What Is An Inherited hoarder house? Is It A Problem Or A Boon?
Have you inherited a house in Canada? Are you excited to see the property? What if it is a hoarder’s house? When it comes to old newspapers, clothes, old bottles, magazines, broken and discarded stuff, etc., you would be right to think of it as junk. However, did you know that some people like to hoard all kinds of things? Such hoarders don’t want to throw anything and collect everything possible. If you inherit a hoarder home, you may feel overwhelmed because you may not know what to do with it. Hoarding is a common trait in many people, but it can become a mental disorder called hoarding disorder for some people. Such people have a tough time getting rid of things, and they want to hold on to all things, however useless they may be.
How To Proceed After Inheriting A Hoarder House?
Sometimes, the family members are the last to know about the hoarding problems of someone who passed away. Knowing how to proceed with a house full of things is only the first step. You will need to take control of the situation before it gets entirely out of hand. First, you need to decide what you want to do with the house.
- Clean and use the house
- Clean and sell it for a profit
- Selling the house as it is
If you want to sell it as it is, there is nothing much to be done. However, for cleaning the house, you can carry out the following steps.
1. Evaluate The Situation
Though most of us like to hoard some things, a serious hoarder cannot distinguish between junk and valuable items. They end up accumulating lots of stuff, thinking it could be useful someday. If you inherit a house full of piled up items, you will need to evaluate and develop a feasible plan to tackle this problem.
If it was a loved one’s house, going through the belongings can be overwhelming and very emotional. You don’t want to get rid of things without knowing their true worth. It could be purely financial for some people, while for others, it could be emotional value. There could be some critical documents hidden among the junk, and you don’t want to dump everything without giving it a good look. Moreover, many such junkpiles can also be a bio-hazard or cause health issues if not handled carefully. Assess the situation and then decide if you want to handle it on your own or take professionals’ help. Gather all the supplies and equipment needed to take on such a project.
2. Collect The Right Cleaning Supplies
After you inherit a hoarder’s house, assess it carefully and get all the cleaning supplies you may need. Some of these items are
- Trash bags
- Empty cartons
- Mops and buckets
- Disinfectants and cleaners
- Wipes, wiping cloths, sponges
- Dustpan and broom
- Vacuum cleaner
- Small hand tools
- Step ladder
Check for air quality and use sanitizers. Depending on the house’s size and the amount of junk in it, you may need a bigger dumpster to hold. If there is space in front of the house, you may even set up an area to sort through all the items removed from the house.
3. Start Small
Though you may be tempted just to tackle everything together, it is better to start small. Look at the smaller items first and throw everything you don’t want. Beginning with a smaller room and sorting it out will give you a sense of progress. Bathrooms could be the first rooms to tackle. They don’t have any valuable items, so discarding things is easy. Full time and attention have to be given to the planning so that the work goes off smoothly.
4. Have A Methodical Approach
If the house is large and has too much junk, then having a systematic approach is better for cleaning. A top-down approach is better in such situations. Remove everything from the rooms on top, including furniture, and bring it down. Once the room is empty, it is easier to clean. Either go from left to right or the other way around and check each drawer, closet, etc. and check for any important documents or other valuables.
5. Make Piles And Sort
It is easy to decide whether it can be salvaged with many items, but with some things, it is difficult. After removing them from a room, Sort the items and make separate piles for discarding, donating, recycling, or keeping. Things which you want to keep should be kept aside for cleaning. The discard pile should be out of the house quickly so that you don’t change your mind. Some charities may even volunteer to pick up the stuff if notified in advance. This will save you a lot of problems. Otherwise, use a removal company to take away the stuff.
6. Deep Clean And Repair
Once you clear the home of all the clutter, it can be cleaned thoroughly and then sanitized. Depending on the number of hoarded items and the rooms’ size, it may take some time, but you will be happy to see the rooms brought back to their glory days. While you are carrying out extensive cleaning, you can check for any damage and required repairs. Remove the old carpeting to check for any damage to the floors. Before bringing the furniture back to the room, ensure that the room is thoroughly cleaned.
Valuable Vs. Junk Items
If you have an eye for truly valuable pieces, you may even find a few in a hoarder home. As an inheritor, one can make a tidy profit by selling some of the stuff that you find in the house. However, if you cannot evaluate correctly, you should take the help of a friend or an antique assessor who can guide you about the true value of the found items.
Conclusion
When you inherit a hoarder’s house, there is no way to predict what you could come across! It is possible that the hoarders themselves would not be able to list the house items. Most hoarders tend to hide their way of life, and it could be simply a matter of luck for an inheritor. While you get rid of all the stuff, you must be careful as there could be some safety issues.
But, during this stage you can get in touch with us. We would be glad to help you handle the hoarder house disposal, or the best make a good offer and pay cash. So, what are you waiting for, get in touch with us today.