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Did You Know Compulsive Hoarding Unfolds in Five Stages?

February 16, 2020 By Richard Farrell

Compulsive hoarders are different because they save items many others think are ‘useless’. However, value is in the eye of the beholder, and they have great difficulty getting rid of their beloved ‘collections’

These accumulations grow as a result of this reticence. Their life and work spaces can eventually become uninhabitable according to Med Circle. Hoarders are oblivious of this fact because to them everything is the way they want it.

The Five Stages of Compulsive Hoarding

The National Study Group for Challenging Disorganization provides education, research, and strategies to benefit people challenged by chronic disorganization. They say there are five distinct stages of hoarding. They have developed a scale to help understand the condition. What follows may be unsuitable for sensitive people.

First Stage of Hoarding

During the first stage there are only small amounts of clutter and no remarkable smells. There may be a few animal waste areas. However, access to doors and stairwells is still clear.

Second Stage of Hoarding

Indications of stage two include a blocked exit, and at least one appliance not working for six months. The clutter is in more than in one room or passage way. There is also light mildew fungus in the bathroom and the kitchen.

Other signs include light pet odours, poor pet care, household rodents, dirty food-preparation areas, and overflowing garbage cans. Compulsive hoarders may feel ashamed about this, withdraw from social contact, and become anxious or depressed.

Hoarding During the Third Stage

The compulsive condition becomes public knowledge as the clutter extends outside the home. There may for example be a broken television or an abandoned vacuum cleaner in the garden.

There may be signs of light structural damage to the living space. The pets are neglected. Fleas and spiders begin to invade the home. One room is abandoned completely as dust, dirty laundry, and a prevailing stench overtake the house.

The hoarder begins to suffer personally as poor hygiene and weight issues overtake them. Toxic fumes, rodent droppings, and visible mould may infect them. They could become angry when someone challenges them about this.

Compulsive Hoarding in Stage Four

The home is deteriorating fast. There is heavy mould and mildew throughout. Structural damage has not been attended to for six months and the sewage is backing up. A large number of pets may have taken over the bedroom.

There is rotting food lying around. The place is filthy with no signs of washing up. The rat and flea-ridden house is becoming dangerous with fire hazards and blocked exits. Personal hygiene may be a thing of the past.

The mental state changes. The compulsive hoarder is oblivious of their surroundings. These things no longer matter. They are content with their nostalgic memories. They may focus their emotional energy on grandiose plans.

Stage Five Hoarding: The Terminus

The hoarder has left all semblance of generally-accepted living behind. They may have no electricity or water. Their home is a fire hazard by all accounts. The building is suffering increasing structural damage. The fridge is not working.

Clutter overflows in the bathroom and kitchen. There are more pets than allowed by bylaws. The woodwork is rotting. Personal hygiene has broken down. The entire home is a toilet. The once-proud person is in desperate need for help.

The better way would have been for someone to intervene during the early stages of this condition when there was still hope. This is why we publish these informative posts. No one deserves to end their life this way.

Further Reading

Hoarding Disorder & The Things You Need to Know

Unusual Angle on Hoarding May Shed Fresh Light

Filed Under: Compulsive Hoarding Tagged With: a bit of a hoarder, clearing a hoarded house, compulsive hoarding, five stages of hoarding, hoarder house clearance, probate huse clearance

Our House Clearance Services

We provide a full house clearance and property management solution:

  • We clear hoarded houses, regardless how big or how cluttered
  • We clear all types and sizes of property, irrespective of location, or access is restricted or where parking is difficult or not available.
  • We can help avoid water damage by draining the central heating system.
  • We can secure the property and change the locks.
  • We can reinstate the gardens and maintain them whilst the property is empty.
  • We can provide 24 hour security to eliminate the risk of squatting or unlawful occupation.

As well normal house clearances we specialise in clutter clearance and we can clear a hoarded house which may contain years of accumulated possessions, or which have abnormal amounts of general household items, sometimes as a result of compulsive hoarding syndrome.

Equally we can help to clear a property where the occupants were previously unwell and unable to care for themselves or their property which sometimes results in insanitary, dangerous or just plain unpleasant conditions.

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Client Reviews

Mar 8, 2021
by Jason Sims on Avery Associates
South Coast House Clearance & Document Retrieval

"I would like to thank Jeffrey and everyone at Avery Associates for assisting my dad and me. Following a death in the family, my father had to make last... Read More

Mar 4, 2021
by Ian Corben on Avery Associates
Probate Valuation & House Clearance

A one stop shop from beginning to end for myself as a first time executor.From our first call I was confident Jeff not only understood the issues with... Read More

Thank you Ian and it was a pleasure to assist you, we know how hard this process can be trying to find different service providers can be a nightmare so we feel very happy to ease the burden by providing all the services you require from one port of call.RegardsJeffrey Avery

Mar 4, 2021
by Sarah Lennie on Avery Associates
House Clearance After Probate

I just wanted to give my feedback I have recently moved my mother from her house and had the difficult task of clearing what was left in her... Read More

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