Common Items that People Hoard in their Homes – When it comes to compulsive hoarding, as an Oxfordshire house clearance company we see the county now throwing up many cases, and there is never an end to the type of items that people regularly hoard away. This condition involves the collecting of vast amounts of items, many of which will be completely worthless, and get packed away in the hoarder’s house. Clearance of such homes at a later stage can be a daunting task for a family member. Sufferers attach a value to these items and this is why they keep hold of them. The situation can often get out of control, and you may have to hire in a specialist firm dealing with compulsive hoarding situations to clear the property. Clearing a property affected by hoarding can be quite dangerous, so always remember to hire a company with experience. Here are some of the most typical types of items that are hoarded by sufferers of this condition.
Paper Products – Paper products regularly make up a large amount of the items that are hoarded by victims of compulsive hoarding in Oxford and around the UK. Newspapers, magazines, books, receipts and bills are often kept and stored away, sometimes stacked up in huge piles which stretch from the floors to the ceilings. Apart from the amount of space that these can take up, it can also lead to an increased fire risk. At the same time, such quantities of paper can become very heavy. In some cases tonnes of paper and books can put pressure on the floors and lead to structural damage. In some serious cases of compulsive hoarding, actual animals are collected. This is known as animal hoarding, and sufferers have been known to collect vast amounts of animals in some cases. This is often an even more serious problem because of the welfare of the animals. It is often impossible to care for them all properly which leads to great suffering for them, and at the same time the noise and the smell can become a serious problem for neighbours.
Dangerous Items – Sometimes dangerous items turn up in the collections of people suffering from compulsive hoarding. Asbestos, chemicals and other dangerous materials might be stored away and these can create a dangerous and unhealthy environment. This makes it important to hire a company which knows what it is doing when you decide to carry out a house clearance because it can be quite a dangerous task.
Food – Food is not typically collected, but it often gets gathered into the rest of the items because it is hard to clear away properly. This can then rot and create unsanitary conditions in the property.
Junk – Basically, a whole range of strange objects and junk, from old trinkets to broken and worthless objects, are all collected through the lifetime of the hoarder and stored away in the property. People are often surprised by the strange things that are kept in the home by hoarders. Oxford based Jeffrey Avery & Associates experience these types of situation on a regular basis, especially when people cannot throw anything. Hire a Specialist House Clearance Firm Compulsive hoarding is a mysterious and debilitating condition, and the hoarding of such quantities can be very dangerous and unpleasant for the sufferers and those in the vicinity. When it comes to clearing the property of the content, make sure you hire a specialist house clearance firm which has experience dealing with situations of hoarding. Oxford council and social services regularly see these cases, so family members and organisations can give us a call and we’ll know exactly how to clear the property in a safe and professional manner. For a house clearance firm specialising in properties affected by hoarding in Oxford and across the UK, give us a call today.
For confidential advice and assistance Call Jeffrey Avery directly on 0800 567 7769
