Have you ever gone into a home and found yourself crawling through massive piles of newspapers, stacks of clothes, or enough outdated canned goods to outlast an apocalypse? You probably just walked into a hoarding house. So, what is a hoarder house? It’s not just your regular messy household. It’s a room that’s really under siege by too much of anything, most of the time because of something called hoarding disorder-an actual mental health disorder with recognition.
The Basics: What Is a Hoarder House?
A hoarder house is a regular house the person has possessed excessive property beyond the singular capacity of such house as a living space. Hoarding disorder affects individuals in a way that they cannot get rid of much of what they possess, regardless of whether the things may not be needed anymore or might even have any use or posterity value. It usually starts with an innocent collection and often transforms into a danger zone, affecting the house as well as the person living in it.
A protester often creates space and an exhibition to display all the items collected with pride. However, a hoarder does not do things in such a collection but keeps things haphazardly and ends up blocking all access routes and doorways and filling rooms with items that can also end up spilling onto the yard. A hoarder accumulates things: broken appliances, old newspapers, and whatnot, creating a home that is so packed with stuff that few can fathom the extent. Sometimes, the collection hardly makes sense.
The Dangers of a Hoarder House
While excessive clutter might just seem like an inconvenience, a hoarder house poses very real dangers:
- Fire Hazards: Hoarded items, particularly paper and fabric, are highly flammable. In a home filled with clutter, fires can spread rapidly and blocked exits make escaping difficult.
- Pest Infestations: Stacks of clutter provide a haven for rodents, insects, and even mold, leading to severe health risks.
- Structural Damage: Over time, excessive accumulation can put immense strain on the home’s foundation, walls, and floors, causing irreversible damage.
- Health Risks: Poor sanitation, dust buildup, mold growth, and exposure to biohazards can cause respiratory issues, infections, and other illnesses for those living in the home.
- Emotional and Social Isolation: Hoarders often struggle with embarrassment, making it difficult for them to invite friends or family over. This can lead to loneliness and further deterioration of mental health.
How Does a Hoarder House Happen?
No one intends to turn their home into a labyrinth of clutter, but hoarder houses develop through the years for various causes. Hoarding disorder is often related to anxiety, depression, trauma, or obsessive-compulsive behaviors. An individual might think of an item that will someday be of use to him or her, attribute sentimental value to what looks to be an ordinary item or feel that throwing something away brings unbearable anxiety.
Outside observers might say: “Why can’t you just clean up?” But it’s not that simple. Hoarding is deeply psychological, and overcoming it requires patience, understanding, and often professional intervention.
The Different Levels of a Hoarder House
Not all characteristics of hoarder homes are the same. Some are cluttered, yet they seem to be more under control than others, where things become a total disaster. According to the Institute for Challenging Disorganization, hoarding can be classified into five different levels:
- Level 1: Minimal clutter, with little to no noticeable odor. Everything is still accessible, and basic home functions are not obstructed.
- Level 2: Increased clutter, noticeable odors, pet-related issues (such as accidents), and signs of rodent or insect activity.
- Level 3:A huge amount of accumulation renders some rooms unusable, trash buildup of expired food, and hazardous living conditions.
- Level 4: Very poor sanitation, very moldy, rotten food, blocked doorways, and obvious structural damage.
- Level 5: Hoarding extreme enough that exits are entirely blocked, plumbing fails, and electrical systems are incapacitated, accompanied by great health and fire hazards.
The higher the level, the greater the need for professional assistance to restore the home to a livable condition.
Cleaning Up a Hoarder House
Cleaning a hoarder house is not just a matter of rolling up your sleeves and grabbing a trash bag—it requires a careful, structured approach. Depending on the severity, it might involve:
- Sorting and Decluttering: Deciding whether to keep, donate, or throw away something is often overwhelming for a hoarder and needs guidance and patience.
- Deep Clean: After the initial removal of clutter, homes usually need to be deep cleaned to eliminate dust, mold, and biohazardous materials.
- Repair and Restoration: Structural damage or pest infestation problems, plumbing, or electrical issues generally need the help of professionals.
- Mental Health Support: It is important to treat the underlying issue of the hoarding disorder to prevent relapses and achieve lasting success.
How We Can Help
If you or someone you know is working on a hoarder house, there are ways to get help. We understand extreme clutter can be overwhelming, and hence, we have solutions to assist you in this process. We provide hoarder cleanup, deep cleaning, or making the house safe and livable. Every step of the way, we are there for you to assist. The whole situation will be handled with compassion and care by our trained specialists. Reach El Paso cash home buyers today to see how we can bring order and peace to a hoarder’s house.