Avery Associates

House Clearance & Probate Valuation Services


  • HOME
  • HOUSE CLEARANCE
    • Probate House Clearance
    • House Clearance
    • FAQ
    • Hoarder House Clearance
    • Garden Clearance
    • Charity Donations
    • Recycling
    • House Clearance Gallery
    • Our Locations
  • PROBATE VALUATIONS
    • PROBATE HELP
      • Probate Valuation Guide Fees & Advice
      • Probate House Clearance
      • Executor Assistance
      • Solicitor Assistance
      • Our Locations
    • Probate Valuation Explained
    • RICS Property Valuation
    • Classic Cars
    • Jewellery
    • Coins
    • Books
    • Stamps
    • Vintage Toys
    • Records
  • REVIEWS
  • NEWS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT

Digital Hoarding a New Compulsion in Cyberspace

June 24, 2019 By Richard Farrell

Digital Hoarding (AKA e-hoarding or cyber-hoarding) is an excessive tendency to acquire electronic material, and a reluctance to delete it when it is no useful to us.

This digital clutter in a growing phenomenon in pop culture, although the medical profession fails to recognize it as a disorder. This is because there is no accumulation of physical objects fundamental to the official definition.

It may also have to do with traditional doctors treating physical symptoms, not underlying psychological causes but that’s a topic for another day.

Moreover Digital Hoarding May Be Partly Down to Bots

Digital clutter may also occur as a result of installing applications that place icons on our desktops. However they remain there because we forget to do monthly housekeeping or an annual spring clean. We may also be afraid of deleting the underlying application by clicking the wrong thing.

Different Cyber Cupboards for Different Types of Clutter

Digital hoards are often half-forgotten because we store them in folders we seldom visit if ever. Here we think of browser icons, browser tabs, digital photo albums, and hidden folders containing ‘you know what’.

Other ‘cybercrime spots’ are email inboxes, internet bookmarks, software and apps we never use, and that great hoard of clutter my (forgotten) documents.

Conventional hoarding science distinguishes between a disorganized ‘hoard’ and a neatly catalogued ‘collection’. Creating email and document folders can be a pathway to ‘salvation’ provided we cull them which we never seem to do.

Are External Folders the Ultimate Hidden Hoard?

A hoarder of physical objects can rent a storage unit for overflow. A digital hoarder can dump files to an external drive never to be opened again. Social media platforms are another place to dump unwanted information we may need some day.

Come to think of it, when did we last do an audit of our Facebook friends, no matter from where they arrived? What causes this obsessive compulsion to keep digital clutter we no longer need? We stopped by the Wikipedia Clinic to find out.

The Acknowledged Causes of Digital Hoarding

# We don’t delete files and folders in case we need them later

# We don’t have a method for sorting data so we can spot unwanted stuff

# It takes less time and effort to do nothing compared to something

# We don’t mass-delete emails in case there’s a permission lurking somewhere

# There’s masses of storage space on modern devices

# Data does not naturally decay we have to delete it

Known Side-Effects of Digital Hoarding

The biggest bind is we can’t find what we are looking for in our unorganised hoard. However Windows does provide a search app to help out. Despite this we may eventually need a new device when the overloaded one starts slowing down.

That said, we simply copy the data across or dump it on a cloud where we forget the passwords. Digital hoarding can be stressful even writing about it. Now if only we had the time we might even try to get rid of the clutter.

But not this file … or that folder … or that image … or that video though. We forgot we had them. We’ll need to open them first (when we ever have the time).

Related

Filed Under: Compulsive Hoarding Tagged With: cyberspace hoarding, Different Cyber Cupboards for Different Types of Clutter, digital hoarder, digital hoarding, hoarder house 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.

More info

About Richard Farrell

What We Do

Get A Quick Quote

Client Reviews

Jenny Schon
Dec 3, 2021
 by Jenny Schon on Avery Associates
Well done

This truly is a 'one stop shop' for all things relating to Probate valuations and clearance. Jeffrey is a 'facilitator' and full marks to him for finding... Read More

Kevin Anderson
Oct 26, 2021
 by Kevin Anderson on Avery Associates
Fantastic and Reliable

Our aunt was a recluse and hoarder. She died leaving two properties in London that were dilapidated and completely hoarded. Unfortunately, because everything... Read More

It was a pleasure to assist Kevin

T. Hackett
Aug 26, 2021
 by T. Hackett on Avery Associates
1st Class Service

Avery Associates Appraisal I have just moved house after almost 30 years of occupation. My initial choice of movers, Pickfords, decided at the last... Read More

Page 1 of 44:
«
 
‹
 
1
2
3
›
 
»
 

Share, Email or Print

Looking For Something?

Our Latest News & Advice

  • Thought I Had Seen Everything Until I Visited Walsall
  • How to Apply for Probate in England and Wales
  • England’s Ambitious Waste Plan by Jeffrey Avery


Avery Associates
291 Mitcham Rd
Tooting SW179JQ

Tel: 0800 567 7769 or 0208 640 0044

Services provided throughout London and the Home Counties. View our clearance case studies.


Website Terms | Privacy Policy | Sitemap | Copyright © 2005-2018 Avery Associates
Website Development by Avara Web Media