His brother had recently divorced and was on Social Security only.

We only asked that he not smoke inside and keep it clean, and we didnt charge rent.

In the beginning, he kept it immaculate.

A man looks upset while looking out the window of his home.

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In the last three years, his health began to decline.

Last week, he was hospitalized for COVID pneumonia and was unresponsive.

We needed to find his meds for the hospital doctor.

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The house was a disaster!

Two rooms were blocked off, and Im scared to look.

The bathroom was black, too.

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Needless to say, there are spider webs and thick dust throughout the place.

If and when hes released, there is no way he can return home.

The place is probably cleanable, but its going to take weeks.

Im not sure where to start.

Should we charge my brother-in-law for cleaning?

We didnt have a lease since he wasnt paying.

We cant afford to pay someone ourselves.

Hes in poor health.

Presumably, hes still living off his Social Security.

Im guessing he became overwhelmed with upkeep as his health declined.

Perhaps he was too embarrassed to ask for help.

Side note: If you relate to this situation, you might benefit from some extra cash.

A good first step would be to meet with a social worker, which most hospitals have on staff.

If necessary, they can also help your brother-in-law apply for Medicaid, sinceMedicaredoesnt cover long-term care.

No Interest Til Almost 2027?

The services these groups offer vary widely, but some offer cleanup help.

I have no idea what the property could be worth if it were in decent condition.

Sacrificing a couple of weeks could have a big payoff if youre eventually able to sell this home.

But youre telling the buyer that what they see is what they get.

Often, such listings require a cash buyer.

Financing is tough to obtain when a home requires extensive repairs.

However, many investors are all too eager to scoop up cheap properties and flip them.

Id only go this route if youre certain you cant afford to make the house inhabitable again.

Cleaning up the mess may seem overwhelming right now.

Robin Hartill is a certified financial planner and a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder.

Probably not as good as youd like.

It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.

But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?

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