Step By Step Guide To Clearing A Hoarder House

  • Quite often when a loved one either passes away, looks to downsize or move into residential care, you as the relative may have to provide some help. 

For many this is very straightforward and not overly onerous. If you have found this blog post, that probably isn't you. 

Before we start, we'd like to say that however you are feeling, whether that's stressed, embarrassed, overwhelmed etc that this is perfectly normal and understandable and above all you are not alone. 

This guide focuses only on the section after the decisions have already been made.

  1. Evaluate the risks, some spaces can be harmful to health. Work out how much if any PPE you need. This might be anything from just rubber gloves to in extreme cases respirator masks, cut resistant gloves and rubberized overalls.
  2. Create a work space. This needs to be done as fast as possible. Move items into other rooms, obvious rubbish into black sacks. Whatever it takes to get a room empty. Generally either pick the emptiest room or the easiest to access. Create sections, use boxes or tape on the floor, however works for you. One for selling, one for binning, one for keeping (if applicable) and one for donating (if applicable). 
  3. Move a box at a time from a full room to the workspace. Take it slowly and methodically, don't overfill the workspace. 
  4.  Split the items between the sections.
  5. When the sections are full, empty them to where they need to be. I.E The bin pile moves out of the house, into a skip, dump run, household waste, man with van etc. The sale pile gets cleaned, then listed on eBay, Facebook marketplace, local dealer etc. The charity shop pile gets taken there and donated.
  6. Repeat until the room is empty and then move on to the next one. Rinse and repeat until all the contents has been removed.
  7. Then tackle any out buildings, lofts etc, in exactly the same way.
  8. You've done the worst of it so now it's either a deep clean or a full refurbishment. 

Things to consider

  • Selling items can be slow, you may find yourself waiting a while. It's important to be realistic with pricing. Take into account the amount of space it will take up, while you're trying to empty the house out especially if you don't have anywhere else to store things.  
  • It can get expensive, boxes for transport, postage and selling fees (if selling), commuting to the house, to the dump, and skip hire or rubbish removal (if using), time off work etc. It all adds up quickly.
  • Check pockets, bags, drawers etc for valuables and sentimental items. You often find these tucked in strange places.
  • Don't try and do too much. it can get overwhelming quickly.
  • Remember many hands make light work, so get your friends and family involved, get some music blaring 

 

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