PuroClean Responds to a Severe Hoarding Incident Near Green Bay

Hoarding is a problem we see frequently in the restoration industry. As experienced hoarding cleanup professionals in and around Green Bay, Wisconsin, we regularly get called to deal with these incidents when the risks become too severe. Other times, we encounter hoarding situations when responding to other disasters, such as water and fire losses.

Many dangerous issues such as fire or water damage, mold growth, and other biohazard contaminants, occur more frequently in a hoarded home. These problems must be dealt with immediately to prevent personal injury, the spread of disease, permanent building degradation, and more extensive financial costs to remedy these issues.

Hoarding also accompanies another serious risk; homeowners could have insurance claims outright denied. Due to the increased potential for personal injuries, fire hazards, liability issues, blocked exits, and maintenance concerns, a hoarder might be at risk of completely losing homeowner’s insurance coverage altogether. As hoarding risks and cleanup is a complex topic, we include it in our continuing education classes we offer to insurance agents in our area.

Here’s one recent example of a severe hoarding situation we’ve responded to. The city of Menominee, Michigan issued an evacuation order on a home that was considered condemned. It was occupied by an elderly woman living alone. After many years of negligence and continuous hoarding, a significant amount of mold had infested the home. We came to the rescue as soon as we were called.

The situation was so severe that, by the end of the job, we filled five dumpsters with trash and debris. We had initially planned to use just three. In addition, we had to make four trips with our box truck to haul and dispose of hazardous materials like paints, aerosols, stove, refrigerators, etc. The hoarding cleanup took two weeks, from initially providing the estimate to the final content removal.

It was a long battle with such a huge collection of items and the mold it harbored. After the dust (literally) settled, the elderly homeowner was mesmerized by the clean state of her home! We hope that she keeps it that way to prevent any future risks. This process seemingly has saved her home.

Overall, we’re very proud of what we accomplished. A special shout-out goes to our technician, Tom Baker, who really took the initiative and worked diligently throughout the project. Tom always works really well with customers who need empathy and a little extra understanding, and he is always respectful and honest.

Hoarding is a serious disease and no one should have to live in a hoarded home. For any of your hoarding cleanup needs, call the PuroClean professionals. We are prepared and ready to handle any hoarding situation, including situations that require smoke or fire damage restoration, mold removal, biohazard cleanup, reconstruction, or other emergency cleanup services.