Marilyn Giffin, a long-time resident of Portage la Prairie and the former owner of a home recently featured on the HGTV series, "Hoarder House Flippers," is speaking out against what she describes as a misleading and disrespectful portrayal of her as the previous owner of the property.
Giffin expressed her distress after the show aired on October 30, claiming it depicted her as a "Hoarder" with a home filled with garbage and damage that she insists was not present when she sold it.
"There was never any garbage left in the house. They staged it to look like a hoarder’s home. When we left, the bathroom and the kitchen were in good condition, not like what they showed. There was no graffiti on the bathroom tub or things left in the toilet."
Giffin and her late husband purchased the custom-built home in 1995 and lived there for nearly three decades. Following her husband's death in December 2020, she faced significant challenges in selling the property, including delays caused by the pandemic and the need to finalize legal matters. In early 2022, Giffin listed the house.
However, when Giffin sold the house, she claims the buyer's representative told her agent that they could leave the items they didn't want to take behind.
"We had plans to clear it out, but were told not to worry, they would take care of it. But even then, it wasn't nearly as bad as they made it seem on the show."
The controversy intensified when Giffin learned that house was going to be featured on the show "Hoarder House Flippers". Giffin was unaware of any intent to feature her previous home on the program.
"If I had known, I wouldn't have sold it for that reason alone."
Further complicating matters, Giffin noted that issues with the house's infrastructure, including known wiring problems, were disclosed prior to the flip, despite it being portrayed as they didn't know about it.
"They knew about the wiring because we had the house inspected before we sold it. They misrepresented the condition of the house, and that's what's so upsetting."
The portrayal has drawn public scrutiny, with Giffin receiving sympathy from community members who recall her time in the home.
"People in town have been asking questions," she noted, reflecting on the impact of the show on her reputation.
Giffin hopes to clarify the truth about her beloved home that she shared with her late husband, emphasizing that it was a well-maintained property filled with memories, not the version presented on television.
"We took pride in our home and It's frustrating to see it depicted so inaccurately."