Did you know we also handle hoarding?

12/22/2020 (Permalink)

Did you know we also handle Hoarding?  

Hoarding is a Disorder

The American Psychiatric Association states that people with hoarding disorder excessively save items that others may view as worthless. They have persistent difficulty getting rid of or parting with possessions, leading to clutter that disrupts their ability to use their living or work spaces.Hoarding is not the same as collecting. Collectors look for specific items, such as model cars or stamps, and may organize or display them. People with hoarding disorder often save random items and store them haphazardly. In most cases, they save items that they feel they may need in the future, are valuable or have sentimental value. Some may also feel safer surrounded by the things they save.

What is Hoarding?

Hoarded items are often things others would throw away or look at as junk or garbage such as old newspapers, junk mail or packaging. Hoarding can lead to homes filled with extreme clutter to full capacity from years of accumulation, making living conditions unsanitary and crowded. Bugs, fleas, rats and other vermin may be present, at which point an exterminator would need to be called. At times, hoarding may spread to outside the home as well, to storage facilities, or even the garage or yard.

How can SERVPRO of Marion/Middleboro Help?

SERVPRO of Marion/Middleboro encounters hoarding situations in several different ways. We may be called to a fire or water loss and find the hoarding situation when we arrive on-site. Hoarding jobs also come through calls from landlords, caseworkers, real estate agents, or family members, often after the death of a loved one.  We communicate with the insurance company regarding the customer's contents coverage, and after approval, contents can be packed out and possibly cleaned, dried, and stored in our temporary storage or discarded.  In these situations, the crew will see if they should look for any items of importance while they clean the job. Sometimes, family members will come and try to help the hoarder sort through their contents as well. Each case is very different, and hoarding jobs are often sensitive situations, but we are Here to Help make it “Like it never even happened.” If you encounter a hoarding situation, don’t hesitate to call SERVPRO of Marion/Middleboro at 508-946-2397.