- [mike] I've seen hoarders before
But I've not seen anything like this.
(whistle blowing)
- Andy is living with me.
- You haven't seen anything.
- Oh my gosh.
You don't have any hoarding behaviors?
- No, I just like collecting stuff.
- I'm thinking it all ought to go.
- Is that what you think?
- [robin] andy is ready to shut this whole project down.
- Go home, gabe.
- We have two crews, work with us.
I'm losing my patience.
- Then you can go.
- You're just not listening.
- All right then go then.
- Andy got the gloves on and he's ready to take swings.
Don't talk to me like that.
- I'm tired of hearing that, it's my stuff.
You guys can go home.
Turn off the cameras.
- [brandon] andy. - I'm done.
(pensive music)
(suspenseful music)
(upbeat rock music)
- I'm andy and I'm 68, I'm an entrepreneur
And I like to collect things and sell things.
(wind whooshing)
(upbeat music)
I've been collecting junk going on 20 years.
The property is huge,
The property's probably an acre.
I can rock and roll.
On my property, you'll find most anything you could use.
Got everything from a boat,
To gym equipment, ladders of all sorts, kinds and lengths.
I got fencing material, I got roofing material,
I got tile material.
I got gate stuff, I got screens,
I got nuts and bolts and screws,
And tools of all sorts and kind, mostly yard equipment.
(chainsaw whirring)
I got piles of junk, I got piles of scrap,
I got piles of stuff that needs to get outta here.
What else can I say? I got a pile of (beep).
(wind whooshing)
- I'm mike, and andy is my brother,
(metal clunking)
I would certainly consider my brother
As a...
Extra hoarder.
I've seen hoarders before,
But I've not seen anything like this.
(suspenseful music)
The property is, well it looks like a dump,
A complete dump.
Andy collects anything he could possibly bring home,
Whether it's a stove, or refrigerator,
Or anything people throw away in a dumpster,
From businesses.
- It's exciting to go to these business dumpsters
Because you never know what they're getting rid of.
Look at this, tarpaper.
That's a good deal, patch holes, roofs, insulation.
Who knows what can be in some of them dumpsters.
And it only takes a minute to peek in and see,
And it only takes a minute to get it.
These stuff are over $12 at home depot.
(car engine revving)
- I'm gabe and andy is my uncle.
Andy loves to call himself a junk entrepreneur
And a bunch of other things,
But he's just a hoarder and he's a squatter.
(gentle music)
(whistle blowing)
- [andy] coming, what's up?
- I am louise and I am 93 years old going on 94.
- Can you tip back a little bit? Okay, there you go.
Quit blinking and look towards the door.
Ready?
- [louise] I am andy's mom.
- [andy] I did it. - Good, you got it that time.
- Andy is living with me,
Only because I need help and he's been a huge help to me.
- [andy] all right, next one, ready?
- I got andy there and andy has me
And we're just doing just fine.
- Got enough water?
- [louise] I got some water, thank you.
- Anything else?
- [louise] no.
- He's created an unsafe living environment for her.
She's tripped and fallen multiple times
On the stuff that he's put in the way,
She can't get outta the house.
- What mom has is, she's got a kitchen
And she can go watch tv in the living room
And she can go to the bathroom and her bedroom.
She used to love going on to her carport
And sitting there, but the carport is way too cluttered
And dangerous for her to be on.
- Andy does have too much stuff in the yard.
I think I'm almost afraid to see all
That crap that's back there.
But they told me it is a mess.
- The property has just deteriorated,
On a unmeasurable scale.
(whooshing)
(suspenseful music)
- The city's forced me a couple of times,
To clean up the property and I do my best.
I get it pushed back to the garage,
I get everything trimmed up, painted up
And repaired and everything, I get them to write it off.
And somehow it comes back up,
It's like it's a bad weed or something,
You know, like a dandelion that I can't get rid of.
- The property has not always been like this.
It used to be so amazing, I have so many fond memories,
Of christmases and birthdays,
We would always travel down to grandma's house.
She had a massive game room
With all these old vintage slot machines.
She had pinball machines from the fifties and sixties,
It was a paradise.
There was pool tables, there was a jukebox,
Huge pool, biggest one in the neighborhood in the back.
We thought they must have been bazillionaires you know,
And we just couldn't wait to come to grandma's house,
Cause we just had all these memories of just great times.
(ominous music)
- When he passed away,
I asked andy to come home,
Because I had no one there but myself.
- We started noticing the initial signs of him
Starting to build up stuff, 18 years ago, 17 years ago
And little by little, every time we'd visit,
It would get more and more, more and more,
And as it got astronomical,
The family started drifting away.
The kids didn't want to come and visit grandma anymore
Because it smelled horrible,
There were rats coming through, it was just nasty.
(gentle music)
- I had people that had lost their homes
Or lost their family and I had plenty of room here,
So I was letting them stay.
(water running)
- The people that normally stay with andy,
Are people that kind of grew up in the neighborhood,
And personally I think never really made it on their own
And are just kind of bumming around, you know.
- We worked together on projects
Or jobs outside the property,
But we also went around and salvaged things
And did our scrapping.
(suspenseful music)
We had stuff laying all over, couldn't get rid of it,
Nobody wanted it.
They wouldn't get rid of it, I had throw them out.
I'm stuck with it, I had other people
Come in to help me,
They brought more stuff in, didn't get rid of it.
At the same time, me bringing stuff in,
Not being able to get rid of it,
Just before you knew it, it was outta control.
Half inch and three quarters, I'd get three bucks for that.
- I keep telling him, don't bring that kind of stuff home.
What are you gonna do with it?
- It makes a good variety pack.
You may need two out of the bag, but I get rid of the rest.
- He stores it in the driveway, in the yard there.
So I just hold my tongue,
So I don't get mad or anything
Because he's the only one home with me,
And he does everything for me.
He listens to me and all,
But when it comes to the stuff
That he brings home and everything,
Honestly I think it goes in one ear
And comes out of the other.
(cardboard clanking)
- Ready to go.
(suspenseful music)
- Grandma, unknowingly signed a crazy,
Reverse mortgage deal, many, many years ago.
She only took out maybe 80 grand,
And that mortgage has been piling up,
Month after month with fees and interest
And service fees and other things that we don't even know.
So the service fees have mounted up to $500,000, almost.
Over every single month,
Just $2,000, $3,000 every single month,
And if that is not paid off, the house can be lost.
But also, the terms of reverse mortgage says,
"if it falls into extreme disrepair,
The house gets sold off to them immediately."
The homeowner doesn't have a chance
To remedy the situation, bam,
They're getting their investment back.
- If they took the house,
They would remove my mom from there
And she does not want to go in a home.
She's very stubborn and adamant that way.
Now, if it came to me taking her in,
Of course we would take her in.
- My grandma's wishes were,
That she stay in the home where her family was,
She wants to pass away in her home,
She does not wanna go to a nursing home,
She does not want to go live with other family members.
So we're trying to honor her wish by allowing her
To stay with uncle andy,
But it's no longer safe for her to be there.
- My family, they're always nagging, picking on it,
It's always my fault.
They're not here all the time to see what I do.
They don't know what I do.
They only see the crap that's laying around
And they can't visualize what it was last week
Or the week before that.
But they see the crap is still crap,
They expected to disappear in thin air.
- We've let this slide for way too long,
Perhaps we should have been much more forceful,
But we were honoring our grandma's wishes.
She wanted andy to have the house
And live there with her and help her in her old age.
However, the situations come to a boiling point
And it's no longer safe for her to be there.
- I would like andy to clean up for the safety of my mom.
I would like andy to clean up, that they don't lose the house.
I would like the area to be cleaned up, so nobody gets hurt.
It's a dangerous situation.
- Andy doesn't really have a choice anymore,
He's run out of options, he's used up all his favors
And all his nine lives.
He has to put up or get out.
(sharp violin note)
(intense music)
- I think andy's just a squatter,
Because he's doing the bare minimum to help my grandma out.
And he's created an unsafe environment for her.
She has limited mobility,
It's deteriorated her property down,
To an obscene level, turned it into a dump,
That you can see from outer space.
(suspenseful music)
- Hello, andy?
- Hello.
- Hi. I'm dr. Zasio.
Nice to meet you. - I'd shake your hand,
- Yeah, we'll do it, from afar.
I'm dr. Robin zasio, I'm a licensed clinical psychologist
And I specialize in helping people who are struggling
With hoarding behaviors.
Thank you for having me, I'm here,
To help you beautify your home.
- I could use a little touching.
- Just a little touch.
(suspenseful music)
Where does all this stuff come from?
- Oh, this is all came from jobs,
Or... - Oh,
- Or dumpsters. - Okay.
- Depending on what it is.
- [robin] you brought it here, to sell it?
- [andy] separate. - [robin] separate.
Sell it, categorize it, that kind of thing.
- [andy] yes.
- So if you brought it here to sell it, why isn't it sold?
- Why isn't it sold?
Because I brought too much.
(suspenseful music)
- I think that it's possible,
There could be every single mechanical item
On the planet hoarded on his property.
There's wires, there's nuts,
There's bolts, there's machinery.
(suspenseful music)
There is a little bit of everything
That he has been able to hoard on this home.
Okay, so let's stop here and just take a quick kind
Of look and I gotta soak all this in,
Because just this area is a massive amount,
Then we've got the front on both sides and--
- You haven't seen anything.
- Oh my gosh.
(suspenseful music)
So, andy? - [andy] yes.
- [robin] I specialize in helping people
Who are struggling with hoarding behavior.
- I don't have one.
- [robin] you don't have any hoarding behaviors?
- No, I just like collecting stuff.
- [robin] so you're a collector? - [andy] yes.
- Do you know what the difference is between
A collector and someone who struggles
With hoarding? - Yes, this is hoarding.
- [robin] this is hoarding? - [andy] yes.
- [robin] where's the collector part?
- I do have a problem,
But in the last six months, these piles were twice,
If not three times all through the property.
- I get that you're saying it was even worse,
But it's pretty bad now.
- Yes, but you should have seen it.
This has been going on for 20 years.
- Yeah.
Andy's walking me through the property,
And each time we stop to chat about what we're looking at,
I'm thinking we're at the end, and he says,
"oh no, we're not."
Andy, I am so taken back, I mean, I'm starting to see
That not only this pathway here,
But I see more stuff over there,
Is that your neighbor's yard?
- That's mine.
- [robin] that's your yard?
- It goes back another 200 feet.
There's a shed here, behind that there's a swimming pool
Over 50 by a 100 something.
- Do you use the swimming pool?
- [andy] it is packed, full of stuff, so--
- [robin] so, you can't get in the swimming pool?
- I can, maybe nobody else would want to, but--
- [robin] I believe you can.
- I haven't cleaned it here lately,
But behind the swimming pool,
It's another 50, 60 feet of stuff.
- Stuff, junk?
- You know, it's a long ways to bring
All that stuff back up here.
- [robin] I can't even imagine.
I mean, you're kind of part mule, part human, packrat--
- Part crazy. - Well, I don't know.
You seem pretty lucid to me.
I was nervous just with the first area that I saw,
But now I'm very nervous about how we are going
To tackle this.
- But things I say, just put to the side,
All the things that are put to the side,
I'll think about it and go through that again.
But there's so much--
- We're not gonna have time for that andy.
You've gotta make split decisions.
They've gotta go on the trucks and get outta here.
I mean, it's just gonna be a merry-go-round
With those trucks one by one coming up here.
But there's somebody else that's gonna help you with it.
I'm gonna support you through this process, okay?
I have a little bit of a sense of what's in front of us.
I'd like to go inside and see what we've got.
- Okay. - Okay?
- Let's go. - All right.
(gentle music)
- Mom.
This is dr. Robin, the--
- Dr. Robin?
- Hello! How are you?
- As well as to be expected, I guess.
- Yeah?
So I am here with a crew of people to help andy
Get the yard in order--
- Is there something wrong with him?
- No, we're gonna help him get the yard in order.
- Beautiful.
Hey, what's it gonna cost?
- It's not gonna cost you a thing.
- You gotta be kidding.
- Nope, we're here to help.
- Hey, you got some help, andy.
- About time. - [robin] yeah.
- You're not kidding.
Wow, andy boy, he collects everything,
But he doesn't like to throw anything away.
- Yeah. Yeah.
And we kind of had a little bit of a discussion
About whether or not he collects or whether he hoards.
- Thank you.
- So we're gonna talk a little more about that,
Because if he keeps seeing himself as a collector,
Then he's gonna wanna keep collecting and--
- Oh no, I only collect certain things.
- Okay.
- Better give me your phone number.
(dr. Robin laughs)
- Well, the difference between a collector
And someone who is hoarding is someone who collects
Can display the items, honor the items, view the items.
- I can, but not right now with all the garbage.
So I gotta get rid of that first.
- 'cause there is a bit of a hoarding problem.
- No, it's like a manpower to get it outta here.
- I think us girls are gonna have to stick together
And work on him a little bit, what do you think?
- I think so. - Yeah.
- Every day I will tell him, what do you need--
- [andy] she does.
- Why you bringing it home?
"oh mom, I can sell it, this slot meter, this and that."
And he never takes it.
- I know.
I am very, very pleasantly surprised
To see how organized this house is on the inside
Because it does not match the outside, which is refreshing.
I was really, really worried about--
- So there's a reason for that.
There's no place to put all that stuff.
So that's why it's the way it is.
- Right.
But you could easily take that stuff and fill up this house.
- Oh, time's over.
- Yeah, so--
- But that stuff needs to go and--
- Right, I agree, I agree.
- [andy] and it--
- But you could imagine my walking up seeing this
And wondering what am I gonna see on the inside?
- Oh yeah.
- So this is great because you have
A nice, safe place to live.
Andy's mom, louise is 93 years old.
She seems to be pretty spunky and a lot of life in her.
But I would imagine that she would love
To get this property cleaned up,
So that she could actually enjoy going outside.
Because right now it's not safe for her.
What's the whistle for around your neck?
- If I'm on the floor, I can drag myself over to the door
And I will blow the whistle.
And when he hears that he knows, something is wrong.
- I'm glad to see you guys have a system that works,
'cause this is a massive, massive job.
So we are gonna do everything we possibly can
With manpower, with trucks, to try to clear it all out
So that you can get your home back.
- Oh, that would be just wonderful.
- Yeah. Yeah.
My role is to support andy while he's trying
To make decisions and when he gets stuck,
I am gonna be there to motivate him through it.
I'm gonna help him understand
That this is his one opportunity to get his property cleaned up.
He even admitted that he can't do it on his own,
That he needs us.
But it's always different when they have the items
In their hand and they're seeing the dollar signs
And they're thinking, "wait, I'm gonna hold onto this
Because I think I can sell it."
And I'm really worried that that's gonna be the case
With andy.
(sharp violin note) (whooshing)
(truck engine revving)
- [robin] good morning, everybody.
- [all] good morning.
- Oh my gosh, it's so nice to be here.
Andy, this entire team is here in honor of you.
We have brandon from life cycle transitions.
- I'm brandon bronaugh, specializing
In extreme hoarding cleanups.
- And his team.
In addition to jake's junk removal
Who are going to carefully and strategically
Orchestrate this massive project.
Andy, I first wanna check in with you.
How are you feeling?
- I'm happy about it.
- Yeah?
- To a certain degree.
- Right. Right.
You a little nervous?
- Yes. - Okay.
- Because I know things are gonna go
That I don't want to go that are gonna go.
So, but-- - yeah.
- The important thing is I wanna get rid of the things
That I really wanna get rid of that are in our way.
And that's where that's at.
- Due to the amount of things that andy has in his backyard,
I would classify him as a level three hoarder,
The type of hoarder that keeps everything
And gets rid of nothing.
At one point, I'm thinking, is he a machine guy?
Is he a tool guy?
Is he a fix-it-yourself kind of guy?
And then at some point or another,
I begin to think, is he just a dumpster diver?
Someone that just picks up random miscellaneous things.
- We have louise who you love to sit out
In your front patio area,
But that has become unsafe for you.
So one of our goals is to get that cleared out
And make a really pleasant area for you,
When you wanna come out and sit
And enjoy your beautiful neighborhood,
That you're able to do that.
Does that sound okay with you?
- Yes, ma'am.
- Okay, we have mike, you are andy's brother.
We have gabe, nephew, and justine is your sister.
Mike, how are you feeling?
- I'm just thrilled.
- [robin] okay.
- I can't wait for it to get started.
- Gabe, how about you?
- I'm super excited.
I've been waiting this, almost my whole life.
(laughing)
- [robin] really? - Yeah.
- So as far back as you can remember,
This house has had a massive amount of stuff?
- As far back as past college, it has, yeah.
Before it used to be a kind of a haven for us.
So I'm looking for it to return back
To its kind of a former glory, if you will.
- There you go, okay.
And justine, you flew in last night,
You're here to support the family?
- Yeah. - [robin] how are you doing?
- I'm excited, it is.
I'm kind of like my grandma.
I think this is, you guys are quite the team.
So we're excited.
- Well, that being said, yes, we do have brandon here.
He is an amazing expert organizer in extreme situations.
So let me turn it over to you.
- All right, thank you doctor. - Yeah.
- Listen, I am not gonna sugar coat things.
We have a big job in our hands.
The property has a lot of violation potentials.
We've talked about the reverse mortgage company,
Wanting to come to the property, to do an inspection
And the concerns that that would bring if they came here
And witnessed the property in its current condition.
Everything's gonna be on andy.
I mean, we're all here to support 'em,
But andy, the ball's in your court.
Depending on how quickly you make decisions
And we're gonna allow you, we're gonna encourage you,
We're gonna support you.
But depending on how quickly you make those decisions,
It's gonna determine how fast and how quick,
We can build the momentum to get this job done.
All right, so we're gonna start in front of the property
And we're gonna work our way on the side of the perimeter.
We're gonna keep working our way back, why?
Because we want to clear the path
So that we can move some dollies in there
So that we can start not busting our legs,
But start using our mind to start moving things
Strategically down the corridor back there.
The trucks are here, let's load 'em up,
Let's get things going.
Are you guys excited?
- [all] yes!
- Let's go. Let's get it!
(brandon claps)
(whooshing)
(objects clanking)
(upbeat music)
Watch the sharp objects, yes.
- [andy] this is garbage.
- [brandon] scrap metal? - [andy] scrap metal.
- [brandon] rahim. What about this?
- [andy] garbage.
- You just take this, it's light.
- That might be a scrap metal type deal, I don't know.
- That's plastic. - Check with it.
Yeah, but that's--
- It's plastic, they're not gonna take it.
- All right.
(driving music) (objects clanking)
That's scrap aluminum.
(upbeat music)
(door clanking)
- We literally got about five years worth
From the accumulation in your driveway in 30 minutes.
- Right.
- So doc, andy has been doing really great work.
I didn't expect to have so much done so early.
- Well we're gonna go through the whole property this way.
- [brandon] no, listen--
- There are certain things that don't go, but the--
- Well good job, andy.
I mean, I gotta say you're making really good decisions,
So I don't wanna interrupt the process.
We'll let you keep working.
- Thanks, doc.
(suspenseful music)
Mike, how do you feel?
- The further we go into it, the more stuff I see
That my brother's trying to save and--
- Come on, now.
- Yeah, yeah there's just some--
- Okay, someone go put this in the bucket of parts.
'cause I'm keeping it now.
- [brandon] some of the things that andy has agreed to keep,
Do you disagree with some of those?
- Yeah, yeah. - Such as?
- Just what-- - [andy] such as?
- Just what are you gonna do with some of this stuff?
- Point something out, go ahead.
Point something out.
- I'll point that plastic deal there.
- That's the sign that's a $300 sign.
I just sold one up here to the luna vista plaza.
- Okay all of boxes up there.
- That box right there goes in the pool building
For the chemicals.
So instead of them being all over the deck in there.
- Okay.
- So, I mean he's picking random things up--
- Yes he is.
I said they'll tell me what you think
That shouldn't be here.
- [mike] well-- - come on.
- Well, all that stuff we're putting in the boxes up there.
It's just--
- Okay let's go up there and take a look, I'll tell ya.
- You know what I see?
I see it's just gonna be piling up again.
That's what I'm seeing.
You're gonna pull that out after it's all nice and clean.
And I think--
- This is a conversation I'm having,
I'm doing all this here and I'm still getting a flak
Because I wanna keep a little bit of stuff.
- He asked my opinion. I'm just sharing my opinion.
- When the other stuff comes back in here,
I'll look at it again.
Maybe I'll have a different opinion on it
And I can haul it away in my big ass truck, all right?
- Yep, you got it.
- You don't think I'm doing enough of it right now?
Is that what you think?
- I'm thinking it all ought to go, myself.
- Well, then you can go. Then you can go.
Beause I don't wanna hear that (beep).
(suspenseful music)
I got-- - these guys are doing a 100%
And I'm seeing you're back down to the 70, 75%.
- This is 75%?
- Look at it.
Look at the boxes out there.
- I'm not gonna stand here and argue if you wanna argue,
That's your opinion.
- Okay.
- Well, I don't think it's an argument.
I think as much as we can both agree or disagree
On what's been done or what needs to get done.
We're all on the same team.
Their objective, their focus is to make sure
That this pathway is clear.
- I know what their focus is and I'm tired
Of hearing about it.
- All right? - And I get it.
- Are we gonna do this or are we gonna do this?
- Andy, I get it.
- I don't wanna talk about this right now at this time.
My objective here, you got four days, let's get it done
And whatever's left, I'll take another look at it
And it can go. - Andy--
- If I have to I'll load it on my own damn truck
And get it out of here.
- Andy, that's not the point.
We're just trying to--
- That's the point I'm trying to make.
- [brandon] we're only trying to have
A conversation with you, andy.
You can't get upset every time we have a conversation, andy.
- [andy] yes, because it's your side, his side.
- No, it's not. - Against my side.
- No one's against you.
- I'm tired of hearing that.
Are we gonna do this and clean it up
Or are we gonna stand here and argue all day?
- But you walking away from us, isn't gonna help, andy.
Come on.
- I'm gonna cancel this project.
- Well, nobody wants you to cancel it andy.
We just simply wanted to ask you a few questions, that's it.
(suspenseful music)
- I gotta go cool off.
(sharp violin note)
- [andy] guys, just leave me alone for a few minutes.
- Andy, can I come in and talk to you for a minute--
- No, I don't want to talk to anybody right now.
- Okay. All right.
Andy is furious with mike.
He is ready to shut this whole project down.
So I'm not quite sure what to expect at this point.
- All right, obviously we struck a nerve with andy,
It happens.
- I think not to ask me my opinion, I gave my opinion and--
- No, I wanna make it clear, mike,
You didn't do anything wrong.
You know, without everyone's insight,
All of this is gonna be for naught.
So, we didn't expect andy to get as upset as he did.
We just gotta give him a moment to cool off.
Let the tempers calm down a little bit
And then we'll regroup.
- Okay.
- I'm hoping that andy will talk to me
Because I want to help him to work through this.
Sure enough he lets me in the house.
We're here, we're here.
And we have to honor our promise that we won't work
Without you there.
And I know you got set off. I get it.
I was standing there listening
And I can only imagine how frustrating it is for you
Because you're working it out there,
You're doing so, so good.
I think that you're getting rid of about 97% of the stuff.
- That's what I said. Okay, let's get out what I can.
- I know.
- If there's something that, I said,
"well, what's bothering you there?"
- I know. And there was two things.
I get it. I get it.
But let's go out there and work.
Can we do that?
- Give me about 10 minutes. - Okay.
(whooshing)
(metal clanking)
- All right, so this is the deal, okay?
From what I've seen with andy is,
He's a man true to his word.
This morning he said all of that stuff on the side
Of the house goes and pretty much most of it went.
When we've looked at it, there's maybe 3% that is left
When you look at the massive amount
And how high it was stacked.
At this point, he is motivated.
He wasn't real thrilled about us coming here anyway,
But he sees the opportunity, he wants the help,
He wants the manpower, he just wants to work at this point.
- Andy, you're making a lot of progress.
You've made some tough decisions, easy for us.
I'm sorry that things got a little, you know,
A little angry earlier, a little feisty,
But let's make up the lost time, let's keep up the pace.
- Okay. All right. Thanks everybody.
(worker claps) - woo.
- [robin] all right, andy, you go to it.
- [andy] I'm outta here.
(objects clanking) (intense music)
(indistinct conversation)
- [mike] garbage?
- Garbage, yes.
- [robin] brandon? - [brandon] yeah.
- I mean, just already, these lights that are going out,
He kind of giggled and he goes, "these were going in my shop."
And I said, "were or are?" he said, "were."
So he's he sees that he just needs to let go.
(intense music)
- These are to save. Where's the save pile?
- [worker] save, it's right here.
- I'm kind of inspired now just by the fact
That andy's working so well with the crews
And brandon, especially.
- What about these?
- Yeah, that thing can go.
- What about this?
- [gabe] brandon has been really getting him
To be motivated to hustle and get rid of stuff.
- What about this rug, andy?
- That goes.
- [gabe] so I've been keeping my distance
And keeping my mouth shut
Because I don't wanna slow the progress.
- [andy] just pull it back. Just pull back.
(metal clanking)
- Oh, that's a keeper.
(brandon laughs) - oh, come on.
(intense music)
- [brandon] andy, can we toss that?
- [andy] what? Yes.
(metal clanking)
- [brandon] just go straight up, push it.
- [andy] go straight up? That's even better.
(tense music)
- [brandon] what about these wheelbarrows?
- [andy] they all go.
(metal clanking)
Well, I got about 30 of them out back.
- You got 30?
(metal clanking)
- [worker] that over here?
(metal clanking)
- It's the first day.
And we actually got three and a half truckloads done.
I'm excited about that.
(door clanking)
(truck engine revving)
(whooshing)
- Oh man, that sun is hot.
- Look, you can walk through this area again.
- [robin] hi louise.
- [louise] hi honey, how are you?
- [robin] have a seat.
- [louise] oh, I'm going to. (robin laughs)
Believe me.
(louise chuckles)
- How does it look?
- It looks great.
- This is all so that you can have a beautiful home.
Be able to come out,
Have a glass of lemonade
And just enjoy the beauty of your home.
- Certainly do appreciate everybody helping.
- They said they're all done and they're leaving.
- We did not. We did not andy, quit playing.
We couldn't have done this without andy.
He worked so hard, just tirelessly today.
- He works hard every day. - I know. I know.
- And like the doctor said, andy was kicking butt today.
Without you like I said earlier, we can't get anything done.
When was the last time, louise, that you've been able
To actually walk out this door and get through this driveway?
- A little while ago. - [brandon] a little while ago?
- A while ago.
- How does it feel?
- It feels great.
- We made a lot of in-rows today.
We've gotten the driveway done.
We've gotten side of the house done.
We've even cleared out most of the front.
Tomorrow's gonna be a new day,
A new opportunity and a new journey for us
To continue to push our efforts deeper and deeper
Into the back of the back of the house.
- Well, you wanna know something?
I was waiting for the carport,
Everything to come out of the carport
So I can walk from there, down to the garage,
Right through the garage and sit on the old bench.
- Perfect, I mean, that's our goal.
- So, andy.
- [andy] hmm.
- The carport, is that a little bit
Of a sensitive area for you?
- No.
- Okay, so-- - yes, no.
- Which one is it?
- [brandon] yes and no? - Yes and no.
- Okay. Do you foresee being able to let go of that stuff
In the carport?
- We'll deal with that tomorrow.
- Okay. Okay.
I think for andy, we need to let him do what he wants to do.
With many people, we do need to have a plan.
We need to orchestrate it in the most efficient way,
But andy doesn't work that way.
It's his property, his stuff
And he has an idea about how he wants this to happen.
And I think if we continue to try to control the situation,
That's not gonna fare well with andy.
I think we need to give him more control
And see how he does.
I suspect that that's much more sensitive stuff for you.
- Yeah.
- You have it underneath, it's protected.
You've got it in boxes and bins and things like that.
So definitely we can visit this tomorrow.
Just something for you to maybe think a little bit about,
Just given that your mom is saying
That she'd like to see that cleared.
So.
- And if I can chime in,
We noticed that your mom has some sensitivity to the sun.
If we can get that carport area cleared,
It'd be a lot of shade, would you guys agree?
That she can spend more time outside.
So, I mean, I know you're having a hard time
With some of those items, but it's for a greater good
That if we can get rid of some of those items,
She can spend more time under the shade
And not be directly under the sun.
But we'll tackle that like the doctor said, tomorrow,
But just sleep on it.
You know, that's the focus tomorrow,
Is how do we address it and do it the right way.
- We'll see, what's going on tomorrow.
(suspenseful music)
(sharp violin note)
(doors creak)
- [robin] good morning. - [workers] morning.
- Hi, it's day two.
And I gotta start with you, andy.
When we left off yesterday, you and I had a bit
Of a conversation about the carport.
We also had a conversation about maybe looking
At having you tell us what you think
Would be the best way to go about
Getting this property cleaned up.
You know, we've got brandon here who definitely
Has a plan in mind and he can make this happen,
There's no question about it with his crew.
But we also wanna be respectful
That you know this property better than anyone.
And if you feel that there is a better way to go about it,
We would like to hear about that.
- The stuff I have in this carport here
Is basically the stuff that I'm keeping for the swap meet,
Have to go through that, that's gonna take time.
- [robin] so you don't wanna work on the carport?
- What I'm trying to say is we need
To get the damn yard cleaned up.
That's the biggest problem.
- And we will.
But when my only concern--
- I already know that we want it for mom
And get it straightened up.
We're not gonna have time to get any of the yard done.
I think it's gonna take too much time for that.
- Andy, I have a solution.
We know we wanna get the carport done.
We can split the crew.
We can have a couple people including gabe,
Work on this side with taking the shelving
And let's move it to the side of the house for now.
In the meantime, I believe the family
Had some ideas elsewhere in the property
That they, maybe they thought they could be useful.
- Yeah.
I think I'd like to work with grandma with her office and--
- That's fine.
- Then we can have three or four other individuals
And technicians in the back of the house
Starting to address the yard.
Right, as you wish - that's fine.
- And if we have any bumps along the way, any concerns,
Then we'll take a step back.
We'll reassess things, make adjustments as need be.
But in the meantime, we're continuing to move ahead.
We have to keep pushing.
- [andy] that's what I want to do.
- Time is of the essence.
And if we don't keep pushing, we're gonna run out of it.
- Yes, we are. - Make sense?
- [andy] yes. - [all] yeah.
- Let's go!
(tense music)
(objects clanking)
Scrap.
- Can we toss that?
- Toss it because I don't even know what it is.
- [justine] goodbye.
- Goodbye. - [justine] goodbye.
(louise laughs)
- Time to go for it.
I'll rent one, if I need one.
(objects clanking)
- Grandma, I didn't know you wore ties.
- Oh, wouldn't I look pretty in ties?
(both laugh)
- [justine] goodbye, tie.
(suspenseful music)
- Go ahead, get out of our way, you're in the way.
- If you don't have a bin,
Let's just throw things out here for now.
That way we not holding up-- - that's ridiculous.
Don't have a bin.
We got trashcans right there, we keep 'em.
Why would we wanna make a mess there?
- We're not making a mess andy.
- Well then quit changing the program.
(objects clanking)
- [brandon] what was that? - Are we?
- [brandon] andy listen-- - doing this?
- Andy, listen, don't talk to me like that.
You're talking to me in a way that,
I've been more than patient with you.
- You sure-- - but you're---
- Everything that we've done since you've been working
With us right here--
- But your bossing everybody around--
- I'm not trying to--
- You are, and you don't need to do that
To get the job done.
Giving him full control, empowering him and encouraging,
I'm all for, I think it's a great idea.
But at some point or another,
You also want to stand your ground.
- I'm working, all you wanna do, everything--
- All I wanna do is help you!
And you're not listening. - You're not helping, you--
- I'm not helping you?
(dramatic music)
- [andy] you're wasting our time.
- No, I'm not wasting our time.
You're just not listening.
(objects clattering)
(tense music)
(metal clanking)
(upbeat music)
The earlier part of the day was all about moving the shelves
To the side of the carport.
(metal sliding)
- [andy] I have to get the safe outta there.
(metal sliding)
- [brandon] woohoo!
- [andy] okay, here, start turning it.
- And moving this big safe out of the carport, for what?
To deal with the carport.
(metal sliding)
- [gabe] woo! Yeah.
- [brandon] and andy's adamant about not dealing
With the carport.
- This is gonna take up our time.
You said we got, this is our second day.
We got two days to do the whole backyard to pool building.
We're not gonna make it.
- Remember, we got two crews--
- I don't care what we have.
- Andy, andy--
- [gabe] this is very important.
- It's gonna get done, gabe!
- So what does it matter if it gets done now or later?
We can do both, andy.
We have two crews, work with us, please!
I'm losing my patience, okay?
We got so far, look what this crew did in a matter of hours.
Come on, man, let's do it.
- I'm gonna shut this project down.
- [gabe] let's do it, man.
- [brandon] andy, andy. - [gabe] I'm with you.
- [brandon] andy. Andy. - I'm with you.
- [brandon] andy.
- [andy] you guys can go home, stop what you're doing.
- [brandon] andy. - [andy] I'm done.
- [brandon] just come here for a second, come here.
We've already--
- I was told from the beginning.
It was my say so on what gets moved and what is trashed.
- [brandon] mmhmm. - Okay?
- This is your home. I understand.
And I respect that,
Everyone here does. - No, you're not.
- The plan was that we were gonna move the shelves outside,
Like you agreed.
You didn't want them to go anywhere.
'cause you wanted those shelves to be relocated
Someplace else, we've done that.
You wanted the safe to be moved, we've done that.
Now we're in the carport and we have to do something
With the carport.
So how about this, we don't split the crew.
We put all of our energy on this for the next hour and a half.
And you stay front and center,
You make all the definitive decisions
And we're here to help you.
- Every time we try to suggest a better way
Of doing things, or a more efficient way
Of getting this thing accomplished, he breaks down,
He can't handle it.
I don't think he really understands it
Because he doesn't understand how it got this way
In the first place.
- Gabe, don't say a word, it's not your stuff.
- Alright, so andy, just come back for a second.
If we're gonna sort through the items, like you said.
- [andy] I'm gonna sort through the items like I said/
- You're gonna sort through, then we're gonna,
When you make a decision--
- Then what everybody else gonna do, stand here?
- No, when you make a decision,
Those items are gonna be separated, some are--
- I want it all down there.
That's my decision, how's that?
- So you don't wanna move anything?
You just wanna temporary move?
- I want this whole pile down there,
If that's where you want it,
Then you have this whole carport open.
We get all the other (beep) out.
That's fine, I'll go through this when I can then.
- So all the stuff that we just did,
You want to junk it over again?
- Yes. I'm gonna do that.
I said you be quiet, it's not your stuff to say,
It's your junk.
It's my stuff, I'll just consider what's junk
And when it's not.
- [gabe] we've run out of time andy,
What are we gonna do? - All right then, go then!
- [gabe] what are we gonna do? - You're gonna go home.
- [gabe] okay. - 'cause I was told what stays,
I want to stay stays. - [gabe] and I was told--
- I said this is gonna take time.
Let this go for right now.
Get as much that's laying out that people see
And complain about.
That's what I'm talking about.
- People are still gonna complain about this.
The social workers that come in, the nurses.
- Go home, gabe. - [gabe] all right.
- [brandon] andy, andy.
- Might as well start, turn off the cameras.
I don't want no more filming.
I don't want your cameras here, I want you guys go.
- I got piles of junk, I got piles of scrap.
I got piles of stuff that needs to get out of here.
What else can I say?
I got a pile of (beep).
- I was nervous just with the first area that I saw,
But now I'm very nervous about how we are going
To tackle this.
- You don't think I'm doing enough of it?
- I'm thinking it all ought to go, myself.
- Then you can go because I don't wanna hear that (beep).
- If we can get that carport area cleared,
Then she can spend more time outside.
You know, that's the focus tomorrow
Is how do we address it and do it the right way.
- We have two crews, work with us, please!
I'm losing my patience, okay?
- Go home, gabe. - All right.
- Andy, andy.
- Turn off the cameras.
I don't want no more filming.
I don't want your cameras here. I want you guys to go.
(whooshing) (tense music)
All the double talk.
Everybody's a (beep) boss and nobody wanted
To do it the way it's supposed to be.
- Do you wanna come have a seat for a minute
And take a minute? - No, that ain't happening.
The point is they don't understand, I'm not stupid.
- Andy is venting.
He's feeling very frustrated that he's not being heard.
- I got 21, I got 12 on one side, 9 on the other.
21 properties out there that look over the fence
And see my yard, clean up the yard.
The stuff that's in the buildings
And that's outta sight is out of mind.
- It's important for me to try to keep
His communication going, so that he doesn't shut
This whole project down.
So andy, we're all, everything's good.
Listen, andy, listen, listen.
- That's-- - listen.
We're gonna go ahead and start moving all of this
Out of the carport on the side, like you wanted,
Andy, like you wanted.
- What is the big deal about moving this right now?
- I think there's two things.
One is, we're not just trying to take care of you,
But the rest of the family.
- So, we're gonna be moving it twice,
We're gonna move it down there, that's gonna be in the way.
- Okay, so you wanna just leave this here
And do this at a different time is what you're saying?
- That's what I'm trying to say.
Let's get all this stuff outta the yard.
- I was just asking, I wasn't there.
- Crap out of the yard, that's what everybody sees.
- Okay. All right, I wasn't there--
- I mean, I understand mom wants it out.
It will go.
- So andy, I will speak on your behalf, okay?
- I'm just, you know-- - I know, I know.
You're--
- I'm ready. - [robin] I know.
- I'm ready to-- - I know, okay.
All right, I'm gonna go speak on your behalf, okay?
All right, we'll get this done.
- Fighting him, I think is just gonna
Make things more complicated.
We gotta figure out a way to compromise with him.
- So I just went in and talked to him.
And essentially what he's saying now,
Is that he doesn't see the point of moving this
To the side of the house and then having
To move it back again.
So what he's saying now is that he just wants it
To stay there because I've got to get the property cleared.
So I'm just the messenger.
What he's saying is he wants to just continue
To focus on the property
And he's basically saying at a later date,
He will attend to this.
I'm gonna defer to you in terms
Of how you guys wanna proceed because he's highly agitated.
And even though he's not seeing the benefit
Of looking at what he can get out of this
And what she can get out of this right now,
He's just looking at the property in general.
- He's obviously not going to let go of the stuff
In the carport even if we moved it,
To just moving one mess to another area,
He's gonna bring it back.
And grandma still won't have a place to go.
So what's the point in that?
- He has a mental illness.
He suffers from hoarding disorder.
That's why we're here, do you see?
So, we have to understand that he doesn't see things
As clearly as maybe the rest of us do.
And that's why we have to be patient
And try to work with him.
I don't see any other way to go except to honor
What he wants and do what we can
With the remaining time that we have.
- I am all for going into that backyard
And cleaning all that up as well.
So as long as there's several paths now,
Let's just get all the trucks and dollies in there
And just bang it out.
- Yeah.
- This project has really been nothing but compromises.
We still don't wanna lose sight of the initiative,
The focus, which is to somehow get louise back this carport.
It's hot san diego for crying out loud.
A little bit of shade can go a long way,
But we know what we're trying to do.
And we're trying to keep the process moving along.
What I'm hoping is that we can somehow build some momentum,
Build some confidence, get andy back on our side
So that we can finish this project.
- Andy, I'm really proud of you.
This has been very wearing and taxing on you.
We really are doing our very, very best
To work with who you are.
And I know at times you feel like that's not happening,
But this moment right now is to say,
We are turning it over to you.
You just tell us what you want and we will make it happen.
- We're gonna finish through here.
Work our way right around.
And we're pretty much scrapping all this metal,
We wanna get on the other side of this garage.
I don't know if we'll get past that today,
But I would like to assume that we will.
- All right, so shall we continue?
- Yes.
- Let's get going guys. - All right, let's go.
(objects clanking)
- That scrap metal fill up the truck?
- [worker] yes. - You gonna roll it up?
Just take it the way it is if you can lift it.
Can you get it? - [worker] yeah.
- [worker] is this trash or is there metal in here?
- [worker] yeah, it's all mixed.
- [gabe] we're not putting trash in here.
- [worker] yeah no trash. - [worker] oh, no trash.
- [worker] yeah, just focus on the scrap.
- [gabe] that's only scrap, yeah.
- [worker] okay.
- [brandon] let's get that bench outta here.
(objects clanking)
- [worker] keep this to the side, right?
- [worker] yeah, I guess we're just gonna be
Filling up the sidewalk there.
(intense music)
- [brandon] andy, can I borrow you for a second?
- Yeah. I was, they told us to stop.
- Nah, no worries.
Listen, andy, as much as you and I hate to stop
And I know you're ready to keep chomping at the bit.
We got a bit of a situation and I really need
To run it by you.
- What?
- All right, we wanted to have two truckloads full of scrap,
But unfortunately we're starting to run into a bit
Of a hitch here with a lot of junk and a lot of disposal.
And I know you don't want this in front of your house.
So I had a solution, instead of having one truckload
With scrap and then having a mountain of debris
In front of your house when we leave,
How about we have two trucks here, one for scrap
And one to get some of these items
That need to be disposed of on,
So that we have two trucks leaving,
One with scrap and one with junk.
- Okay. - All right, can we do that?
- We can do that. - Sounds like a plan?
All right, let's go.
(truck beeping)
(metal clanking)
Hold on one second.
We got a lot done today.
Tomorrow is gonna be, how do we keep andy encouraged?
We're gonna have to keep his energies up.
So a lot of what we're gonna do is to just keep reinforcing
To him that he's doing well.
- [andy] wait a minute, what do we got in it?
- It's all scrap.
All scrap.
It's gonna be interesting to see if andy's gonna allow us
To get rid of things.
- [andy] this will be the last one going up.
- Enough things so that we can continue our efforts
Of getting into the back of the yard.
(dramatic music)
(door clanking)
(sharp violin note)
(intense music) (objects clattering)
(door creaks)
- It has been a jam packed past two days,
And I just really wanna start with thanking all of you,
Man, you guys rolled up your sleeves.
You've been working hard.
This is not an easy job.
- Andy's been working his butt off.
You've actually pushed us all.
I mean, with your sheer effort, grit and just work ethic,
It made everyone wanna work harder,
So that we can meet your efforts.
- Normally on jobs like this,
Brandon has a number of organizers
Who sort through things, this, that, or whatever.
And this is not that kind of job.
It is about just hitting it.
You've have held true to your word, andy.
And I know for brandon and I, like, you know,
Even though it should be like that,
Oftentimes when we start out any kind of job,
People will say "yes,"
And they'll give us a percentage.
But usually people do not hold to that percentage.
Not because they don't want to,
But just because once they start getting
In the throes of things and having to make decisions,
It's a lot harder than they anticipated.
But I learned something very interesting about you today.
And that is that you have not really been bringing
A lot of stuff on the property.
This is all stuff that's been here,
Which is why he's been so ready to let go of stuff.
So that is a really good sign for your future, andy,
Because oftentimes what we worry about is once
There's room for stuff, that more stuff will replace it.
And I'm feeling really good that that is not gonna happen
With you.
You've been determined, you've been motivated,
We've got this family support and it really is
The perfect situation to continue to tackle this job.
- I'd like to get your guys' feedback
On how you think things have gone so far.
And what do you like to see happen today?
- I'm really excited just to keep pushing,
Continue what we're here for.
And then also perhaps later on,
If we have time to revisit the carport,
Get that clean and safe for grandma
To be able to come out and hang out on her carport
Like she used to.
- Great. - Thank you.
- Mike.
- Well, I think gabe said it all.
I'm just very ready to get in there and go.
- Great, now justine, I know you and abigail
Were working inside.
How's that progress going?
- Yeah. Well, we're going to, kind of revisited that
With grandma and she really wants an office.
So we're really gonna focus on that.
We're gonna make an office that's usable,
That she can walk to safely.
- Grandma, how does that make you feel?
- Makes me feel good!
(justine and gabe laugh)
- Let's just continue this path.
Continue the energy, let's go guys.
- [gabe] woo! - [all] all right.
(whooshing) (metal clanking)
(intense music)
- Maybe we could rearrange that.
- Sure.
- She wants the file cabinet to stay as well.
So maybe figure out a place for that,
That's accessible to her.
- [abigail] okay.
(intense music)
(objects clattering)
- Where's trash?
Where's garbage?
Garbage.
- But if you see like things to her
That don't seem to have any pictures or anything in there,
We can probably toss as well.
(intense music)
(metal clanking)
- That one there wasn't supposed to go.
You didn't know, everybody else back here
Was supposed to know.
'cause I was telling everybody,
'cause those are from my plastic bands.
'cause they sit on an angle, when it's bolted to the wall.
But you got it, you got it loaded, get it outta here.
(intense music)
(metal clanking)
- All right guys, look at us.
We've been kicking butt and taking numbers.
We've been really working hard and we've actually come
To the part of the project where we literally hit the fork
At the end of the road.
Do we go left or do we go right?
We wanna be smart about our time
And be efficient about how we go about utilizing it.
So how do you think we should go?
Should we go over to the right near the pool area?
Or should we take over to the left?
- We're gonna, split these two and me together
And then move on to the next row.
- All right, so why don't we veer over here?
Bang this out, couple key items that andy already specified,
Like the park benches and a few other small items
On the ground we're not gonna touch those.
We're gonna leave that here.
Let's keep it going.
Let's keep up the momentum. - [gabe] woo!
(metal clanking)
(pensive music)
- [andy] yeah, down over by that green thing, mike,
Purple thing, right there.
(metal clanking)
(suspenseful music)
- You made it to the backyard!
- Be careful.
- Yeah!
- That we were actually able to bring grandma out
Into the back of the yard where she hasn't been
In probably a decade or more.
Look at the progress.
- [louise] yeah.
- She was amazed at not only that she could actually
Walk back there, but then she was dismayed
When we rounded the corner and saw what was left to go
And how badly it had gotten built up.
- I never saw this place like this before.
We never had anything out here.
My god, look at that crap.
(somber music)
- [gabe] do you wanna see the carport up here?
- Oh, okay.
This place used to be so nice.
I used to have these trimmed all the time.
- We cleared out as much as andy would allow us,
But there's still all this carport here, trash.
- I never saw this carport looking like this ever.
- [gabe] all right, grandma you wanna come on inside?
- [louis] let's get outta here. I don't want see anymore.
(glass shattering)
Uh oh, I didn't do it!
- Grandma said, "let's get outta here.
I don't wanna see anymore."
- We're getting outta here.
- When I asked her if she would like us to try
To remove the rest of the crap that's in the carport.
She said, "yeah, sure.
But none of it's my stuff, it's andy's stuff.
So make sure you ask him."
And that's where we fall into problems.
(whooshing)
- We still have this carport that we kind of need
To talk to you about.
Now, here's what I did.
I got extra people to come in that are here now
To help us with that.
So my only question to you is, I know it's a sticking point
And you really wanna avoid it.
I've given you quite a bit of what you're asking for.
Can you give us a little bit more on your end?
I know it's a big ask, but if we can clear this carport up
A little bit more, it'll give us a bigger,
More wider path so that we can get some of those bigger,
Bulkier scrap metal pieces that we're nearing.
Cause I mean, gabe would also agree,
Now that we're getting back there,
We're really starting to see the scrap metal
That you've been arguing about.
It's tons and tons, about 85% of the items back there
Are all scrap metal.
Getting this area clear, not only would lessen the load
On all the crew from having a narrow path
To a much wider path, but it'll also give your mom
That carport that we've been desperately trying to attain.
So if, I mean, I'm asking you, I'm pleading with you.
If you can work with me with this carport, trust me,
I'll work even extra harder for you to get
That scrap metal and get all those other areas done.
We're not gonna slow down, we're gonna kick it up a notch,
But this would also make everything easier
For everyone involved.
- No.
(suspenseful music)
(metal clanking)
- It's outta sight, it's outta mind.
That's the problem I'm saying, we need to clean up the yard.
- Everything related to this carport is deflect,
Completely avoid.
- I understand that--
- He doesn't wanna talk about it to the point
Where I'm starting to spend more time in the carport
Wondering if there's something in there
That's really holding up his ability to wanna address it.
I still can't figure it out.
(suspenseful music)
- The proposal is, because you're now back
To the scrap metal, this team can do the scrap metal
And they can do it quickly.
If you are, just listen, just listen, okay?
If you are not back there,
It's not gonna slow down the process.
So basically what brandon is saying is if they, just listen,
If they can bring the scrap metal up,
While they're doing that, which you don't need
To be there for, then you could start working on this--
- I do, there's tools there, there's certain things
That aren't gonna come up from back there.
- And then let me propose something else,
That they put everything over here.
And then before it leaves, you can take a look at it
And pull out whatever you need.
Would that be a compromise?
'cause andy, we have been working and doing exactly
What you've wanted.
We're just trying to see if we can do a compromise.
That's all.
- We're gonna be working on this tomorrow?
- Yeah.
- Okay, well then we'll attack that tomorrow--
- [brandon] so-- - [robin] okay.
- Let's get what we can out of the yard now.
- All right.
So the plan is to keep tackling the scrap metal in the back,
Hit the ground running, and then tomorrow morning,
We'll start with the carport.
(objects clanking)
- I'll grab an end, let's go. Rock and roll with it.
(intense music)
(metal clanking)
- [gabe] right here, right?
- [andy] you wait until we get room to move
That refrigerator outta here.
You make sure we have a path to get it in and out.
- Let's take that table, let's move it over here someplace.
- [andy] why don't we just push it against the wall
Where there's space?
- Because we're trying to clear as much space
Over here as we can, cause-- - [andy] we are.
- Yeah, but we're using this little area to...
Let's just get it outta here, please.
- The farther you move it, the more work it is.
So that's all I'm saying.
(objects clanking)
(intense music)
- [brandon] you brought the guns out this time.
Gabe and tariq making it happen.
(door clanking)
(truck engine revving)
All right guys, we're towards the end of the project.
And now the backyard is starting to look
A little bit more distinguishable.
I mean, there were areas here we really didn't know was here
And we're really starting to see, you know, the landscape.
However, there's still a lot of work that needs to get done
And we have a lot more work to do tomorrow.
We agreed that if we can make some in-roads back here,
Which it does look like andy, we have.
That we might have a chance at starting
The carport tomorrow morning.
I'm wondering, is that idea still on the table?
- I don't know because you're not running this job properly.
And the means I'm saying that is because
Me and my brother mike were over here, loading, scrap,
The trash, the scrap truck is almost ready to go out.
We needed six to eight cans left to get in the truck.
And I said, "what are the truck drivers doing here
Helping us load scrap metal?"
And he said, "well, they called a break."
What do you mean they called a break
When we need six cans, eight cans to get on the truck?
When that truck could have left, made it there and been back.
And we may have been able to get some more on it
For the next day or trash for the other truck
That nobody even told us there was a break going on,
Let alone check with the truck drivers,
Check with us or say something.
Everybody's just off and on their own.
- [brandon] well andy-- - well, that's wrong.
- Well, andy, listen, I understand--
- There needs to be something straightened out about that.
- I understand your frustration.
- Okay, that's what I got to say.
And I'm directing it to you because you're running the crew.
How come we weren't informed of a break?
- So andy, listen, I understand you're frustrated,
Being frustrated in this process is quite--
- Answer the question.
Quit telling me what I am when I know what I am.
- [brandon] andy.
- I'm making a statement that you did something wrong.
- Andy got the gloves on and he's ready to take swings.
And I gotta be the punching bag, unfortunately.
- We're not gonna have enough time
Left to get this done, if this is the way you're running it.
- Okay, so andy, listen.
- [andy] all right, I'm not gonna say another word here.
- I heard you. - [andy] go ahead.
- I heard you.
- [andy] go ahead.
- And we agreed that we were gonna talk
To each other civilized
And in doing so, yelling and screaming,
Isn't gonna get it done.
- I'm voicing my concerns.
- Well, and listen, your concerns are not falling
On deaf ears.
However, things that are back here are very dense,
They're very heavy and it's taking a lot of legs
And it's burning my crew out, they need breaks.
I know them and I know how I can push 'em.
And I don't wanna over push them.
- Not one person said there was a break going on.
- I hear exactly what you're saying.
And I think in the interest of moving forward,
Brandon, would it be okay that when the breaks occur,
That you check in with andy?
- The crew should be notified,
Not just, I don't know, where were you at,
When you said it's break time for these people?
You weren't back here.
- Andy, I was in the front.
I mean, I have trucks that are coming--
- Okay, so you tell them people when they go up there,
It's break time and nobody comes back here and tells us.
- So andy, andy, listen, first and foremost,
You're asking me or are you telling me?
Because if you're asking me-- - I'm asking you--
- [brandon] if you're asking-- - why it didn't happen?
- If you are asking me,
Then you have to gimme an opportunity to respond.
I told the crew that they had 20 minutes, take a break.
I sent one of my technicians, one of my leads back here to--
- 20 minutes, that truck could have made it into the scrap yard
And back here empty, even if it wasn't for metal,
It could have been trash.
- I'm not disagreeing with what you're saying.
And I'm not telling you that you're not right
For being informed.
But what I'm telling you is that I did inform someone
To tell the crew, which is why all the crew left--
- Well then who is it?
- And apparently you weren't informed
And for that, I am sorry.
- Well, and then there was my brother,
Neither were the were the truck drivers.
- And I assumed that everyone was told.
You weren't told and for that I apologize.
- I think they just forgot to tell us, it's not a big deal.
It wasn't a, you know--
- [robin] it is a big deal. - He's the boss,
He's in charge of this and it should run smooth--
(andy and gabe talking over each other)
That truck didn't get out on time.
- It's all good, it's all good.
We got it out, we got another truck, right?
- How many times has it happened through the entire project
That you weren't informed of a break?
- Yeah, how many times have I told you this goes in here
And that don't, you don't care, you put it in there?
Or if I got my, back turned--
- That's not the case. - I've watched you.
- At this point, I'm not convinced
That it's really about him not being informed of the break.
- I wanted to make a point that you did something wrong.
Why can't you just admit to it and it's over with it?
- Well, andy, no one disagreed with you, buddy.
- Okay.
- I think he's starting to get really scared and panicking
Because he knows we only have one day left.
And once this manpower is gone,
He's gonna be back on his own to clear this property.
(suspenseful music)
- It's ridiculous.
(sharp violin note)
(door clanking)
- [robin] well, good morning everybody.
- [all] good morning.
- It is the final day.
You seem like you're in good spirits this morning.
- Yes, I am. - Yeah.
Yesterday towards the end of the day was a low.
- I wanted to make a point. - [brandon] okay.
- That you did something wrong.
Why can't you just admit to it and it's over with?
- Andy no one disagreed with you, buddy.
- Okay, it's ridiculous.
- You came back and you regrouped
And I really thank you for that, andy.
I know this has been difficult for you
And quite frankly, it's difficult for every person
Who's in this situation
Because of the massive amount of stuff
That we have to do in such a short period of time.
How are you feeling about the progress so far?
(tense music)
- Good.
- Yesterday, you agreed that we would get
The carport cleared out first thing this morning.
- Yes.
- [robin] where are we at with that?
- Clear it out.
- Andy throws out a big surprise.
He basically says that he is ready to let other people
Clean out the carport, that he doesn't have
To go through the individual items.
And it can all go with the exception of a couple boxes.
- I'm sure some of you've seen those couple of boxes
That I had plumbing fittings that were done, washed,
And put in bags, just push that to the side.
Everything else goes, everything.
- So mike, you have been very invested in this carport.
How are you feeling about what andy's now saying?
- Ah, I can't believe it's gonna happen.
I'm excited to see it again.
- And gabe, you've been here with the family
Just nonstop every day.
What are you thinking about the carport now,
That andy's basically saying it's gonna get cleared out.
He doesn't need to go through it.
He's gonna let the family do it.
- The fact that you said, "oh, hey,
I trust you guys to do the right thing.
Look out for those fittings that are bagged,"
That gives me hope that we can clear this all up.
So I am really happy about that.
- Okay and then justine, you've been inside
Working on clearing out that computer room.
- Yeah. - How is that coming along?
- It's coming along really well.
So we're gonna just tidy things up
And get it to where she can find things.
Cause she's used to having things
In a certain place, right?
She's been here for 70 years.
So we're gonna try to keep that for her
And keep it accessible.
- Brandon, I'm gonna throw it over to you
Because we wanna make sure that the two of you
Are on the same page.
- We're gonna follow your lead in the back of the house.
Continue to get that scrap metal out there,
Tidy up the front so that we can keep that code enforcement
And those code violations down to a minimum.
We got one day left and let's see what we can get done.
Let's go. - [gabe] woo!
(all clapping)
(suspenseful music)
(objects clanking)
- So andy, just to be clear that we're on the same page,
You want to focus only on the scrap
And leave the trash behind right now, right?
- Leave the trash down cause I'll come back and do this.
If we don't have time, we can get it outta here.
- [brandon] all right.
(suspenseful music)
(metal clanking)
- You guys are evicted.
Evicted.
(metal clanking)
It was covered up really good.
I don't know,
But I don't have much of a lawn around this place.
I don't want a lawn and I don't want a lawnmower.
(suspenseful music)
- [gabe] rat poo, rat poo.
- [andy] you know how many lawn mowers are on this property?
(metal clanking)
(suspenseful music)
- [robin] so how are things coming along?
- Now that we've been given free reign?
Oh, we're killing it.
- You know, andy is a really interesting guy.
He's quite intelligent.
He has this awareness that there was this period
In which there was decades of intense hoarding.
And he's saying that that has really slowed down
For a couple reasons.
One, he's getting older, two, there's a lot of time
That he spends taking care of mom.
- Yeah.
- But three, the property was full.
You guys know him better.
What are your thoughts about whether or not,
He's gonna return back to the behavior?
- I see totally a hundred percent convinced,
He's gonna continue this.
- In fact, he's planning on building more sheds
And bringing in more shelves to add more stuff.
- That's why he's not allowing us to throw shelves away.
(tense music)
- So we are offering him aftercare,
Which includes both therapy and having
A junk removal company come in.
Hopefully the one that's here now, because they know him,
I think he trusts them, they know the property,
They know how he operates, all of that.
I believe that andy is at risk for going back
And hoarding the property.
Now that there's room, I feel like there will
Be more temptation for him to bring things
From various construction sites because there is room.
It's gonna be even more important for the family
To check up on him.
So I wanna invite you, to call me if you see any signs
Of the hoarding behavior returning.
Because at that point I can reach out to him,
Talk to him and see if he would be willing
To reallocate some of those funds into the therapy.
- Beautiful, that's a great idea, doc.
- Yeah. - Family's messy.
- I'll let you guys keep working.
(intense music)
(metal clanking)
- I think this is about full, would you say?
- [worker] yeah.
- [brandon] all right, let's get it out of here.
(suspenseful music)
(metal clanking)
(vacuum whirring)
(door creaking)
(dramatic music)
(truck engine revving)
(gate creaking)
- [andy] ready? - What's going on in here?
- Hi louise.
Come on into your carport.
(upbeat music)
- [louise] oh, is it nice and clean?
- It is nice and clean just for you.
- No way.
I am very grateful for my son and his son
To clean up the carport.
Gee, I haven't seen it clean like that for ages.
- So, louise. - Yes.
- You have your carport back.
You have a place to sit that's covered and in the shade,
You've got your little ukulele.
How are you feeling?
- I feel like crying.
- Tears of happiness?
Yeah?
- This is nice. (robin laughs)
- And I did the most, I got out of the way.
(all laugh)
- Andy gave the go ahead to get this place
Cleared out for you.
- My son, andy does everything for me.
He cooks, goes to the store.
He does this, he does that.
- Well, we wanted you to be pleasantly surprised.
- It's a surprise, all right.
- Yeah.
So louise, does this look like a place
That you'd like to come out to?
- John kennedy, who wouldn't?
(robin laughs)
(gentle music)
- What has been done is terrific.
Just amazing to see what can be accomplished.
- Well, louise, it was very, very important
To everybody to get this space cleared out.
Andy, we couldn't have done it without you,
Thank you for that.
Thanks for giving the go ahead.
Thanks for not needing to micromanage it
And trusting your family to get it cleared out.
But this room is for you.
- Thank you. - [robin] you're welcome.
You deserve it, louise.
(gentle music)
- It was so amazing watching grandma's face just transform.
Just the beautiful smile of grandma's that she has
And seeing her see the carport that she hasn't been in
For years and years and years, it was just amazing.
- Well, andy also known as hard duty,
(all laugh)
You were the superstar, you were the ace in the hole.
You were the guy that kept us pushing when we needed to.
So I thank you.
- So that being said, there's more in the back
Of the house to see.
You ready?
- Ready. - Okay.
(gentle piano music)
- Oh my gosh. - Oh my gosh.
Look at this. - Ooh.
(gentle music)
- So lo and behold, louise, surprise number two,
You have a second area to sit on your property,
Shaded by these beautiful palm trees.
You've got a beautiful view here.
You've got a nice table where you and andy
Can maybe have some coffee in the morning or breakfast.
The family can join you.
There's so much more to this property
That you guys can enjoy now.
- Thank you. - [robin] you're welcome!
So, andy, how are you feeling about the progress
That was made in such a short period of time?
- I'm surprised, I didn't think we'd get this far.
- This was one of the hardest hoarding projects
That I've ever worked on because of the sheer mass
And volume and density of the items in the backyard.
We got rid of about 15 large truckloads of rubbish
And debris from this property.
- Mike, I know that your heart has been invested in this.
How are you feeling now?
- I feel great, I feel really good.
I think this is a good start, you know,
It just feels wonderful to be able to walk back here
And see how it used to look, you know.
This is an amazing start and it just shows
What we can do with the huge crew that really knows
What they're doing and helps us become super efficient.
- Right. Thank you.
Justine, you've been by louise's side.
You guys have done some work on the inside of the house.
How are you doing?
- I'm doing good, doing good.
I'm excited for her to have some space to move around.
My grandmother has not been able to use her walker
Because if there's a passage somewhere it's too narrow,
You know, you have to go sideways. (chuckles)
So yeah, now she could actually use her walker.
It's something as simple as that is so important
To somebody that has limited mobility.
It's super important and that independence
That she's gaining is awesome.
- Well, brandon, I think you have some things
To share with us.
- Yes, yes, I'd like to show you how we were able
To turn some junk into some actual cash.
So in your possession, whoever wants to hold onto this.
(all laughing)
- [robin] let's give it to andy.
- You know, andy, you earned that.
I was given the heads up from the scrap metal company
That you got about five truckloads of scrap metal.
That came to about $760.
I wanna also emphasize to you all as well,
Although we've gotten a lot done and we've really worked
So hard to get here,
There are still some issues that need to be addressed.
We still have the issue with the reverse mortgage company
Wanting to do the inspection.
So that's another incentive to encourage you
To continue doing this.
In addition to that, the violations and the codes
Can come and will come.
So we really want you guys to continue to work hard
To finish the remaining portion of this project.
It's only gonna be better for everyone involved.
- The family is very emotional
And through this whole process, they have expressed
Nothing but gratitude for all the hard work
That everyone's done.
I think with the progress that's been made so far,
They're gonna be very, very motivated
To do whatever they can to make sure that andy
Doesn't rehoard the area that's been cleared.
Andy, you and I have talked about aftercare.
There's both therapy that we'd like to offer you
As well as some help to continue to remove the items
From the property.
And I know at this point you have elected
Not to take the therapy aftercare.
I hope that you'll reconsider and take the therapy,
But if not, we'll take those funds
And continue to have the items that are still here
Removed from the property.
I know that both brandon and I can say
That this has really been an honor
To work with all of you and we are so happy
To be a part of being able to get this house in order
And give you all a place where you can interact
Safely together.
- It was a successful cleanup to as much as we got done.
I see the end of it and I see when things start
To be repaired and painted and fixed
And come back as nice as it was in the past.
- I wanna thank all of you for doing what
You have been been doing.
- It's our pleasure, louise.
All right, you all take care.
Enjoy this beautiful backyard.
(all applauding) - woo!
(suspenseful music)
(whooshing)