Getting help for a hoarded home without judgment
Most people wait a long time before they call, often because they’re embarrassed or worried about how they’ll be treated. We’re not there to lecture anyone or comment on how the house got this way. We’re there to help make it safe and livable again.
We’re a family business, and we treat every home the way we’d want someone to treat our own family’s.
Helping a parent or family member with a hoarded house
A lot of our calls come from adult children worried about a mom or dad. Maybe there’s a fall risk, a blocked exit, a smell, or a parent moving to assisted living and a house that has to be cleared.
A few things help:
- Include your parent in the plan whenever you can; people do better when they have a say
- Agree on the most important rooms first, like a clear path, a working kitchen and a usable bathroom
- Let us do the hauling and cleaning so your time together isn’t spent arguing over boxes
We can talk with you first, then meet your family member when they’re ready.
Working at the homeowner’s pace
Clearing everything out in one day can be overwhelming for the person who lives there. For some homes that’s what has to happen, like an estate cleanout or a safety deadline. For others, it works better to go room by room over several visits.
We’ll plan it around what the person and the family need, and adjust as we go. If a room is too much for one day, we stop, clean what we cleared, and pick back up next visit. Progress you can see, like a clear hallway or a kitchen table you can eat at again, matters more than speed.
Sorting what to keep, donate and throw away
Nothing important goes in the trash without a decision. Before we start a room, we agree on what to look out for: photos, papers, cash, jewelry, medications, keys, and anything with sentimental value.
- Keep: set aside in boxes you choose where they go
- Donate: separated so it can go to a charity you pick
- Throw away: trash, spoiled food and items too damaged to save
If you’re not sure about something, it goes in a “decide later” box.
Cleaning and sanitizing after the clutter is gone
Clearing the stuff is only part of the job. Once floors and surfaces are reachable, we clean and sanitize the kitchen, bathrooms and living areas. Homes that have been closed up for a long time can also have pet waste, pests, spoiled food or water leaks that went unnoticed.
If we find water damage or mold under the clutter, we’ll show you and explain your options. See mold remediation and water damage.
Getting rid of odor in a hoarded home
Odor usually comes from what’s been sitting in the home: food, trash, pet urine and dampness. It goes away once the source is removed and the surfaces are cleaned, then the home is deodorized. Carpet that’s salvageable can be cleaned; carpet and pad soaked with pet urine often needs to come out. See pet urine odor removal for how we handle that.
Hoarding cleanup for landlords and property managers
If a tenant has moved out or been evicted and left a unit full, we can clear it, clean it and get it ready for the next tenant. If the tenant is still living there, we’re glad to work with them directly and respectfully. Our make-ready cleaning page covers the turnover side.
How much does hoarding cleanup cost?
We don’t price hoarding cleanup over the phone. The size of the home, how full it is, and what’s underneath all change the job. We do a walk-through, then give you a written estimate before any work starts.