Foreclosed Home Furniture

[threecrazykids]

Just a random question I guess. When a company comes in and does a clean out on a foreclosed home (one that has been abandoned and is being cleaned out by a company, say) are you able to go to the house while they are cleaning and take items that they are putting into the dumpsters?

I've seen so many videos online and I know Lisa Ling did a special showing all the things people leave behind...so sad. I know there is entirely too many homes for these companies to salvage everything as they say that the charitable organization trucks don't show up, etc. so it all just goes to the landfill.

I'm just curious...if I am driving by and see one of these companies trashing everything am I able to take salvage any of these items?

Please don't flame, I know these situations are sad, but as one guy said in the video...these people leave behind what they either CAN'T or DON'T WANT to take, it's not like they are given hours...some people just have to take what they are able to which sometimes is just bare necessities.

Has anyone been able to salvage items like this?

 

[pyrxtc]

well, my brother was one of those people that cleaned out foreclosed homes. he took everything that was worth anything and sold it or gave it to friends. A few things he put out by the road (brand new TV in box but small screen large back) but most he takes with him and finds homes for or sells. He does a lot of work cleaning it up and clearing it out. I'm sure if they put something by the road it is for taking. If it's in the dumpster ... who knows ? Knock on the door and ask.

 

[threecrazykids]

well, my brother was one of those people that cleaned out foreclosed homes. he took everything that was worth anything and sold it or gave it to friends. A few things he put out by the road (brand new TV in box but small screen large back) but most he takes with him and finds homes for or sells. He does a lot of work cleaning it up and clearing it out. I'm sure if they put something by the road it is for taking. If it's in the dumpster ... who knows ? Knock on the door and ask.

I guess I was thinking more AS they were cleaning things out. I guess I was just kind of surprised that on the video's I've seen that there aren't hoards of people standing around taking things out of these dumpsters as they are cleaning the house out.

The houses they showed in Arizona were BEAUTIFUL homes and the furniture they were taking out they were just throwing into dumpsters and breaking end tables/wall hangings etc. These were VERY nice items. As they were taking things out the men were saying they don't have time to do anything with it but take it to the dump because they had like 5-6 houses a day they are contracted to clean out. Such a shame all of these items are filling the landfill.

 

[punkin]

I guess I was thinking more AS they were cleaning things out. I guess I was just kind of surprised that on the video's I've seen that there aren't hoards of people standing around taking things out of these dumpsters as they are cleaning the house out.

The houses they showed in Arizona were BEAUTIFUL homes and the furniture they were taking out they were just throwing into dumpsters and breaking end tables/wall hangings etc. These were VERY nice items. As they were taking things out the men were saying they don't have time to do anything with it but take it to the dump because they had like 5-6 houses a day they are contracted to clean out. Such a shame all of these items are filling the landfill.

Apparently the housing crisis has caused a loss in wealth of about $6 trillion. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_crisis_of_2007–2010
A few pieces of good furniture in the trash is a small, minuscule problem in comparison.

 

[threecrazykids]

Apparently the housing crisis has caused a loss in wealth of about $6 trillion. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_crisis_of_2007–2010
A few pieces of good furniture in the trash is a small, minuscule problem in comparison.

It's so terribly sad. But from what I'm seeing/reading it's not "just a few pieces of good furniture in the trash"...we're talking THOUSANDS of homes that were left FULL of all of these peoples furnishings, personal items etc. Not just a few pieces of scrap furniture.
Here is the clip I'm talking about...

http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Lisa-Ling-Investigates-Foreclosed-Homes


I would have thought some of these charitible organizations or shelter type places could have at least benefited....let alone, if you're going to take it to the dump then why not Goodwill or Salvation Army or something? I guess I just don't understand that thought process...why make a bad situation worse when there has to be some sort of alternative to taking it all to the dump.