Hoarding can take years to build up. Someone may start off by just holding onto some things, having too many things in there home, or being unable to throw things away. This can grow and lead to a house full of hoarding. Learning about the 5 levels of hoarding can allow you to know how bad of a situation your family member, property or clients may have.
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There is a 5 level Clutter-Hoarding scale created by the Institute for Challenging Disorganization. (ICD) This allows us to see how much clutter may be in a home and if there is any danger to health. Level 1 being low clutter and Level 5 being severe clutter.
There are 5 classifications of hoarding and each one has a color. They are green, blue, yellow, orange and red. There are many things to consider when classifying a home that is hoarded. Here is some information to help you identify what level your home may fall under.
Level 1 Hoarding- Green
Low Clutter
Level 1 is considered the lowest on the scale of hoarding. Your home will have minimal clutter. You may have some extra items around your home but your home should have good housekeeping. Your furniture, appliances, hall ways, bedrooms, kitchen and bathroom should all be open and usable.
You may have items around your home that you do not throw away but they are not taking over your home or preventing you from doing daily tasks. You may have boxes, collections or other items that you store. But nothing that would be considered bad housekeeping.
You may have some clutter but there is no danger. All doors and exits are open and usable. Your appliances are working and there is no sign of rodents or pests.
While level 1 is not a bad level of hoarding there are things you should be aware of. If you are finding it hard to let go of your belongings or always bring things home that you don’t need. Or if you find yourself getting attached to your belongings you may have hoarding tendencies.
Level 2 Hoarding- Blue
Guarded Clutter
When you reach level 2 your home will have a higher amount of clutter. You will start to notice your home becoming harder to keep clean. Boxes, papers, clothes, containers, furniture and other items will start to build up in your home.
You may start to notice your home becoming non-functional. You may have appliances that are not working. Your closets could be stuffed with items and you may have trouble walking through your home. You may smell odors or have items that need cleaned. You could also have small amounts of rodents or pests in your home.
Your family may start to notice your home is becoming dirty or unkept. The person who lives in the home may not understand why you want them to get rid of items.
It’s important to learn the levels of hoarding so you can catch it early. There are many organizations that can help you if you believe your family member has started hoarding. Just approach the situation calmly and with understanding.
Level 3 Hoarding- Yellow
Elevated Clutter
Once you hit level 3 you may need to call in professional help to organize your home. There will be clutter throughout your home and it will start to effect your daily activities.
Your home will have clutter that is taking over rooms. Your kitchen counters may be filled with items. You may have your bedroom filled with clothes and boxes. Your living room may only have a couple chairs that are able to be sat in. You will start to notice walk ways through your home.
There may be odors coming from your home. You could have rotting food, trash piling up or have pests. Your bathroom and kitchen may become non-functional as well. Family may not be able to enter the property or have rooms they can use.
Level 3 is when most families will start to notice there is a problem. You will need to get a professional organizer and maybe other services involved. Remember to keep your family member’s best interest in mind.
Level 4 Hoarding- Orange
High Clutter
Your home will now have a high amount of clutter. You may have piles of trash, broken furniture and other items. There could be food that has expired or items that you may not even want to look at.
Your home may not be safe to be in. Your rooms may not be usable. Your hall ways may not have enough room to walk through. You may not be able to get out of your home in the event of an emergency.
There will be pests in your home. Rodents, roach’s flies and bed bugs may be found. There will be smells coming from your home and possible mold. Your home will have bad housekeeping and could be in a state of neglect.
You may have leaks in your plumbing or have electrical issues. There may be damage to your home that you are not able to see because of all the items.
There are many professionals you will need to get involved with your home. From hoarding cleans to biohazard cleans you may need all types of contractors. Make sure to research and get a good company that knows what they are doing.
Don’t try to just throw everything away. You will need to have a plan of action for your family member and your home.
Level 5 Hoarding- Red
Severe Hoarding
Your home is considered severe hoarding. There will be tons of items and trash around your home. Your home may not be safe to live in or have rooms that you can use.
There may be rooms in your home that you can not enter. Your kitchen and bathroom may not be usable. There could be clogged pipes, no electricity or appliances that are not working.
You will have serious housekeeping issues. Rodents and pests will be everywhere. Animal droppings and food that has expired will be found. You may have mold or sewage issues as well. Fire hazards can be present if your home is full of combustible material.
Your home will need to be cleaned and possibly repaired. You will need to call professionals to help you clean your home and inspect it.
Make sure to have all your ducks in a row when you have a house that is hoarded to level 5. There are many professionals you will need to call and research. Make sure to have a plan of action and protect your family members.
What Level Of Hoarding Does Your Home Have?
Just because you have items in your home does not mean you have hoarding. You need to look at your home and see if there is danger or it has become non-functional.
When you are looking at a hoarded home you will want to see what rooms are accessible. Are there any hazards in the home? You will want to check for animal droppings, pests and any type of mold or trash.
The 5 levels of hoarding is a scale that you can use to see what condition your home is in. It is not a medical term and you should have a doctor evaluate if your loved one has hoarding disorder.
Can I Sell My Hoarded House? The 5 levels of hoarding Stuff
Yes you can sell your house that is hoarded. If you are looking to sell your home to a cash buyer AS-IS, Fort Worth Hoarding Cleanup buys all types of hoarded houses in Tarrant County.
If you do not have the time or money to get your house cleaned you can sell it as-is. There are many companies that buy hoarder houses and will even give you cash for your property.
If you have recently inherited a hoarder house and don’t know where to start. Selling your house as-is may be your best option. There are buyers that will purchase your house no matter the condition.
Learn More About Hoarding
Hoarding is something that many families will face. By learning the 5 levels of hoarding you can identify if your home or family member has started to hoard.
No matter what level your home may have you should not shame your loved one. There are many resources that can help your family member get back to a healthy lifestyle.
If you have an inherited hoarder house and don’t know where to start. Learn about the 5 levels of hoarding and see what you can do to help your family.