When it comes to clearing a house once someone has passed on, you might find yourself thinking that they have been hoarding an awful lot in their lifetime, however, to truly have compulsive hoarding disorder there is a little bit more to it than having a lot of stuff.
Compulsive Hoarding Disorder
Compulsive hoarding disorder is a condition where someone doesn’t just acquire too many things, but they also can’t bring themselves to part with anything either. Over extended periods of time, this can lead to a little more than a clutter and disorderly home. If you have ever watched the TV show American Pickers, you will have seen the kind of thing we are talking about.
Though it may just seem like it will just be a lot of stuff to sort through, taking longer than you might think, this kind of hoarding can also take a toll on the property itself, as well as the health of the person that is living in it.
What are the issues of compulsive hoarding disorder?
Being a compulsive hoarder creates a lot of mess and clutter not only within the walls of the property but in any outbuildings and even in the driveway and garden of the property. The more space a hoarder has to fill, the more hoarding they will be able to do.
There are several other issues that are much more serious than clutter though. To begin with, when there is a lot of clutter in a house, especially when it is flammable such as books, magazines, junk mail and clothes, it presents a fire hazard. With so much stuff crammed into every corner of the house, the number of exits from the property are also greatly reduced. Most become blocked over time, and even making your way through a hoarders property can be extremely difficult.
Hoarding can also lead to the property falling into disrepair. When there is so much clutter in one space, seeing where there is mould growing becomes difficult, and in some instances, clutter can actually lead to an increase in mould growing – especially in window bays. There is also the issue of being unable to clean properly, leading to an excess build-up of dust, dirt, creating an extremely unhealthy environment to live in. This can also include rodents moving in and setting up nests in the clutter.
One of the more dangerous aspects of hoarding is that it can also lead to the hoarder becoming trapped in their own homes, and even killed by their obsession. There are plenty of news reports about hoarders dying and their bodies remaining undiscovered in their clutter because there is so much of it, a dead body just went unnoticed. Equally, there are plenty of stories of hoarders becoming trapped after a pile of hoarded newspapers has fallen over and crushed them.
Hoarding is not simply a hobby, but a disorder that has an extremely dangerous and far-reaching consequences. If you have a hoarders property that needs clearing, it is not something you’ll want to attempt on your own. It can be extremely unsafe to try and clear a hoarder’s property by yourself. Call us today to see how we can help you deal with a hoarder’s den.