After writing about heirs having a hard time administering the estate of a hoarded home in our previous blog, the notion of prevention comes to mind on some useful tips and benefits in your helping hoarders near you. This blog has been written with a plea to individuals to get out there and help their local community. Hoarders aren’t going to see the problem for what it is; despite the dangers associated with it.
Tip 1: Note Strange Behavior
When you walk your dog or are simply getting some exercise around your neighborhood, keep an eye out; hoarders tend to store a lot of things outside. They aren’t well-organized and their homes tend to look like dumpsters inside. Obviously, you cannot invite yourself in, but if the windows are always closed and you can’t see through them, it’s quite likely that things piled from floor to ceiling are blocking the light. Hoarders may be sociable but some stay indoors because they are embarrassed about the condition of their home. If this is the case, call your local community social worker, law enforcement office or City, so they can knock on the door to make sure everything is ok.
Tip 2: Increasing Animal Traffic
If you see an unusually high number of stray animals going in and out of the house, there is a real problem to be reported. Hoarders tend to look for stray animals and give them a home, but are not in a position to look after them. These animals start breeding, urinating and defecating all over the house, creating filthy conditions inside. The hoarder does not clean up and lives with this day in and day out. The smell may be so bad that you can smell it as you are walking by. It is not only a hazard to the hoarder, but unsafe for the animals as well. This is a serious criminal offense in California so report it to law enforcement immediately.
Tip 3: A Deteriorating Home
A hoarder is unable to maintain their home. If the home is looking distressed as well as having piles of junk outside, there could be an issue worth reporting. Sometimes the gutters are flooding because they are filled with leaves or a balcony is cluttered with furniture, books, newspapers, and food items. Knock on the door to see if they are ok. If they cannot open the door, there is a safety issue right there. Perhaps they are trapped in their own home and cannot get out; they have not paid their phone bill so they have not been able to get help. Perhaps a call to the fire department may be in order. Often times situations like this can be a classic fire hazard so it is very important to take such steps without feeling guilty.
Tip 4: An Increase in Pests and Rodents in the Area
You never had rats or mice around your home but now they are a constant issue. You may also have noticed more signs of other animals, such as raccoons. These animals can easily seek entrance into properties, especially if there are sources of food inside. If raccoons do end up inside your home, it’s important to call a pest control company as soon as possible. If you’re wondering why raccoon removal is needed, it’s because they can cause significant damage and problems inside the house. It’s crucial to remove them before they start damaging your possessions. There might also be an increase in flies (and possibly maggots) that you have not seen before and there is a constant sewer stench coming from somewhere nearby. Take a walk and see for yourself. Follow the smell and trace the breeding ground for the rats or mice. Visit https://spartanpestcontrol.com and get a pest control company to help; they constantly deal with these kinds of situations and may be able to tell you right away where the source is. The City you live in will want to know if there is a hygiene issue, so get the facts and report it. The quicker you report the issue, the quicker someone a plumber (check out ineedtheplumber.com/plumber-palm-city-fl/ to learn more), can come out and sort the sewage issues for you. Sometimes the problem won’t be as serious as you initially thought. It could just mean that your sewage system is clogged, so looking for a company that specializes in sewer line cleanout could be particularly important when it comes to resolving the problem. The sooner the issue gets resolved, the faster the smell will go.
HoarderHomes.com is all about giving hoarders a new lease on life. We buy their homes and let them move on with their lives. We buy it distressed, dirty, hoarded – no cleaning required. The overall benefit in you doing your part is, you save lives, you stop animals from being abused and you give someone a second chance at living in a better place. Your immediate benefit is living in a pest free, clean environment. Share your thoughts with us and of course, Like and Share this post with your friends and neighbors.
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