Hoarding disorder affects 2% to 6% of adults around the world. There are three main diagnostic criteria for hoarding disorder. These are:
- Insatiable need to acquire more items
- Inability to get rid of used, broken or worthless items
- Intense distress at the idea of not having an item
If you or your loved one has hoarding disorder, you’re not alone. This disorder has serious impacts on you, your family, your home and even your neighborhood. There are considerable consequences to having a hoarded property in Lynwood, CA. Eco Bear is a team of skilled cleaners who are ready to clear the clutter out of hoarded properties in Lynwood. Our professionalism and compassion make us the right choice for all types of Lynwood hoarder property cleaning needs.
Symptoms of Hoarding Disorder
The symptoms of hoarding disorder are usually mild in the beginning. You might start collecting, and the desire to add to your collection might consume more and more of your energy. You may be disorganized, perfectionist or a procrastinator about putting things away and keeping them tidy. In many cases, a traumatic event triggers hoarding disorder to get worse. A divorce, death in the family or loss of a job could worsen the tendency to acquire more items and not let go of what’s in your home. By the time a person with hoarding disorder reaches middle age, the symptoms are usually severe.
Who Develops Hoarding Disorder
Hoarding disorder is more common in middle age and senior adults than in children, teens or young adults. Men and women are equally affected by hoarding disorder, and they’re diagnosed with it at similar rates. Some risk factors that increase your chances of hoarding disorder are:
- Living alone
- Older than 50
- Have another mental health disorder, such as anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Have a family member who hoards
It’s important to know that people from all walks of life have hoarding disorder. It’s present in equal numbers in people of all economic, educational, professional and geographic backgrounds.
How Hoarding Disorder Impacts Your Life
In the early stages of hoarding disorder, you might notice that you can’t find items you need, such as your wallet or keys. Your home may be messy or disorganized. Some items in the fridge might be moldy. You might not clean as frequently as you should.
As hoarding disorder progresses, the impacts become more serious. You might end up buying three of the same thing because you can’t find the first two. This impacts your finances. You may not be able to access appliances, so preparing a meal is difficult. Surfaces may be layered with items, and you have to move them to do anything.
In the worst level of hoarding disorder, your home has inaccessible areas. Doors may be partly or fully blocked. You may not be able to use the bathroom or kitchen. Broken appliances or fixtures may go without repair because you’re embarrassed about the condition of your home. Rotted food, pet feces and urine and other biological materials will attract pests.
Anyone else who lives with you will be affected by the hoarded property. Child and adult protective services may remove vulnerable individuals from the home. The Humane Society may remove pets if the animals are being hoarded or kept in unsafe conditions. Your friends and family may be frustrated, and you may be unable or unwilling to allow them into your home for social visits. This could weaken your relationships and damage your social network.
Impacts of Hoarding Disorder on Your Home and Property
Large hoards have significant impacts on your home and property. Water leaks, rotted food and pests lead to structural damage and mold growth. If the hoard spills onto your porch, driveway or yard, neighbors will notice. They may complain to the city of Lynwood. Utility or repair workers may notice the issue and report it. This could result in an investigation by the city. The city may cite your property for violations of health and building codes.
When Professional Hoarder Property Cleaning Is Needed
Hoarded properties contain such a large volume of items that there’s no way for one person or family to clear it on their own. If you’re facing citations, eviction or angry neighbors, it’s a good idea to have our skilled Eco Bear cleaners come in to handle the cleanup for you. We handle all types of hoards including those with
- Rotted food and garbage
- Pets and pests
- Salvageable items
- Large amounts of consumer goods
- Vehicles, whether or not they run
How Eco Bear Cleans Hoarded Properties in Lynwood
When you reach out to Eco Bear’s dedicated cleaning professionals, we arrange a time to visit the property. If you’re a landlord or you live out of state, we’ll accommodate your schedule. We inspect the property to get an idea of the size and scope of the hoarded items. This information helps us plan the correct number of cleaners and the supplies and equipment we’ll need for the cleanup.
On the first cleanup day, we have dumpsters and recycling. We work with any other needed professionals, such as inspectors, code enforcement and pest control technicians. We set aside salvageable items. Our three-step process begins with removing the hoarded items. We then clean the home. The final step is full restoration of the property.
What Makes Eco Bear the Right Choice for Hoarder Property Cleaning
We’re licensed and bonded for full hoarder property remediation in California. As a women- and veteran-led company, we demonstrate compassion for all of our clients. We work as quickly as possible and are thorough in all of our work.