When Brandy Hagewood inherited her grandmother's house, a property overwhelmed by years of hoarding, she knew she was facing an uphill battle. The house, located in Angola, Indiana, was not just a building; it was a repository of memories, a testament to her grandmother's life, and a project that would demand more than just time and effort—it would require a significant financial investment.

The cost of the monumental clean-up quickly depleted Brandy's funds, and the emotional toll of managing the grief of losing her beloved grandmother added to the challenge. But in a heartwarming turn of events, strangers from around the world have stepped in to lend a helping hand.

A GoFundMe campaign set up by Brandy, an American mum, has seen contributions pouring in from her social media followers, who have been touched by her story and her dedication to preserving her family's legacy. The funds raised have been crucial in covering the expenses for much-needed dumpsters and other cleaning supplies.

Brandy bought her grandma's house a year before her grandma passed away. Credit: @brandyhagewood / TikTok

Brandy's journey has been documented on her TikTok account – @brandyhagewood – where she shares the intricate process of cleaning the hoarded house, navigates the legalities involved, and offers advice to others who may find themselves in a similar situation. Her candid videos have not only garnered a following of over 45,700 people but have also become a source of income, as she has monetized her account to support the project.

The decision to buy the property for $US20,000 ($AU30,000) was driven by Brandy's determination to prevent it from being seized by the state when her grandmother went into care. Under Indiana’s Medicaid program, an individual's assets, including their home, are sold to fund their stay in a state-funded nursing home. Brandy, who grew up in the house her grandmother owned for 50 years, was resolute in her decision to keep it within the family.

The house, which Brandy intends to demolish once it has been cleared, is in a state of disrepair. During the clean-up, Brandy even fell through the deck, a stark reminder of the property's poor condition. She reflects on the transformation of the home, which began to deteriorate after her grandmother became a 'shopaholic' following her husband's death in 2010.

Brandy's TikTok videos often showcase the emotional rollercoaster of sifting through the remnants of her childhood and her grandmother's life. She has been open about the challenges of deciding what to keep, clean, donate, or discard, and the impossibility of saving everything from the hoarded house. With only a car to transport items and the need to disinfect many of them at her own house, located about 20 minutes away, the task is indeed colossal.

The story of the house and its eventual sale, which fetched a staggering $2.35 million, is a testament to the family's hard work in clearing out much of the contents before the auction. It's a story that has resonated with many, leading to an outpouring of support and generosity from complete strangers.

Brandy has expressed her gratitude to her followers for their contributions and support, which have made the overwhelming task of clearing out the hoarded house a little more manageable. Her experience has not only highlighted the complexities of dealing with hoarding as an illness but has also brought to light the kindness and compassion that can be found within the online community.

You can watch Brandy's video below:

Credit: @brandyhagewood / TikTok​

Key Takeaways

• Strangers have donated to assist Brandy Hagewood, who purchased her grandmother's hoarded house for $AU30,000.
• Hagewood has used a GoFundMe and her TikTok account to fund the significant clean-up efforts and document the process.
• The property bought in Angola, Indiana, was to prevent it from being seized by the state due to Medicaid regulations.
• Hagewood has spoken on TikTok about the challenges of dealing with a hoarder’s home and the emotional toll of sorting through her grandmother’s possessions.

Members, have you ever faced a similar challenge, or do you know someone who has? The journey of dealing with a loved one's possessions can be a deeply personal and emotional one. We invite you to share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below. How have you navigated such a situation, and what advice would you give to others? Let's open up the conversation and support each other through these tough but often necessary life events.

 

[duckiedoodle]

Hi this story is about me, I’d like to clear some things up. I did help my grandma clean, but hoarding is a mental illness and you can’t force people to throw things away, I encourage you to look at my TikTok or other sources that talk about how difficult it is to force a hoarder to declutter. My grandma was a very strong independent woman. What the article fails to mention is the fact that she bought a tiny home on the same property when the house became unlivable.

Thank you for the clarification, Brandy. I am sorry your grandmother was unwell and you had to deal with it.

 

[Littleboy8]

Thank you for the clarification, Brandy. I am sorry your grandmother was unwell and you had to deal with it.

Just goes to show don’t believe everything you read on here or any where doesn’t it.

 

[Jumping Jack Flash]

Hoarding is a mental illness, I didn’t LET her live like this, what the article fails to mention is the fact that when the house became unlivable, she was moved into a tiny home. You can’t force a competent independent person to do things they don’t want or throw things away. I helped clean multiple times, but the house would end up the same. I encourage you to do a bit of research on hoarding, often times there isn’t a lot you can do.

Perhaps some folk ought to look at the program called 'Hoarders' - very difficult and equally frustrating, especially when the hoarder is not willing to accept change .... really quite sad!