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For Families |
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Before You Can Help, You Must Understand!
First, let me say, I am glad you found our site. We are a free service for people to find the help they need to effectively deal with a loved one affected by hoarding. First, since you may or may not be educated in hoarding let me go over some basics. Hoarding is simply defined as the collection of items in access of what is needed in a normal household that interferes with the function of your home. It can be mild to severe, but typically only worsens as time goes on. Hoarding is often found in brilliant people, not always but the majority of cases we see are not uneducated but rather quite the opposite. We have assisted over 2,000 hoarders with 70% or more holding past or present careers such as engineers, professors, teachers, psychologists, etc. This is only important to mention because it makes the job for families that much harder. The hoarder is smart so very able to manipulate loved ones and hide this disorder for quite some time. There are also simply the elderly who just hold on to memories or lack the physical ability to remove items like they once could. There are many reasons for hoarding. Understand that your loved one most likely knows it is wrong, wants to stop, but is unable to control it. When you confront them, they will almost always become defensive and deny they have a problem. This is just human nature. When we are confronted with something we already feel guilty about, the quickest and easiest way out of it is to defend yourself or avoid talking about it all together. Please realize that there is usually an underlying psychological disorder or disorders that accompany hoarding. When a tragedy occurs, the hoarding can develop. Some common reasons people begin hoarding are:
- Depression (by far the most common and includes the next bullet item)
- Trauma (death, divorce, abuse, loss of some kind)
- OCD
- Heredity (grew up in a hoarding home)
- Fear of becoming poor (Common in those that grew up in the depression era)
- Fear of forgetting (items hold memories)
- Perfectionists (until they find the perfect spot for something....)
- Items are still useful...to someone...
- And literally hundreds of other reasons we hear regularly.
The point I am trying to make is that "hoarders" are not simply too lazy to take out the trash. It is a complex disorder that needs much more than just a good house cleaning. You can't force someone to clean their hoarded home unless they face eviction or are cited by a city or state municipality. Besides, if you do clean a hoarders house without addressing the issue, they will just fill it up again. To truly stop someone from hoarding that has not sought help, they will need therapy/counseling, often medication, a clean up of their residence, and good follow up care. If you are unable to find help in your area, we can assist you. We have not only a database of cleaning companies, but we can also refer you to counsellors, therapists, support groups, etc. We can also answer many questions you may have.
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| Hoarded Living Room Before... | After: May not be "House Beautiful", but it is "House Functional". | |
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Testimonials
Thank you for the referral to a company in our area. We didn't even know there were companies like this. The firm you referred us to was very professional and treated us as if we were part of their own family. The cleanup went quicker than I had ever imagined. My mother now has a safe and beautiful home again, just like when I lived there as a child. You provide a great service to those in need.
A. Clamsey
HoardingCleanup.com helped me find a wonderful cleaning company that we just had come out to our home. We were completely disgusted with the way our house had become so cluttered but couldn't seem to accomplish anything on our own. We made several attempts to clean without success. The cleaning crew arrived and in just the first day, they had half our house in tip top shape. They found things we didn't even know we had in there. Thanks again for referring us to them. They were fantastic!
B. Simpleton
Cory and Janelle,
I just wanted to write to thank you for all the time and effort you went into finding a company to help me clean out my parents home. I know you did this out of the kindness of your hearts and I just wanted you to know I appreciate it. I wanted to let you know the company you referred me to was so kind and non judgmental. It was a lot of work, but they just finished the house and found a lot of memories for me in the process that I would never have found in all that mess. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know they were great, so keep giving their information to other people in need. Thank you so much again, I would have never found help without you both!
S. Oliver
HoardingCleanup saved my home! I was facing eviction and despite making several attempts at cleaning my apartment, I just couldn't find the energy to make any progress. They sent me the information for a wonderful company. When they first arrived to meet with me, I was scared to death. They were the nicest people and immediately I felt a wave of calm wash over me. They provided me with a very fair estimate and I had them start within a few days. My landlord let me stay, and now I will never let it look like that again. I thank you for finding them for me as I may have been out on the streets today without them.
J. Treevor
Cory, thank you for the referral. The company was better than you promised! I sincerely appreciate the work that you do, and your willingness to help others nationwide.
All the best,
E. Allen
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