When House Flipping Gets Smelly: Inside the Zombie House Flipping Family's Toughest Challenge Yet
House flipping has never been for the faint of heart — or, as it turns out, for the faint of nose. Real estate investors who specialize in distressed properties know that a successful flip requires looking past peeling paint, crumbling foundations, and years of neglect to spot the hidden profit waiting underneath. But what happens when a property doesn't just look bad — it smells catastrophically worse? That's exactly the challenge at the center of the latest episode of A&E's breakout hit, Zombie House Flipping: Family Business, starring the relentless and resourceful Tommy Harr.
Who Is Tommy Harr? The Man Behind the Zombie Flip
Tommy Harr, 31, is not your average real estate investor. Based in the Columbus, Ohio area, he has built a remarkable track record of completing roughly 400 house renovations — many of them at so-called "zombie" properties, which are homes stuck in legal limbo during the foreclosure process. These abandoned houses are often left to rot for months or even years, becoming eyesores in otherwise healthy neighborhoods and presenting unique — and significant — challenges for anyone bold enough to take them on.
Harr's A&E show, which premiered in May, follows him and his tight-knit family team as they hunt down some of the most distressed homes in Central Ohio, purchase them at a discount, renovate them from the ground up, and sell them for a profit. It's a high-risk, high-reward business model that requires equal parts construction expertise, real estate savvy, and sheer determination.
A True Family Business: Meet the Harr Team
What sets Zombie House Flipping: Family Business apart from other real estate reality shows is the family dynamic at its core. Tommy doesn't flip houses alone — he does it with the people he trusts most.
- Will Harr, Tommy's youngest brother, is actively training to become a project manager and is learning the ropes of the renovation business firsthand on camera.
- Jake Harr, another younger brother, teams up with their father, Chris Harr, to handle both pre- and post-construction inspections — a critical step in any successful flip.
- Katie Harr, Tommy's mother, brings her talents as both an interior designer and a licensed real estate agent, helping ensure the homes not only look beautiful after renovation but are also priced and marketed to sell quickly.
Together, the Harrs cover every phase of the flipping process in-house, which gives them a competitive advantage in terms of cost control, communication, and speed — three factors that can make or break a flip's profitability.
'Smells Like Money': The Episode Everyone Is Talking About
In an exclusive preview clip from the upcoming episode, aptly titled "Smells Like Money," the Harr family steps inside a ranch-style home in the Columbus area that immediately assaults their senses. The property, previously occupied by a hoarder, has been abandoned and left to deteriorate — and the results are nothing short of nauseating. According to the clip, the house is described as "very stinky," and the footage makes it abundantly clear that this is a significant understatement.
For seasoned flippers like Tommy Harr, a bad smell is rarely just a bad smell. It can signal a wide range of serious underlying problems — from mold and mildew caused by water intrusion, to animal infestations, to the decomposition of organic material left behind by hoarders. Each of these issues carries its own remediation costs, timeline implications, and potential health risks for the work crew.
Why Hoarder Houses Are Among the Most Challenging Flips
Hoarder properties present a unique set of obstacles that go well beyond typical fixer-uppers. Before any construction or cosmetic work can begin, the team must undertake an extensive cleanout process that can take days or even weeks depending on the volume and nature of the items left behind. Hidden structural damage is common in hoarder homes, as the sheer weight of accumulated possessions can stress floors, walls, and ceilings over time.
Additionally, moisture and organic material trapped beneath piles of belongings can lead to severe mold growth, which requires professional remediation before the property is safe for workers or future occupants. Pest infestations — from rodents to insects — are another frequent discovery that adds both cost and complexity to the project.
Key Challenges of Flipping a Hoarder House
- Extensive and costly cleanout and debris removal
- Hidden structural damage beneath accumulated clutter
- Mold and moisture remediation from trapped organic material
- Pest and rodent infestations requiring professional extermination
- Lingering odors that may require subfloor replacement and deep deodorization treatments
- Unpredictable renovation timelines that can affect budget and profitability
The Columbus, Ohio Real Estate Market and Zombie Properties
Columbus, Ohio, is one of the Midwest's fastest-growing cities, with a real estate market that continues to attract investors from across the country. However, like many American cities, Columbus is not immune to the problem of zombie properties — homes caught in prolonged foreclosure proceedings that can drag on for years, leaving neighborhoods with blighted, abandoned structures.
For investors like Tommy Harr, zombie properties represent an opportunity: the chance to acquire distressed homes at below-market prices, invest in meaningful renovations, and return them to the housing stock as desirable, move-in-ready homes. Done well, it's a strategy that benefits investors, buyers, and entire communities.
What Zombie House Flipping Teaches Us About Real Estate Investing
At its core, Zombie House Flipping: Family Business is more than just entertaining television — it's a masterclass in what it takes to succeed as a real estate investor in today's market. Tommy Harr's willingness to walk into a "very stinky" hoarder house and see potential where others see a lost cause is precisely the mindset that separates successful flippers from those who never get started.
The show also highlights the value of building a reliable, skilled team — whether that's family members, contractors, or trusted advisors — and the importance of conducting thorough due diligence before committing to any purchase. Even the most experienced flippers can be surprised by what they find inside an abandoned home, and having the right people in your corner makes all the difference when unexpected challenges arise.
Catch 'Smells Like Money' on A&E
Whether you're a seasoned real estate investor, an aspiring house flipper, or simply a fan of compelling reality television, the upcoming "Smells Like Money" episode of Zombie House Flipping: Family Business is not one to miss. Watch Tommy Harr and his family navigate one of their most pungent — and potentially most profitable — challenges yet, and find out whether the stink of this abandoned Ohio hoarder house truly does smell like money in the end.
Tune in to A&E to follow the Harr family's journey, and if you're inspired to explore real estate investing yourself, remember the first lesson Tommy Harr would teach you: sometimes the worst-smelling house on the block is the best opportunity waiting to be unlocked.