Losing a loved one can be challenging for families, but if that loved one was a hoarder, it could make the grief even harder. Hoarding affects over 19 million people in the United States, and when a loved one who dealt with a hoarding disorder passes away, it can be challenging to deal with the aftermath. This article will look at helpful tips for dealing with the aftermath of a hoarder’s death so you can grieve the loss of your loved one without the hoarding.
Finding Storage
When a loved one dies, it can be a time-consuming and tedious project to take on the belongings they left behind. When that loved one is a hoarder, the task can be twice as tiresome. You may be on a time crunch to clear out the home when a loved one dies, and if they had a hoarding disorder, the task at hand could be daunting. One way you can organize these things is with a storage unit. If you are looking to relocate items quickly so you can sort them on your own time, storage units are the best option. Storage unit prices can vary depending on the size of the unit, but most storage units are budget-friendly and offer low monthly payments.
Group Effort
When you are left with the aftermath of a loved one’s death, one thing to keep in mind is not to go it alone. Whether you have other family members or friends willing to help, make it a group effort. With hoarding disorder, they often pile up entire rooms of their homes, leading to other storage units, garages, and even cars. When facing these areas alone, it can be overwhelming and take a long time to clean out. Having family members and friends there to help will offer the support you need to clear out the leftover belongings.
Limit Keepsakes
When going through the items your loved one left behind, you may find many things you would like to keep, such as figurines, clothing, pictures, and other family heirlooms. The best thing to keep in mind is to limit what you own. Many items that your loved one leaves behind may feel important to you. However, you don’t want to pile up your own home with the things that your loved one left behind. Other than the risk of cluttering your own home with belongings, hoarders, many pests such as bugs and mice are drawn to the hoard. This can contaminate many items and make them unsalvagable. If the items in the hoard have been exposed to weather, bugs, or mice, it may be best to cut losses and throw them out rather than risk keeping them.
Forget the Sale
Once a loved one passes, and you are left to go through their belongings, you may be tempted to sell things that are worth top dollar prices. While it may be tempting to sell items or even host a garage sale to try and sell something as a way to get rid of them, it could also be a waste of time. While some items may be worth a pretty penny, it can be hard to find buyers for things like collectibles. If you plan to have a sale, try to organize things as much as possible and put all salvageable items outside and have a one-day sale. After this day, pack everything up and take it off. This way, you can make some money to go towards any needed expenses and get rid of things. Try not to focus too much on the sale, so it doesn’t waste much time trying to sell items.
Moving Forward
Losing a loved one is a tough time, and when you are left with as many belongings as a hoarder has, it can be tougher to deal with. However, following the tips above can make this time more manageable and give you the time you need to grieve without worrying about so many belongings.
