Man Purchased a Former Hoarder’s Houser for $7,500— What He Uncovered Was Astonishing

By: Ene Ayegba | Published: Nov 18, 2023

Originally Published on homeknowledge.com and repurposed with permissions

Antique shop owners are the most likely buyers of hoarder houses. So, for Alex Archbold, taking possession of such a house was like another day in the office. Except that this house was especially cheap.

Too cheap for a hoarder house with a grand piano—his biggest motivation for the acquisition. At $7,50, this was more than a steal. But nothing compared to what he would later find.

The House Belonged to His Late Music Teacher

Bette-Joan Rac was Alex’s late former music teacher. According to the Alberta Prime Times, Rac was born in 1944. During her teenage years, she had a passionate ambition to become a dancer.

Source: Curiosityincorporated/ YouTube

This dream was cut short by a road mishap that made her bedridden for five months. She came out of the situation with a broken femur that had a lasting impact on her ability to move.

She Lived in a Treasure-Filled House

Alex knew the house was filled with heaps of stuff, but he expected his biggest prize to be a grand piano. “I was told she had a modest income, and so I wasn’t expecting much,” the 46-year-old Canadian told reporters.

Source: Royalfurrier/ Pinterest

“When I saw the inside of the house for the first time, I was a bit shocked at the state of the home as she was a very nicely dressed lady,” he added. So, he was pretty shocked as he rummaged through the house with his wife and kids to find valuables worth more than a whopping $300,000.

His Lucky Discovery Became Great Content for His YouTube Channel

Besides his antique shop in Edmonton, Alberta, Alex owns and frequently posts on a thriving YouTube channel called Curiosity Inc. His viewers looked forward to watching his astonishing discoveries at hoarder houses.

Source: Melissa Archbold/ YouTube

But nothing prepared them for this now-viral video of teacher Rac’s old house. Alex’s discoveries included silver bars wrapped in paper, one weighing 100 ounces, diamond rings, and bags stuffed with gold jewelry.

"The Best Investment I Have Made"

Alex also found lots of shoes, books, old records, and classical cutlery. In the wardrobes were many fur coats plus some of the most expensive designer boxes from Tiffany, Chanel, and Burberry. Not to mention a wallet filled with lots of cash.

Source: Curiosityincorporated/ YouTube

Alex still can’t believe he found so much fortune for $7,500. “This was the best investment I have made to date,” he said with a wide smile.