Helping a Hoarder .... how do you do it?

[Too_Many_Tools]

I have a friend (LOL..no it's not me) who has 7 garages FULL of stuff...good valuable tools along with clutter...a 30 year collection.

This spring he will be decluttering those garages.

Any suggestions as to how to help him and his family reach the decluttered state?

I have read some of the stories here in the discussion groups and they have been an eye opener..especially the one from Detroit that never ended.

FYI...I have gotten him to stop buying stuff for a couple of years now so no new stuff has been added to the collections so I think that angle is covered. And from what I have seen the guy is willing to get rid of stuff..there is just so much stuff...that I am looking for ways to speed the downsizing.

Thanks for any advice or suggestions.

 

[Big Bob]

Have an auction for the "good stuff," tools sell pretty well. Also, you could donate things to the various resale sites. For the **** get a dumpster and plenty of help.

 

[daveroy]

If carpentry type tools are overpopulated... donate to Habitat for humanity (tax writeoff too!)

make sure you call in a dumpster. otherwise as soon as two bins are full it will all stop till next week... and he has to gird himself up to start again... easier to keep the momentum going.

 

[shoot summ]

You might try a dry run on getting rid of stuff, try to sell a couple of things off and see how he does.

My wife's Aunt is a hoarder, much like you see on TV. She agreed to help, we had a dumpster delivered, then she wouldn't follow through, dumpster sat for 3 months, made a little progress but pretty much gave up and had the dumpster taken away.

Now she has no room to complain.

 

[JakeKohl]

There can often be an underlying psychological issue that leads to hoarding. I might suggest a few visits with a therapist to start to build the right mental approach for your friend before jumping into action. It is very much like climbing a mountain. You can't fix it in a day, a weekend, or a year but it helps to look at it in stages...and get some pro guidance.

 

[SD_R/T]

As an individual, there is not really anything you can do to help declutter the existing mess. The best thing to do is to try to get them professional therapy and 'offer' to help them through the process. It is a serious condition that hasn't got this far (7 garages!) because a 'simple' solution was missed.

Be a friend and offer them encouragement to get professional help. Once they've done that and accepted their condition and are willing to treat it, then by all means offer them your arms, back, truck, etc. to haul stuff to wherever it's final destination will be. Helping them clear stuff before that time will only result in more space in which they will be able to put more stuff.

Best of luck to them. It is not easy.

 

[mharmon]

I have helped my father clean up his clutter. The key seems to be "small" projects and clear goals. Don't forget the underlying problems too.

When we did my dad's place I asked him what three project categories he wanted to keep. If it didn't fit one of those categories it was gone. We also broke it up room by room. It creates momentum and helps them get excited by the progress.

Hope this helps.

 

[airsanford]

I have the same issue with my dad. 3000 sf of prime commercial space packed so tight with **** you can't get in the doors. I've tried all the tricks, they will only work if the hoarder is willing to change. Most aren't. I've given up for now. I'll get it squared away after he's gone.

 

[egnorant]

With that much stuff he must make this project a habit. Stay positive! don't keep reminding him of what a mess it is and DO focus on how cool it will be.

The logistics such as a dumpster, gloves, trash bags, boxes, brooms, dustpans and radio are the easy part.
I planned mine like a military campaign. Bulled a path that divided my space into 6 zones, cleared the 2 center zones which gave me a large working space then cleared the south, moved to southeast then northeast and finally north zone.
Planned a working space (workbench and toolboxes and such) for the north and northeast with some storage in the south.

Set rules! I had a rule that at one point a zone MUST be totally empty and clean.
Suggest your own plan and let him make it his own.
I suggest cleaning the smallest or least cluttered garage first...get a success under your belt!
You will have a lot of stuff to deal with "later" that may be in the first cleaned out garage for a while. Helps if this garage is one that has plans such as park the wifes car or set up as workshop. Then the pressure is on to get back to it.

My big stumbling block was realizing that the excuses I was using to not start or go back out for more were just ****.

Bruce

 

[Kev442]

About the only advice I can make is to start with the oldest garage first. I think it is a little easier when you can say "you haven't even laid eyes on it in ** years!".

It worked on a basement overhaul I did last year. Things that had "value" 25 years ago were let go of much more easily than stuff from the last 10 years.
Also, I think making regular scrap runs for metal really helps. There is nothing like getting a check for $200 to help ease the removal of rusty old metal trash.

 

[oldtools808]

Weekly Garage sales, start 1 garage at a time, be suprised what you may think as junk is someones treasure... What don't sell, donate or scrap. of course he will want to keep stuff.. hopefully he will like the extra $$ & space to make it a new habbit...
Or try selling on Ebay, Craigs, etc...

 

[purpurite]

There can often be an underlying psychological issue that leads to hoarding. I might suggest a few visits with a therapist to start to build the right mental approach for your friend before jumping into action. It is very much like climbing a mountain. You can't fix it in a day, a weekend, or a year but it helps to look at it in stages...and get some pro guidance.

This. x10.

Hoarding is not something that can be cleaned up. It doesn't work that way. People collect and keep things to surround themselves with things they think make them happy. The problem lies in that mistaken belief. It's seriously rooted in a combination of ADD, OCD, depression, anxiety and a host of other compulsive behaviors. Helping them clean up a mess only helps the person who doesn't have to live with these disorders feel better about the appearances of the person who suffers.

Getting rid of the "stuff" will only be temporary, regardless of how clean it becomes, how much organization is achieved or how much money is gained from auctions & sales.

Get them help, first and foremost. If they aren't helped emotionally before any clean-up begins, there is NO WAY to make the problem go away.





As a seriously compulsive collector since I was a kid, I found myself in the middle of a huge mess, quite literally. I lost track of things I owned, bought multiples of items to keep other people from getting them and found myself late on bills and expenses because of terrible money management. It took YEARS of self-awareness and help from my very understanding wife to overcome (mostly) a really terrible acquisition problem. I still see the last few bits of old collections in my basement today as we get it cleaned out to make a play room for my 2 daughters.

There are still plenty of die-cast cars to sell, and vintage toys to eBay, but I no longer collect anything except interesting and odd beer bottle caps that I throw in the bottom of my sock drawer. I'm a rare instance of being able to get myself out of my own way—most people are not capable of doing so.

Get your friend help, if he is willing to accept it. There are plenty of professionals who specialize in compulsive behaviors, and specifically hoarding. It's the only way to solve the problem.

 

[SteveCh]

A good friend of mine, who is a CPA, was hired a few yr. back to get rid of tons of stuff collected over a lifetime by a guy who died and left it all. My friend hired another guy to help and, together, they catalogued the stuff and then held auctions based on what each collection of stuff was. As in: guns, tools, books, furniture, collectibles, art, and so on. It took them a year and a half to do it, and their fee came from the proceeds.

So, maybe point out to your friend that if he dies, leaving all that stuff, someone has to deal with it and the cost of doing so comes from his estate.

 

[Kev442]

"bought multiples of items to keep other people from getting them"

This is prevalent all over GJ. Call them "collectors", "saving history", "can't turn down a deal like that", "flipper (that actually never flips anything)" or whatever. If you have 15 to 150 of the same exact item, you are hoarding.
And for you wise guys, I'm not talking about screws and nails!

 

[purpurite]

"bought multiples of items to keep other people from getting them"

This is prevalent all over GJ. Call them "collectors", "saving history", "can't turn down a deal like that", "flipper (that actually never flips anything)" or whatever. If you have 15 to 150 of the same exact item, you are hoarding.
And for you wise guys, I'm not talking about screws and nails!

Yup, it's a sure sign of suffering from one or multiple compulsive disorders. Lots of us here have it to some degree. It's easy to joke about (and warranted), but at some point, it can become destructive.

Look through any internet "enthusiast" forum where collecting is involved and you'll spot a handful of individuals in the first 5 minutes of your visit who could use extended professional therapy.




There really is a very fine line between collecting and compulsion.

 

[GarageEnvy]

I think there's been quite a bit of good advice given. My wife has definite hoarder tendencies which she firmly denies. The only reason we don't end up on the TV show is that almost weekly I'm secretly throwing stuff out. The professionals will tell you that's totally wrong but it has worked for 12 years for me. The weird thing is that she never seems to notice that when she adds a new magazine to the 3 foot tall save pile I take one off the bottom. You'd think after 12 years she'd wonder why that stack isn't growing.

Even when I clean out the kids rooms she will go through the trash and nervously watch and try to save every broken piece of plastic that the kids stopped playing with years ago. It's a strange disease. I don't know how some of these families deal with it when it gets out of hand.

In case anyone is wondering why I didn't garage sale, Ebay or CL it, it's because I don't think there's a big market for bulk lots of medicine measuring cups, old kids school projects, construction papers, etc, etc.

 

[bobcatdan]

I have the same issue with my dad. 3000 sf of prime commercial space packed so tight with **** you can't get in the doors. I've tried all the tricks, they will only work if the hoarder is willing to change. Most aren't. I've given up for now. I'll get it squared away after he's gone.

We could be brothers! That is the exact relationship I have with my father. I have long given up, can't help those who don't want it.

 

[jhelrey]

Have everyone from GJ over and we will clear out the garages and we may even take the garage.

 

[wrench409]

ApexSpeed is very correct.

One can view the TV shows in an objective manner. Look for those tendencies in yourself. Seek help. The self help route only delays the inevitable. It's a tough dragon to conquer.

There never seems to be enough room. After 25 years in a cramped home, no garage, etc. we accumulated so much. During the move, I trashed a lot of junk before bringing it to my new abode. My wife however did not - making the move a freaking nightmare of box after box to sort through later. Been here a year and a half and she's still going through **** she'll never use.

I bring home (from work) shipping boxes.....large enough to handle by myself when full. One box gets trash, one gets sell it type items, the last is for scrap or donate. While working alone in the garage, I sort what's left of my stuff and shelve a lot of accumulated junk over the years. Having viewed a few 'Hoarders' TV shows, read a few motivational books and discussed clutter with friends and family, I have decided to:

Review EVERYTHING. Set goals and limits. I ask my self the pertinent questions: Is it a want, need or desire? Is it part of a current or future project, a plan or collection? Can someone else use it? Can I part with it easily or ??

I've made great headway in gaining my workspace back. It becoming a workshop again!

One of my vices is Storage Bin auctions. I do not hoard or pile storage bin booty in my yard or garage like Moe or some of the other show stars. What I don't turn within two weeks gets tossed, written off, given away. Or I sell it on Craigslist, Ebay, garage sale, etc. - my goal - sell it, my limit - 30 days. If it doesn't sell, give it away, donate it (I review the Wanted section of CL every other day), scrap it if it's useless. I have hauled stuff to the local dump for a few people who win storage bins - for a fee of course. That's been lucrative for me.

 

[santagary]

Just remember guys...the compulsion to make things "neat and organized" can be just as dis-functional as hoarding. Many people don't understand the time and $'s spent in the garage or in the time and $'s it takes to store and hoard, (collect).

All our habits and behaviors are based in fear on an unconscious level. Hoarding helps the hoarder feel secure and resourceful while the sanitary operating room garages and all stages leading up to that level of cleanliness (next to godliness), satisfies some parents' expectation of that person. Society generally applauds neatness and disparages those who are slobs...even on this forum.

There are countless apologies from guys who can't come up to imagined and demonstrated standards (pics) of functionality and neatness. Many feel inferior and not up to some imaginary standard.


7 garages full of stuff didn't happen overnight and neither does a quart a day habit of Vodka happen all at once. We tend to relegate therapy and therapists to the group of fellowmen who are mass killers, etc., but in truth they are available in droves in every community for more subtle maladies like hoarding and obsessive compulsive behavior.

Most all of us have someone in our daily lives that we'd like to change and therein lies all our problems..."if everyone would be more like me, the world would be better." Instead of: "My belief system is not the only way, but just another way."

 

[fomocoforrester]

----The weird thing is that she never seems to notice that when she adds a new magazine to the 3 foot tall save pile I take one off the bottom. You'd think after 12 years she'd wonder why that stack isn't growing. ----

I never thought there would be anything to smile about in such a sad thread. ....

 

[samthedog]

Sorting the issue of hoarding requires time, patience and most importantly dedication from the hoarder themselves. My father is a hoarder and literally has so many tools he has 2 massive sheds and a garage full of equipment. It is starting to migrate into the house now and it is a horrible mess. In his mind he can't seperate who he is from the garbage he has crammed into his sheds and getting him to part with any of it is like amputating a limb.

In their eyes they don't see this as unusual or a problem since they have available room and they actually do get a perceived sense of enjoyment from this stuff. I have been compared to my dad since I have a garage with tools but in order to ensure this never happens to me, I work on an upgrade principle. I only ever buy the same type of tool in order to upgrade and immediately sell, give or donate the other one.

Good luck.

Paul.

 

[Kevin54]

To start, you really should get a large roll off container. Then start making a few piles. Put all of the tools in one pile, general trash in the roll off, any scrap metal in a pile, wood in another pile.

Don't worry about organization at this point, but start by clearing everything out. Once you have the piles, start by sorting them. If there are junk tools, put them into a scrap metal pile. If wood is allowed to be burnt in that area, start a pile to burn. Old cardboard, and wood can be burnt up. Plastics into the roll off.

Recycle as much as you can. Scrap metals will pay some coin to offset the cost of the roll off or offset the cost of beer.

And as stated above, you can donate to places like the ReStore that is ran by Habitat for Humanity.

Good luck. You'll need it. And snap a few pics if you can!!!

 

[Tarheelgarage]

You need to show him love, compassion, and understand; that you are his friend and want to help him...

...Then, at first opportunity, go through all his stuff and claim all the snap on tools for your own hoarding urge.....

 

[bimmer1980]

Interesting thread. My grandmother was a bit of a hoarder and my father to a smaller degree. I had to help clean out my dad's old garage when I was 15 after he passed away.

I have some of the hoarder tendencies myself. One of the things that has helped me is to realize that while I could buy something, I ask myself if I need it and why I want it. Then I recognize that while I could buy it, that it is more hassle than it is worth.

I think that some of the hoarding tendencies come from the fact that I did not have a huge amount of toys as a kid. I was always wanting to get something, but we could not afford it. Now that I have a good job, things are easier to buy. Hence it takes a bit more will power to resist.

The other thing that helps is to have a large, long-term goal to be aiming for. I have a very large project that I want to do after my garage is complete. This helps me to stay a bit more focused and to avoid purchasing the random **** that is quite to accumulate.

The other thing I have come to realize is that the more you have, the more energy, time and money it takes to maintain it. The more vehicles or motorized equipment a person has is the big one--each item takes maintenance and work to keep it running--and they are best if they are run frequently rather than sitting for long periods of time.

I also find that it helps to track ones purchases. This proves as a reminder of what you have and that similar items do not need to be purchased. I have also found that setting standards of items helps as well. Some times a cheap item in crappy condition is so much more work and hassle than paying a bit more and have a nice item that works as it should.

I also try to steer clear of collecting the random odds and ends. I have found that buying the exact bolts and nuts as I need them is more convenient than having a large stock pile of them in rusted condition.....

Anyhow, best of luck to those dealing with hoarding--whether it be you or a relative.

 

[santagary]

AA exists for alcoholics who live by the 12 step program. Relatives do not go to the AA meetings. There are so many closet hoarders being identified by friends and relatives that may it's time to start HA, hoarders anonymous.

Society, however generally only deals with situations that bother them. All at once now gun control has reared its' head and instead of dealing with the conditions that brought that young lad to the point of asasination and the denial in the community that he had a treatable problem, Sandhook had their heads in the sand. All these problems have an early onset...hoarders don't become hoarders when they turn fifty. Parents and schools have the responsibility to be vigilant...and in some cases neighbors. It takes a village to raise kids and the same village by ignoring problems can screw them up.
Secreting magazines out of the house or loading dumpsters is no more effective than dumping or hiding the booze. The neurosis wins out everytime. Hoarding is a treatable neurosis...encourage treatment in all cases.

 

[Rickster55]

I have the same issue with my dad. 3000 sf of prime commercial space packed so tight with **** you can't get in the doors. I've tried all the tricks, they will only work if the hoarder is willing to change. Most aren't. I've given up for now. I'll get it squared away after he's gone.

About the same situation with me. I remember when my father built his garage and he was painting the floor. I told my mother to take a good look at the floor cuz its the last time you are going to see it. I've tried talking him into cleaning up the garage but no luck. I've resigned myself to tackling it myself when he's gone. Discussions end up in an argument and it's not worth it.

 

[Tims Arrow]

This mantra works for this bloke.
If in doubt thow it out.

 

[digdug18]

Gas can and matches?

 

[SteveCh]

My wife's brother is quite the hoarder, with two houses full. We finally got him to let my wife go visit him for a month with the stipulation that they would do major clearing or she would come back home early. To add a bit of extra reward, we pointed out that he could rent out one house, and he was out of work so the cash would be great.

They rented a construction dumpster and spent two weeks clearing the house he did not live in, then went on to his home. It was a nightmare, and my wife came close to leaving several times, but he always ended up giving in.

Two yr. later, the extra house is rented out, he is working, and his home is cluttered but no longer jammed. It was years before he gave in, and during that time he had almost no social life as he could never have anyone over to his house. Don't know how he avoided the authorities.

So,there is hope.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I have a friend (LOL..no it's not me) who has 7 garages FULL of stuff...good valuable tools along with clutter...a 30 year collection.

This spring he will be decluttering those garages.

Any suggestions as to how to help him and his family reach the decluttered state?

I have read some of the stories here in the discussion groups and they have been an eye opener..especially the one from Detroit that never ended.

FYI...I have gotten him to stop buying stuff for a couple of years now so no new stuff has been added to the collections so I think that angle is covered. And from what I have seen the guy is willing to get rid of stuff..there is just so much stuff...that I am looking for ways to speed the downsizing.

Thanks for any advice or suggestions.

Ya,, so he has cleptopackratitus? If HE is the one talking about the cleanup (??????) only then would I offer ANY help...

He has chosen to fill up those buildings. If he owns the property and the contents, it is his business and his problem--!!!

I would mention three things to this person:
1--introduce him to this site so he can see a USEABLE garage..
2--introduce him to Craig's List and eBay..
3--introduce him to the local want ads, swap shop, and grocery store bulliten boards..

I have wasted enough time trying to help hoarders clean up their mess...
If I cleared a two foot square, they will have a square yard of stuff to put in the space... I have coined my own word for my solution : MYOB myob MyoB
"mind your Own Business" works good for me... I often catch myself not saying that enough!! You can be a good coach, but the ball is still in their court, and they have to play their own game...

 

[bams50]

If HE is the one talking about the cleanup (??????) only then would I offer ANY help...

He has chosen to fill up those buildings. If he owns the property and the contents, it is his business and his problem--!!!

I have wasted enough time trying to help hoarders clean up their mess...
If I cleared a two foot square, they will have a square yard of stuff to put in the space... I have coined my own word for my solution: MYOB myob MyoB
"mind your Own Business" works good for me... I often catch myself not saying that enough! You can be a good coach, but the ball is still in their court, and they have to play their own game...

This makes sense. It seems like there are a lot of people here trying to insert themselves into someone else's business I think people see the fringe extremes on the Hoarders TV show and think anyone with one thing more than them is in some kind of trouble. If someone directly ASKS for help, or their health or safety are TRULY in danger (reality, not just 'I think so'), then intervening is warranted. But otherwise, leave them the hell alone!

I think I was something of a hoarder. I had over 50 classic cars in various states of disrepair hidden away in my back lot. Occasionally I would drive halfway across the country with my tow dolly to "save one from the crusher". Some were restorable, some had desirable parts. I was going to restore some, and use the others for parts for future restorations. Mostly I just have a deep love for Classic cars.

Last year I had an awakening of sorts, where I realized this was unrealistic. I'm only 51, but I am 51, and there is only so much I could do in the 25-30 years I have left. Worst of all was seeing how bad so many had needlessly deteriorated. I listed many on eBay (man, people can be stupid!) and scrapped the rest. I know this will sound crazy, but I passed many tears watching some of them go, and am still frequently haunted by the memory of a few in particular that were scrapped. But for me, it was about getting my act together and not leaving a mess for the missus when I croak. I know it's right, and I'm getting my mind right to finish the job this summer. But, it's still hard.

Nobody had ever once told, suggested, or even hinted that I should do this- family, friends, nobody. But I can tell you that if they had, I would have been highly offended- and hurt. So, if you know a hoarder and they're not in danger, I agree- MYOB.

 

[purpurite]

Nobody had ever once told, suggested, or even hinted that I should do this- family, friends, nobody. But I can tell you that if they had, I would have been highly offended- and hurt. So, if you know a hoarder and they're not in danger, I agree- MYOB.

Spoken like a true hoarder.

Addicts don't ask for help.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Let me give some advice from the other side of things. If a hoarder ever has a fire, there's a damn good chance they are going to lose everything. Why ? If it gets started underneath some pile, it makes it hard to find, rather a serious PITA. Many many things will get soaked with water and ruined.

We try our best to cause the least amount of damage possible but there are times when that doesn't happen. Somebody living in a trash infested hoarders ********* is a firefighter's nightmare. We have absolutley no idea of the condition of anything. . .. floors, walls, falling piles of ****, entanglement hazards, electrical hazards or what's burning.

Once we get it put out and your insurance agent or adjuster shows up, picks their jaw up off the ground, they might force a clean up before they pay the claim. After the claim is paid, you might be finding a new agent as they may take a serious consideration about dropping the hoarder as a client.

The last fire we had in a hoarders house, the insurance company got involved, called us and they were informed about the condition. A few months down the road, we received a phone call from someone from the TV show "Hoarders".

 

[JakeKohl]

I do have personal experience with a hoarder...couple of more points:

1) it is a mental disease with some underlying cause. Attack this problem with professional help.

2) establish a steadfast rule for what stays and what goes. If it hasn't been touched in X # of years, if it's worth less than $X, if it's worth more than $X, etc...define the "box" and stay in it. Everyone must agree that there are no exceptions, no deviations.

3) Don't go down the route of selling stuff on craigslist, ebay, yard sale, etc. - it takes too long and becomes too painful for the hoarder with too much time to reconsider. Find someone or some business that will take the things that have value on consignment and get rid of them and give the owner a cut. This way it can be done in one swoop.

I've also got a friend with a father that has it bad. Trash, papers, magazines, and some valuable stuff. His problem is that his dad hides nuggets - cash, checks, investment papers, etc. in the books, magazines, and papers....it's going to be a multi-year project to clean up that mess because everything has to be gone through.

 

[Too_Many_Tools]

Thanks for the advice so far...keep it coming.

In my friend's specific case, there is very little "trash" involved..just too much stuff in too little space.

Very little wood...the metal inventory is what you would find at the local steel/aluminum store. A few years ago he took three pickup loads of aluminum he decided that he would never use to the yard...as he unloaded the yard set it aside to resell the local steel/aluminum store..it was like new.

Last year he got rid of his outside steel pile that he hadn't used for the last couple years...thousands of dollars worth...for good clean steel...so again no "junk"...the need is just gone.

I think the hardest part will be for him to get rid of so many quality tools...very hard to find and expensive...NOS old American iron...when was the last time you saw a like new South Bend lathe that was acquired for pennies...likely an once in a lifetime acquistion.

I do know that he has a couple of like new old Unisaws, several Bridgeport mills, a number of metal lathes of different sizes...you get the idea...big money stuff that once is sold will be next to impossible to replace.

I have seen this problem with a number of older people who have worked in metal and wood during their lives...selling their Unisaw or Miller TIG welder is like cutting off one of their hands...it is not the loss of the item...it is the loss of the capability to do that work in the future.

 

[Too_Many_Tools]

I have seen the OCD neighbor type...years ago we had an older couple whose wife had OCD very bad. She called the zoning cops on every house on the street because what she felt was a problem. She was seen more than once walking the street measuring the length of the lawns with a ruler.

 

[Too_Many_Tools]

I once heard the comment in regards to hoarding by a guy with "too much stuff" or so his wife said....

"Society condemns those who have visible material wealth but worships those who hoard money itself."

Very true.

And I am sure it will be understood here when I say that ....

"There seems to be nothing sadder in life than an empty garage."

 

[Too_Many_Tools]

Let me give some advice from the other side of things. If a hoarder ever has a fire, there's a damn good chance they are going to lose everything. Why ? If it gets started underneath some pile, it makes it hard to find, rather a serious PITA. Many many things will get soaked with water and ruined.

We try our best to cause the least amount of damage possible but there are times when that doesn't happen. Somebody living in a trash infested hoarders ********* is a firefighter's nightmare. We have absolutley no idea of the condition of anything. . .. floors, walls, falling piles of ****, entanglement hazards, electrical hazards or what's burning.

Once we get it put out and your insurance agent or adjuster shows up, picks their jaw up off the ground, they might force a clean up before they pay the claim. After the claim is paid, you might be finding a new agent as they may take a serious consideration about dropping the hoarder as a client.

The last fire we had in a hoarders house, the insurance company got involved, called us and they were informed about the condition. A few months down the road, we received a phone call from someone from the TV show "Hoarders".

Well said...but...the same can be said of any fire...it is a mess as ceilings fall in...and water damage is water damage with or without stuff in the house..as folks recovering from Hurricane Sandy are finding out.

I have seen few houses that have the adequate room within to move fire gear or a strencher...interior space costs money. Every try to run a wheelchair inside a typical house..it quickly demonstates where zoning/building department are lacking in enforcing adequate interior space requirements.

As for health risks...bugs, rodents, mold...it can happen in the "cleanest" houses...hoarders seem to be singled out but are rarely the worst offenders..try swinging a UV light around the "clean" home and see how much actual filth there is.

 

[Too_Many_Tools]

I do have personal experience with a hoarder...couple of more points:

1) it is a mental disease with some underlying cause. Attack this problem with professional help.

2) establish a steadfast rule for what stays and what goes. If it hasn't been touched in X # of years, if it's worth less than $X, if it's worth more than $X, etc...define the "box" and stay in it. Everyone must agree that there are no exceptions, no deviations.

3) Don't go down the route of selling stuff on craigslist, ebay, yard sale, etc. - it takes too long and becomes too painful for the hoarder with too much time to reconsider. Find someone or some business that will take the things that have value on consignment and get rid of them and give the owner a cut. This way it can be done in one swoop.

I've also got a friend with a father that has it bad. Trash, papers, magazines, and some valuable stuff. His problem is that his dad hides nuggets - cash, checks, investment papers, etc. in the books, magazines, and papers....it's going to be a multi-year project to clean up that mess because everything has to be gone through.

I agree about the selling stuff route on Craigslist,etc...takes too long.

In the past my friend has just donated stuff...tens of thousands of dollars worth...fast and efficient.

The habit of going to garage sales/auctions/estate sales is a trap that he does not do...he knows how that clutter can come home.

He has little paper to deal with...years ago he quit getting the paper, mags..all the paper tiger that many of us deal with.

Your comment about having valuable nuggets scattered in among stuff is well taken...it happens far too often. And should be remembered by anyone thinking they can just go in and toss...many older people with memories of the Depression will hide money, CDs, stock certificates among the paper piles that they live with.

An example...a friend of mine had a parent in Detroit who died. The multi story house was FULL of papers, books, newpapers. When he went to empty the house knowing his parent's hoarding habits...it took months of going through the stuff. The result...1.5 million in cash, stock, CDs..hidden among the "junk". That's when I learned you do not just go tossing without knowing what you are tossing.