Our Clearance Services For Hoarders

Here at Greenleaf Clearance we understand how daunting cleaning out a well-loved space can be. As a family-run business, we take pride in providing a compassionate and efficient clearance service which will help an individual reclaim their space. Our team of friendly, and reassuring individuals are dedicated to making the process as stress-free as possible.

We will work with the homeowner on every step of our clearance process, and ensure all their belongings are handled with care. Whether you are dealing with a hoarding situation yourself, or want to offer a supportive hand to a family or close friend, we’re here to help. Our team will be sure to clear your space with both integrity and professionalism. In this article, we will take a look at what a hoarding home clearance London entails and our step-by-step plan for helping individuals who may suffer with this disorder.

What is a Hoarder Home Clearance?

Did you know that, according to the British Association of Social Workers, between two and five percent of the population are estimated to be affected by hoarding? This means that in the UK alone, there are currently 1.2 million people suffering from this medically diagnosed disorder. 

Hoarding can be a debilitating issue that can affect one’s mental and physical health. Every single individual has their own set of needs and personal challenges, which can make clearing their home all the more difficult. The NHS names individuals with a hoarding disorder as  ‘where someone acquires an excessive number of items and stores them in a chaotic manner, usually resulting in unmanageable amounts of clutter. The items can be of little or no monetary value.’ 

Simply put, hoarding disorder can be characterised by someone who has trouble purchasing, and keeping too many items that they may not have space for, or don’t currently need. With this urge to add more things to their homes, they can also run into the problem of having a difficult time throwing away or parting with their belongings too. Many individuals who have been diagnosed with this disorder may feel a compulsion to save these items and can be upset by the thought of getting rid of them if they have deemed them important. Our team is well-versed when it comes to clearing hoarders homes and will offer a friendly, and compassionate hand in helping you do so.  

Our Step-by-Step Guide For How We Approach a Hoarder’s Home

Here at Greenleaf Clearance, we not only understand this, but we also sympathise with our clients. In understanding the hoarding disorder, we are able to offer a tailored, and supportive way for individuals to clear their homes. In doing this, we have crafted a step-by-step guide which can help either yourself, or a loved one if you identify with having a hoarding disorder. 

Step 1: Planning The Clearance Ahead

Before we get started with the clearance process, we like to involve the homeowner and establish a plan. For hoarders, we understand that clearing their space can be distressing and we want to ensure they feel supported during this time. Our team of professionals will remain patient as we work through this, and will continue to communicate with the homeowner themselves, during every step of our plan. Our primary aim is to ensure that your clearance runs as smoothly, and with as little stress as possible. 

As part of our team planning ahead, we like to gauge the size of the clearance before we begin. This will allow us to consider the number of rooms, the items that will need to be cleared and take into account any other specific requirements from the client. At this beginning stage, we can make certain that everyone feels comfortable in what will be leaving the property. 

As well as assessing how big the property is, and how many items will need to be packaged, we will also work with the client to create a comprehensive list of goals for their home. This will limit the confusion for our overall aim, and we can work together to produce an encompassing set of steps which will help us achieve these said aims. For example, if we started in the kitchen, one of our goals could be to simply decide which crockery would be moving with the client.

Step 2: Categorising & Sorting Through Belongings 

To keep the process of the clearance as smooth as possible, our team will aim to make the second step of our process about categorising and sorting through the client’s belongings. This step of our process can be one of the more daunting tasks for individuals with a hoarding disorder. During this step, we can take it as slowly as needed, and we advise having a close friend or family member present for either yourself or the client. 

When it comes to sorting through the client’s belongings, we like to cateogrise items based on whether they are being kept, sold or disposed of. During this, we will use coloured post-it notes to label items clearly, alerting everyone on our team what will be happening with said item. We find that designating work areas is the best way, as it gives us ample space to get things done. Whilst working on clearances such as these, we will opt for a space where we can store things during the process. 

Step 3: Our Disposal Duties

After everything has been sorted, we can begin removing unwanted items. Our team can help pack everything up and carry it out for the client. Depending on the location of the clearance, it’s vital that disposing of waste is done responsibly. For example, we know that London currently holds strict regulations when it comes to getting rid of unwanted items. Again, we understand that this step of the plan can be distressing for the client, so we aim to handle it with the utmost care and support. 

Greenleaf Clearance: House Clearance London Experts

As we’ve said above, here at Greenleaf Clearance we are a family-run business, who pride ourselves on supporting all of our clients in their journey to a clear home. Whether you are moving, or simply looking to declutter your house, our team of friendly experts can make the process extremely simple. We also offer free, no-obligation quotes before any work begins, so you can discuss your own personal needs and requirements for the house clearance London with one of our team.  Contact us today at 0808 164 8226 to learn more.