Many people hoard items that they no longer need, which can create a huge problem for those who live in the home. If you are preparing to do a cleanup, there are some steps you should take beforehand. The cleanup process usually involves identifying the items that are the biggest problems for you along with a few other things.
It will help you focus on those items first since they take up most of the effort. For some, this will mean getting rid of all their junk. However, for some people, It’s difficult to discard unwanted items. The easiest way to dispose of the items is by calling a professional service. Hiring Professional Hoarding Cleanup Service is always a better option. One can learn more about it here.
Hoarding Cleanup Prep Checklist
Assess The Situation:
You should conduct a thorough assessment of the situation and identify the items that may be causing problems. You can do this by doing a physical inspection of your home or getting your family and friends to help you come up with a list of items you need to get rid of.
The next step is to prepare yourself for what you might find when conducting the inspection. You may uncover items that are causing health problems to you or your family. Or it could be that some of the items are too dangerous for you to get rid of yourself.
Determine Who’ll Be Able To Help You:
Just because you have done this before doesn’t mean your family can help you. They might even be part of the problem you are dealing with. Always communicate with them first to see if they are willing to help or not.
Also, compare what they have or have not done in the past at home to what you are doing now to choose if they can be part of the process.
Consider A Professional Hoarding Cleanup Service:
It would be best if you did not try this on your own. You can always hire a professional hoarding cleanup service to help you get the job done right the first time around. It will ensure that you get rid of the items promptly and keep everything sanitary.
It will also allow you to focus on other tasks that need to be done around the house without worrying about anything else. A professional hoarding clean-up service will take care of everything so sit back and relax.
Understand What You Are Getting Into:
It’s important not to underestimate what it takes to get this project done right. It may be difficult for some people, but it is essential so you can tackle this project head-on.
Some of these things may shock you, and you will realize how and why you began hoarding these items in the first place. It would help if you administered a hoarding questionnaire to yourself and your family so that they can come up with a list of items they would like to get rid of.
Write And Keep A Record:
You must keep track of every major step taken for your home cleanup. You can even take pictures and keep a written record. It will allow you to make referrals when needed if things go wrong during the hoarding cleanup process. It will also make it easy for you to schedule any work in the future when needed.
Communicate With Your Family:
It would be best if you lived in a clean home without any clutter. It would help if you also had the support of your family when doing this project. Try to communicate with them about what you are doing and why. Please make sure they are aware of the goals that you have set for the clean-up so they can support you as well.
Figure Out The Schedule:
You should start this project when you know that you can handle it. You will need to figure out the schedule for this project, and it’s best to be realistic with this. It may not turn out as you expected, and it would be a big and terrible mess. So, set a realistic expectation about what you can do each week and break them down into small tasks that can be accomplished during the day.
Plan A Big Reward For The Success Of The Cleanup:
When you are leading the hoarding cleanup, you must have a reward to look forward to at the end of it. Sometimes, people are not happy with the final result of what they have done. Having a reward can motivate you to keep going when it seems impossible for you to continue.
Conclusion
Hoarding happens in all walks of life. It can be very serious and may cause you to feel like you are in a figurative prison. There are several things that you will need to consider if you want to help someone who hoards. You may even decide to undergo this painstaking process yourself if your hoarding has gotten so bad that it’s affecting your health and the quality of your life. You may find that certain steps or guidelines work better for you than others do.
