HAZARD.
LOOK AT THIS.
I CAN CUT A PAGE OFF, OR I CAN USE THIS.
THERE'S URINE ALL DOWN THE SIDE OF IT.
LOOK, I MEAN, YOU'RE PULLING POOP OFF OF IT RIGHT NOW.
YOU'RE PULLING POOP OFF OF THE FAMILY LAW BOOK.
THAT'S HOARDING. THAT IS ABSOLUTE HOARDING.
IT'S LIKE AN ADDICT.
IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.
THAT IS ABSOLUTE HOARDING MENTALITY.
UNTIL YOU REALIZE YOUR HOARDING MENTALITY,
IT'S NOT GONNA GET ANY BETTER.
I KNOW YOU'RE ATTACHED TO THESE ITEMS,
BUT THAT'S WHAT HOARDING IS ABOUT,
IS BEING ATTACHED TO THE POINT
OF CAUSING DETRIMENT TO YOURSELF.
CHOOSING THINGS LIKE THIS
IS WHY YOU HAVE A HOUSE THAT IS NO LONGER YOURS,
MM-HMM.
...WHY YOUR KIDS AREN'T HERE HELPING.
I UNDERSTAND THAT.
IT'S BY CHOOSING THINGS
THAT ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE BIGGER PICTURE.
MICHELLE KNEW ON A DEEP LEVEL
THAT SHE HAD TO LET THOSE LAW BOOKS GO.
THAT IS THE STRUGGLE OF A HOARDER.
AND YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY IN MICHELLE'S CASE,
THIS IS HER IDENTITY.
SHE'S HAVING TO LET GO OF HER IDENTITY.
WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?
[ SNIFFLES ]
[ BREATHING SHAKILY ]
[ SNIFFLES ]
AND IT'S DIFFICULT, YOU KNOW?
YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE ONE OR ANOTHER.
I KNOW IT IS. I KNOW IT IS.
I AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT MICHELLE MOVING FORWARD
AFTER WORKING WITH HER TODAY
BECAUSE SHE IS IN SOMEWHAT OF A FANTASY LAND.
SHE HAS NO COGNITIVE GRASP OF HOW BAD THIS IS,
HOW MUCH OF A HOARDER SHE IS,
AND HOW DIFFICULT IT'S GONNA BE FOR HER TO LET ANYTHING GO.
[ TRUCK BEEPING ]
Narrator: AS A TEAM OF PROFESSIONAL HAULERS
DESCENDS ON MICHELLE'S HOME,
SHE KNOWS THAT TODAY MARKS HER LAST CHANCE
TO SALVAGE THE BELONGINGS THAT REMAIN INSIDE.
Beaton: HAULING EVERYTHING AWAY IN ONE DAY
IS NOT THE MOST THERAPEUTIC APPROACH FOR ANY HOARDER,
BUT IF MICHELLE DOESN'T LET THESE ITEMS GO,
THEN THE GORE BROTHERS ARE GONNA DO IT FOR HER,
AND THAT'S MORE TRAUMATIC.
SO, I'M REBECCA ROSS. I'M AN ORGANIZER, AND...
Narrator: PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER REBECCA ROSS IS ON HAND
TO LEAD THE TEAM THROUGH WHAT COULD BE A DANGEROUS JOB.
WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF THINGS WE WANT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT.
WEIL'S DISEASE, WHICH COMES
FROM GETTING IN OUR NOSES, OUR EYES, MUCUS,
AND THIS WILL MAKE US SICK.
WE WANT TO PROTECT OUR EYES, OUR NOSE, BREATHING.
WHEN WE PUT OUR MASK ON, PLEASE MAKE SURE THEY'RE TIGHT.
LAST THING, I BELIEVE THERE ARE A FEW EXTREMELY --
LARGER THAN I THINK MOST OF US HAVE SEEN --
RODENTS INSIDE OF THERE.
BE PREPARED FOR THAT.
YOU CAN DO THIS JOB 10 MILLION TIMES
AND NEVER GET ANYTHING.
THAT ONE TIME IS WHERE YOU'RE GONNA WISH
THAT YOU REALLY TOOK THE EXTRA PRECAUTION.
Tony: AFTER HEARING WHAT DENNIS HAD TO SAY, IT BLEW ME AWAY
'CAUSE MICHELLE WAS GOING IN THERE DAY IN AND DAY OUT
AND JUST CRAWLING AROUND THERE LIKE IT WAS NOTHING.
AND HAVING A WHOLE TEAM GO IN THERE
WAS A LITTLE SCARY BECAUSE, OBVIOUSLY,
WE DON'T WANT ANYONE TO GET SICK.
Narrator: AND IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG
FOR THE FIRST RAT OF THE DAY TO DISRUPT THINGS.
LITTLE MOUSIE.
Michelle: OH, HE -- HE CATCH ONE, HE FIND ONE.
[ SCREAMS ]
Man: OH, THERE GOES ONE!
IT WENT OVER THERE!
Sharon: AS SOON AS THE CLEANING CREW SHOW UP TO THE HOUSE,
MY CURIOSITY -- WHAT ALL SHE HAD IN THERE WAS JUST KILLING ME,
SO I HAD TO WATCH EVERYTHING THAT WAS COMING OUT.
HOLY COW. THIS THING'S HEAVY.
OH, GEEZ.
THAT'S A LITTLE HEAVY.
THAT'S WHY IT'S STILL SITTING HERE.
YEAH. [ LAUGHS ] I THINK SO, EH?
[ GRUNTS ]
NO, IT'S NOT MOVING.
Michelle: THEY SOMETIMES HAVE A YEAR ON IT,
LIKE 1912 OR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW?
IT'S 1843.
1843! IT'S ANTIQUE!
IT'S ANTIQUE.
THAT WOULD HAVE HELPED, YEAH.
WHAT'S UNDER HERE, MICHELLE?
THAT ONE WE KEEP.
THIS ONE'S A GOOD ONE, YOU THINK?
UH-HUH, YEAH.
OH, THE --
OH, SHE'S SHOT.
OH, WHAT A JOB, EH?
[ LAUGHS ] WOW.
I'M GONNA SLEEP GOOD TONIGHT.
YOU THINK SO, EH?
Day: A NEST WAS FOUND OF A FEW BABY RATS.
IN APPROXIMATELY THREE TO FOUR WEEKS,
THEY'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO HAVE
ANYWHERE FROM FOUR TO SIX BABIES AND SO ON AND SO ON.
YOUR KIDS HAVE GROWN UP AND LEFT HOME, RIGHT?
YEAH, AND --
WHY, PERHAPS, DO WE NEED THESE?
IT'S LIKE A U.S. HISTORY THING,
AND I WANT TO LEARN AND ALL.
DO YOU KNOW WHO --
CAN YOU LEARN IT FROM ONE? PARE IT DOWN.
IF I GIVE THIS ALL AWAY, AND THEN WHEN HOLIDAY COME,
DO I HAVE TO SPEND MONEY AND BUY IT,
OR I CAN JUST USE WHAT I HAVE?
SO RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE LIVING AT A HOTEL, RIGHT?
MM-HMM.
AND DO YOU HAVE ROOM
TO TAKE THESE THINGS BACK WITH YOU?
YES.
OH! [ GRUNTS ]
Tony: ALL MICHELLE'S DEBRIS WAS ALL STACKED ON TOP OF ITSELF,
SO THE CLOTHING AND THE FOOD AND EVERYTHING
WAS KIND OF LIKE INTERTWINED,
SO WE COULDN'T JUST SHOVEL IT OR RAKE IT OUT.
A LOT OF IT, WE JUST HAD TO GRAB WITH OUR HANDS AND PULL OUT
AND THROW IN THE GARBAGE CAN.
OH!
2 1/2 HOURS IN, AND WE JUST BARELY MADE A DENT IN THE HOUSE.
SO, IT'S A BIG JOB.
THIS HAS BEEN PRETTY ROUGH. I'M SORE.
I'M GETTING TOO OLD FOR THIS.
Narrator: AS THE HAULERS CONTINUE TO CLEAR THE HOUSE,
EXTERMINATOR DENNIS DAY REMAINS FOCUSED
ON ELIMINATING THE RAT INFESTATION.
Day: WE PULLED OUT BIG RATS, SMALL RATS, MEDIUM-SIZED RATS,
SPIDERS, AND A BEVY OF OTHER LITTLE FLYING CREATURES.
AND, OF COURSE, AN OPOSSUM.
Michelle: THIS IS ALL THE KEEPER.
LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THESE TWO OBJECTS.
ONE OF THEM IS PROBABLY
LESS VALUABLE TO YOU THAN THE OTHER.
UH-HUH.
SO, WHY DON'T YOU TELL US
HOW YOU'RE GOING TO PICK BETWEEN THEM?
YOU ARE.
I LIKE BOTH OF THEM.
I DON'T WANT TO PICK ANY OF THEM.
THAT'S A GOOD CHAIR. WHY THEY THROW IT AWAY?
Ross: MICHELLE, AT THIS POINT, IS BASICALLY HOMELESS.
SO WHAT I'M SEEING TODAY IS A REAL DISCONNECT.
SHE DOES NOT QUITE GET THAT IT ISN'T STILL HER HOUSE.
ALL RIGHT.
SO, WE'VE GOT 18 NOTEBOOKS.
OKAY.
ARE YOU GONNA USE ALL 18?
OH, YEAH. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM.
COULD WE DONATE THEM TO SOMEBODY?
NO, I'M USING IT. I'M IN SCHOOL.
YOU'RE ENROLLED RIGHT NOW IN SCHOOL?
AND HOW MANY OF THOSE CAN YOU USE AT ONE TIME?
THEY ARE LINERS.
THERE'S FIVE OF THESE.
IT MAKES SENSE TO KEEP ONE OR TWO,
BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE --
YOU DON'T HAVE TO THROW THEM AWAY.
WE CAN DONATE THEM.
NO, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO
IS THINK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE GONNA KEEP.
THAT'S WHY I WAS GONNA PUT THESE IN HERE.
I THINK AT THIS PACE, IT WOULD TAKE MAYBE TWO OR THREE MIRACLES
TO REALLY CLEAR THE HOUSE.
MY MUSIC BOOK, RIGHT THERE!
MOVIE MUSIC BOOK RIGHT THERE!
Ross: HANG ON.
RIGHT THERE. MUSIC!
NOW, HANG ON. TAKE A DEEP BREATH.
Narrator: AS MICHELLE CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE TO GET RID OF THINGS,
THE CREW IS TRYING TO CLEAR OUT
AS MUCH OF THE HOUSE AS POSSIBLE.
BY DAY'S END, THEY'VE MANAGED TO FILL
SIX DUMPSTERS WORTH OF CLUTTER AND GARBAGE.
Sharon: I COULDN'T BELIEVE, IT WAS TRUCKLOAD
AFTER TRUCKLOAD AFTER TRUCKLOAD,
AND THERE WAS STILL THIS HUGE MOUND OF DEBRIS IN THERE.
MY GOODNESS, HOW MUCH IS THIS GONNA TAKE?
Ross: THE STATE THAT IT'S IN RIGHT NOW,
AND WE ARE ON THE END OF THE DAY,
WE NEED THREE MORE DAYS LIKE TODAY.
BYE, DUMPSTER! BYE-BYE!
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
Narrator: TWO MONTHS HAVE PASSED SINCE HAUL AWAY DAY,
AND THE GORE BROTHERS MIGHT FINALLY BEGIN
TO GET A RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT.
TABLE.
I'LL TAKE THE TABLE.
FINAL FEW TOUCHES.
Tony: LET'S PUT THAT ON THE FIREPLACE.
YEAH, OKAY.
IS THAT CENTERED?
LITTLE TO YOUR RIGHT.
YEAH, GOOD.
OKAY, RIGHT ON.
BUT RATHER THAN RENT THE HOME OUT,
THE GORE BROTHERS HAD ANOTHER IDEA.
Mark: AFTER THE HAUL AWAY DAY, I DISCUSSED IT WITH TONY,
AND WE BOTH FELT, WE CAN'T LEAVE HER IN THIS SITUATION.
WE JUST HAVE TO HELP HER FINISH CLEANING THE HOUSE UP,
AND THEN SHE CAN BUY IT BACK
AND HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO LIVE A MORE NORMAL LIFE.
Narrator: SO AFTER SUCCESSFULLY SECURING A LOAN,
MICHELLE WAS ABLE TO BUY BACK HER HOME
AT THE SAME PRICE THE GORE BROTHERS PAID FOR IT.
AND TODAY, SHE'S RETURNED TO RECLAIM HER KEYS.
Mark: SO, I'M SIGNING TODAY, AND THAT'S IT.
Tony: THE HOUSE IS YOURS.
YEAH. SHE'S YOUR HOUSE.
SO, KEEP IT CLEAN.
YOU PROMISE, RIGHT?
I PROMISE.
REST OF MY LIFE.
CHECK ON ME, CHECK ON ME ANY TIME, ANY DAY.
WE'LL BE CHECKING ON YOU.
Mark: SO, YOU WANT TO COME IN AND SEE HOW IT LOOKS?
YES, I'M VERY EXCITED.
I'M VERY EXCITED.
YEAH, I'M READY.
OKAY, CLOSE YOUR EYES.
COME ON IN.
KEEP THOSE EYES -- NO LOOKING.
COME RIGHT IN HERE.
OKAY, ARE YOU READY?
YEAH.
TAKE A LOOK.
WOW!
WE BROUGHT SOME SOFAS AND SOME STUFF IN FOR YOU.
ALL NEW, ALL LEATHER!
YEAH, LEATHER, YEAH.
KEEP IT NICE AND CLEAN THAT WAY.
OH, THAT WAS SO PRETTY.
YOU CAN USE THE FIREPLACE NOW.
OH!
WOW!
I SEE AN ORGAN!
YEAH.
OH, WOW! THAT'S COOL!
YAY!
[ GASPS ]
I WAS SHOCKED. OVERWHELMING.
I JUST -- OH, WOW.
THIS IS AWESOME.
I GET ALL EXCITED.
I CAN JUMP UP AND DOWN, YOU KNOW?
I WAS SO HAPPY.
SO, ARE YOU READY?
OKAY.
TAKE A LOOK.
WHOA!
THAT'S WONDERFUL!
IT'S CLEAN!
YES!
OKAY, COME ON.
LET'S GO CHECK IT OUT. COME ON IN.
CHECK IT OUT.
OOH!
IT'S ALL CLEANED UP. LOOK AT THE FLOORING.
OH, THIS IS NEW!
NEW CARPET.
AND BATHROOM. WHOO!
BEAUTIFUL.
Mark: IT'S PRETTY AMAZING, THE DIFFERENCE.
IT WAS SO DEEP IN GARBAGE,
AND NOW IT'S CLEAN, AND YOU CAN WALK AROUND.
COME AND CHECK OUT THE REST.
Michelle: YEAH!
OOH!
YOU READY FOR THIS?
COME ON IN!
WHOA!
YAY! YAY! I CAN SLEEP HERE!
NO JUMP ON THE BED!
OH, WOW!
YAY!
OH!
OH, SO COMFORTABLE.
[ SIGHS ]
FEELS GOOD TO BE LYING HERE, RIGHT?
YEAH.
TONY, YOU WANT TO GET IN HERE?
OKAY, SURE, YEAH.
Michelle: COME ON, JUMP IN!
YOU'RE MY BROTHERS!
[ GRUNTS ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
WOW, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.
SO BEAUTIFUL.
Mark: I THINK TO GIVE SOMEBODY'S LIFE BACK
IS KIND OF IMPORTANT.
I MEAN, YOU CAN MAKE MONEY AND DO ALL THAT,
BUT THAT'S NOT EVERYTHING, RIGHT?
SO HOPEFULLY, SHE CAN HAVE HER KIDS COME BACK
AND HER HUSBAND AND EVERYBODY,
AND HOPEFULLY IT'LL HELP UNITE THE FAMILY.
WE'RE GONNA COME BY.
YEAH, CHECK ON ME ANY TIME.
IT'S YOUR HOUSE NOW, RIGHT?
IT'S YOUR HOUSE, TOO.
SO, KEEP IT. KEEP IT, THOUGH.
NOW YOU GOT A CLEAN SLATE, RIGHT?
SO YOU CAN KEEP IT CLEAN FROM NOW ON.
Thank you.
THANK THE GORE BROTHERS THAT GAVE ME THIS SECOND CHANCE.
YEAH!
THIS IS, LIKE, YES!
YES!
I'M SO EXCITED, AND I'M SO HAPPY.
[ HUMMING ]