Clearing hoarded houses with respect, means we should empower the resident to make their own decisions wherever possible. Furthermore, we believe we should only intrude into hoarders’ homes to the extent necessary, to ensure their health, safety, and general well-being.
We found those thoughts on the Borough of Slough website, and thought they make a great introduction to a misunderstood topic. Hoarder’s have rights like the rest of us in the United Kingdom, and that includes respecting their point of view wherever, and whenever we can.
A Short Definition of Hoarding to Get Started
Hoarding disorder displays as an excessive accumulation of possessions. This accumulation may be the result of acquiring too many things in the first place, or unusual difficulty later discarding them, because of the distress this causes.
This behaviour is not, in itself a cause for concern. However, if the clutter means that the hoarder can no longer live hygienically and safely, then an intervention may become necessary within the bounds of respect, as we mentioned earlier.
Let’s be clear in our minds, when clearing hoarded houses with respect, that hoarding is a lifestyle that may spin out of control, but it is not a mental condition per se. That distinction belongs to Diogenes Syndrome, characterized by severe domestic squalor.
Spot the Value When Clearing Hoarded Houses
Many homes in England have heirlooms and other items of value tucked away in the tops of cupboards, or against the back walls of garages and basements. A distressing number of these interesting pieces are thrown away during house clearances, due to the ignorance of typical junk removal and cleaning services.
Avery Associates have been valuing collectible items in deceased estates in Greater London for decades. We also offer a hoarded house clearance service, in which we ensure that low-value items go to charity shops or recycling depots, and not the end of country lanes.
If you engage Avery Associates for a hoarded house clearance, then you may rest assured that a senior member of our team will ferret out anything of collectible value, and any important documents. We will hand these items over to you as our client, and await any further instructions.
Where Does Hoarding Behaviour Begin?
Compulsive hoarding is not an entirely conscious free choice. It often arises subconsciously in childhood. Although the outward signs may only begin show in the mid-thirties, and then worsen as the decades pass. The inner drivers may include procrastination, indecisiveness, and perfectionism too.
So much for early-onset hoarding. Hoarding may also come on quite suddenly in later years, after the sudden loss of a life partner, or other emotionally-traumatic event. The hoarder may then retreat into themselves, seek solace in hoarding, and reject the idea of even tidying their home.
Factoring In the Drivers of Compulsive Hoarding
Hoarding is the accumulation of large quantities of possessions, that are of value to the hoarder. Therefore, it is important to understand that junk is not junk to everybody, when clearing hoarded houses with respect. There are four reasons behind why we may accumulate clutter:
- We believe the stuff has intrinsic value in itself, thus making it a good way to store wealth.
- Alternatively, we may prefer to believe the stuff has instrumental value, and a future use.
- Perhaps, some items in our hoard hold sentimental value, of the day we found and saved them.
- Possibly, our culture believes that possessions are a sign of wealth and status in our community.
In practice though, these four beliefs intertwine deeply in our psyche. This is why we should ideally ask a hoarder before we clear their home, but not their happiness and peace of mind.
There is Real Value in This ©Avery Associates
If a Hoarder Has Diminished Mental Capacity
If a hoarder’s behavior poses a risk to their safety and health, or has the neighbourhood complaining, then some form of intervention may become necessary. However, this should be with their consent in terms of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
This Act lays down the following principles to protect the hoarder’s fundamental rights:
- They are assumed to have mental capacity under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, until this is proven otherwise.
- We ought not to assume that they are unable to make a decision, until we have tried all other options.
- We may not assume they are unable to make decisions, just because, to us, their decisions are unwise.
Avery Clears Hoarded Houses With Respect
We believe that hoarders should consent to a house clearance. This is an ethical matter, and besides, how else could we complete our task without consent by the resident of the home.
We don’t believe in ‘forcing our way in’ and chucking everything into a skip. We always have a professional appraiser available, in case our team finds anything of real intrinsic value. Or comes across personal documents that others might have thrown away.
Avery Associates is available to assist with cleaning & clearing out properties at short notice. We handle cases involving deceased estates, evicted tenants, hoarded houses, and real estate rentals and sales.
More Information
Support for Someone with Hoarding Disorder
The Plain Truth About Hoarding Disorder
I have used Avery Associates both personally and professionally for a range of services, including house clearances, Probate valuations for over a decade (Shar Gabore)
