What Is Hoarding – Is Hoarding Clean-up Covered By Insurance?

Hoarding clean-up insurance is the last thing you want to think about after purchasing a property. However, there is a possibility you’ll have to consider it. 5% of people worldwide have diagnosable hoarding disorder, which means several homes need extensive clean-up.

The good news is that 911 Restoration of San Fernando Valley provides professional cleaning services, so you will get the task done. The real problem is understanding it and determining if your insurance company will cover it.

What Is Hoarding?

Hoarding refers to excessive storing of items, sometimes beyond their expiry and usability. This officially recognized psychological disorder makes it difficult for hoarders to part with possessions. Collectors are sometimes confused with hoarders; however, the two are vastly different.

Collectors have a niche interest and like to collect items that belong to their interest category. Their collection is organized and well-maintained and sometimes used for displays when needed. In contrast, hoarders do not follow specific interests and are far less organized when storing items.

Is Hoarding Worsening?

There is debate over whether hoarding is worsening or if we have an increasing number of people at higher risk of hoarding. People over 60 years of age are 2.6% more likely to suffer from hoarding than their younger counterparts.

There was a 34% increase in the total number of people in the 60+ age group in 2019, explaining the numbers are getting worse.

Why You Need Professional Hoarding Clean-up

Several people mistake cleaning a hoarded house themselves, putting themselves at risk. Following are some of the reasons why you need to contact 911 Restoration of San Fernando Valley when you need cleaning for such homes:

     1. Biohazard Risk

Hoarded stashes often include food material and similar objects well past their expiration date. In some cases, they are also stored close together without adequate protection, allowing the elements to combine and form dangerous combinations.

Such situations are potential biohazards that only professional and licensed cleaners can handle because they know how to identify biohazards. Trying to self-clean will put you and others at risk, so please use our sanitization services for desired results.

     2. Pest Infestation

Rats, insects, and similar pests are common in places with hoarded items, so the clean-up team will also be managing a pest infestation. Pest infestations are dangerous because rodent bites are infectious, and their droppings are biohazards. 

It also needs professional handling for containment. The last thing you want is the pest infestation to spread to the entire neighborhood.

Pest infestations are also a key source of severe infections and can become dangerous for immunocompromised people, especially younger children. Therefore, the pests need to be entirely eradicated.

    3. Mold Infestation

Mold infestations are common in houses that belong to a hoarder. Their houses often do not receive necessary cleaning and maintenance, which causes moisture to remain trapped and mold to grow. The problem becomes worse since the mold also has organic material for nutrition and uses it to spread further.

You will need our professional mold removal services to detect all areas with signs of molding. Our teams are experts at the job and will ensure they remove all molding without damaging the property.

Remember that mold infestations are health hazards for people with compromised immune systems and mold allergies, so removing all molding is critical.

    4. General Unsanitary Conditions

Houses with hoarded materials are generally unclean because the owner cannot reach into every corner with all the items in the way. The unsanitary conditions are harmful and negatively affect air quality. They are also why there is a higher chance of infections for people living in such houses.

Is Hoarding Clean-Up Covered by Insurance?

Hoarding clean-up may or may not be covered in your insurance, depending on your purchased policy. However, most policies cover cleaning biohazards, so how you file the claim is essential. 

Things get more complex if the hoarder files the claim because the insurance company will try to dictate what they get to keep after the clean-up. That can be emotionally triggering, but the matter needs to be resolved to ensure you get the professional cleaning covered as much as possible.

How to File Your Claim

Filing an insurance claim is always a daunting process because of the complexities. However, you don’t have to worry about anything if you’re working with the 911 Restoration of San Fernando Valley. Our teams have extensive experience and will offer complete support when filing your claim.

Our industry experience has given us insight into how insurance claims work, and we use the knowledge to ensure you get the claim approved.

Some Tips for Hoarders

If you or your loved ones are suffering from such a condition, it is best to seek help. Hoarding is a recognized psychological condition and highly detrimental to people suffering from it. Please seek the help you or your loved ones need to make it manageable.

Final Thoughts

In short, hoarding clean-up insurance is available but depends on your purchased policy. Please call the 911 Restoration of San Fernando Valley at (747) 297-6341 if you need urgent services. Our IICRC-certified professionals are available 24/7 and will reach you within 45 minutes of your call.

Our teams will also help you with your insurance claim, so you get most of the cost covered.