the term is hoarding. it is now recognized as a serious mental illness.
Oprah did a couple shows on it.
http://www2.oprah.com/tows/pastshows...20050506.jhtml
answer the following questions to see if you might be a hoarder:
http://www2.oprah.com/tows/pastshows...041118_c.jhtml
we have a friend whose home we've never seen in the 21 yrs we've lived here. he cannot even get cable tv, because that would mean allowing the cable guy to come into his home. i can only imagine that his place looks much similar to the ebay woman's home. sorry kids, i just can't laugh at this one. i think it's incredibly sad.