Hoarding is a serious problem. It is a secretive lifestyle and often goes undetected until it becomes extreme. Hoarding can hinder the expedient sale of a home as well as the sale price.
The Aitken Home Team presents five signs you might be a hoarder:
Your home smells.
You probably don’t even notice the musty odor coming from your home anymore. You can’t remember the last time you performed a deep cleaning and you can’t comprehend why people complain about a mysterious smell when walking by your home. Be careful! You might be concealing mold which is guaranteed to adversely affect your health.
You leave takeout containers in each room.
You often get takeout for lunch and dinner. Each room of your home houses old food containers or you might be storing all of them in one spot.
You have critters.
Mice have found your used pizza box stash and are living it up one dropping at a time all over your home.
You’re nocturnal.
You no longer have a normal sleep pattern. Instead of hitting the hay later in the evening, you find yourself nosing through your belongings at random throughout the night and you are still in your pajamas at three o’clock in the afternoon.
You neglect yourself.
Your usual wardrobe selections consist of soiled, stained, or torn clothing and you can’t locate the fresh jeans and updated tops you purchased last month. You are unable to wash your clothes because the washer and dryer are hidden beneath a load of belongings. Even if you could get to them, they are not functioning because you have neglected necessary repairs.
You even go so far as to miss doctor appointments, dinners engagements with friends and family and you no longer attend church and social events. You don’t eat fresh fruits and vegetables because your refrigerator is inaccessible and you are simply overcome with “stuff.”
Hoarding is a sad situation, but it is not hopeless. If you feel you are heading toward the lifestyle of a hoarder, the best thing to do is reach out to a trusted friend or family member for help.