The words “hoarding cleanup” conjure up a host of mental images and questions—about the home, the circumstances that influenced the hoarding, the people who face the daily difficulties of living in a home that’s extremely hoarded, and the options they have available to help them recover. For instance:
- What kind of person is a hoarder?
- How would I know that I–or someone I know–needs professional hoarding cleanup services?
- Can a home in a severely-hoarded condition be restored to being a clean and healthful living environment once again?
- What resources are available for someone who needs hoarding cleaning services?
The article answers these questions and others. Read on to find out how you can get the hoarding cleanup that will allow you to transition from where you are to where you want to be.
What Kind of Person Hoards To The Point That A Professional Hoarding Cleanup is Needed?
All kinds of people, in various stages of life, working in diverse fields, find themselves living in a state of clutter so extreme that it hinders their daily activities. Some of those folks gather collectibles–often to pass along to loved ones or to hold as an investment. Others collect books or gather items for recycling. Still, others become obsessed with hoarding food or collecting stray animals that need a good home.
It’s impossible to identify a hoarder simply by considering a person’s life situation, occupation, age, or background. Hoarding affects diverse personalities from all walks of life.
How Would I Know I’m At The Point of Needing A Hoarding Cleanup?
A number of circumstances indicate that your situation has reached a critical point. Are any of these statements true of you?
- You’ve quit allowing people to visit you because you’re ashamed or embarrassed about the clutter.
- You’re unable to live in most of your home. The clutter has made the majority of your home uninhabitable. You maintain a small path of access to the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom or sleeping area, but that’s it.
- You can’t discuss your cluttered home with anyone who doesn’t live with you.
If these statements describe you, you’re quite possibly living in a severely-hoarded home.
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What Are The Health Dangers of Waiting To Get A Hoarding Cleanup?
Extremely cluttered homes are dirty. The clutter oozes from the corners, and often reaches from floor to ceiling. There’s no way to vacuum or mop regularly. Additionally, the clutter attracts moisture that provides the perfect growing environment for mold and mildew.
And then there’s the probability of critters taking up residence with you. Mice find those piles of clutter attractive places to build nests and rear babies. Rats, squirrels, snakes, and even muskrats and raccoons, have been known to make their way into cluttered homes and outbuildings. They add to the mess and leave their urine and feces behind, increasing the health dangers in your home and the likelihood of you becoming ill.
What Are Some Other Difficulties of Waiting To Proceed With A Hoarding Cleanup?
If you continue to postpone getting help for your cluttered home, you could face these additional difficulties:
- Complaints from neighbors who have smelled odors or seen evidence of your hoardings, such as windows covered by boxes, clutter overflowing from your garage, and piles of junk overtaking your yard.
- Citations and/or fines from your community or county officials such as HOA administrators, municipal housing officers, or law enforcement officials.
- Condemnation notices that require you to leave your home.
Could My Severely-Hoarded Home Ever Be Clean and Sanitary Again?
Yes! Professional hoarding cleanup services have the skill and resources to assess your situation and then address whatever needs to be done. They sort meticulously through everything, dispose of trash and take usable–but unnecessary–items to thrift stores. Items you decide to keep are cleaned or laundered, organized, and neatly stored.
Once they’ve gotten rid of the clutter, cleanup crews clean and sanitize your home, so that it’s safe and attractive to live in. When a hoarding cleanup is done well, you’ll feel like you’ve gotten your “old” home back. Things will look neat and smell fresh. You’ll know that you could have guests in again without worrying about what they would think or whether they might get sick after being in your home.
What Questions Should You Ask Before Choosing A Hoarding Cleanup Service?
There’s a broad range of services available. How can you choose one that’s reliable, professional, and does everything you need to have done?
Getting Answers To These Questions Will Help You Choose Wisely:
- Is this company experienced? You might find a brand-new firm that will do its very first cleanup remarkably well, but that’s not usually the case. Companies with lots of experience–and lots of reviews from satisfied clients–are generally a better choice.
- How does this company assess your situation and determine the manpower, equipment, and supplies needed to complete the job?
- Does this company handle the entire hoarding cleanup, or rely on you to handle certain aspects such as hauling away unwanted items or getting your furniture and other furnishings into position in your clean and sanitized home?
- How does this company protect its clients and its workers from illness and injury?
- Are all the people who will work on the job trained, vetted, and insured?
- Will all of the details of your situation be handled discreetly and confidentially?
- What policies and procedures are in place to protect you?
- Will the authorities be notified?
- Does this company offer other services you may need 1) in addition to the cleanup, or 2) after the cleanup is finished–for example, home repairs or in-home care?
Wrapping It Up
Hoarding can affect anyone of any age, background, occupation, and stage of life. Health hazards, as well as possible difficulties with neighbors and local authorities, make extreme hoarding situations dangerous. If you live as an isolated prisoner in a small part of your home, you should seek help from someone who provides full-range hoarding cleanup services. Life Cycle Transitions can handle your hoarding cleanup with care and compassion. Our unique approach allows you to feel safe and in control of the direction, you want your project to take. Our technicians are extensively trained to deal with rigorous or hazardous conditions. Each technician supports our clients from the very beginning of the project until the last detail is complete. We offer three unique packages that can be customized to your needs.