How to clean out a hoarder house

Safety first

Hoarded homes can hide mold, pests, broken floors, blocked exits and sharp objects. Wear gloves, sturdy shoes and a mask. If you see biohazards, needles or structural damage, stop and call a specialist. We do not handle biohazard cleanup.

Start with the person

If the person living there is willing to be involved, let them make keep decisions about what matters to them. Pushing hard often backfires, and the house fills back up.

Step by step

1. Set a goal and a deadline, especially if a landlord or code officer is involved.
2. Pull essentials: IDs, medications, documents, keys, cash and phones.
3. Clear paths and exits so the house is safe to work in.
4. Go room by room, starting with the one that matters most, often the kitchen or bathroom.
5. Use three piles: keep, sort later, and go.
6. Remove the go pile often so it does not become a new pile.

How long does it take?

It depends on volume, access and how involved the person wants to be. Some homes clear in one visit. Many go better in stages.

Posted prices

Every job starts from the same posted price card. A single item is $64. A small job, up to about 1.5 cubic yards, is $119. A medium job, about 3 cubic yards or roughly a room, is $189. A large job, about 5 cubic yards or roughly a garage bay, is $239. An extra-large job, about 10 cubic yards, is $479, and anything past 10 cubic yards is $45 per yard. A mattress or box spring is $64 alone or $20 each on a job. A washer, dryer, stove or dishwasher is $69 alone and free on a job. A fridge, freezer, air conditioner or dehumidifier is $99 alone or $35 on a job. A TV or monitor is a $15 add-on. Construction debris is the job price plus 20%. Estate cleanouts start at $499 and hoarding cleanouts at $599. The full list is on the pricing page.

Can you do it in one day?

Sometimes, with enough help and a clear plan, especially if the person is not living there. For an occupied home, one day is usually too fast for the person to keep up with decisions.

Hiring someone to clean a hoarder house

Hoarding cleanouts with us start at $599, quoted from photos. We can invoice a landlord, attorney or family member.

Supplies for a DIY cleanout

• Heavy contractor bags and gloves.
• Masks rated for dust and mold.
• Boxes and markers for keep and sort-later piles.
• A flashlight for dark corners and basements.

After the cleanout

Clearing the house is one step. Support for the person afterward matters too. Their doctor or a local mental health provider can point to help, so the home does not fill back up.

Working room by room

Start with the entry and a path to the kitchen and bathroom, so the house becomes safe to move through. Then take one room at a time and finish it before moving on. A finished room is visible progress, and it gives a place to set keep items so they do not get mixed back into the piles.

How booking works

Send photos through the quote form or text them to (207) 333-1422. No card is needed to ask. Caden looks at the photos and sends your price. If it works for you, you pay from the link he sends and that confirms the slot. The price we send is the price you pay unless the pile changes. If you add things after the price goes out, the price is updated before work starts, not after.

Related: hoarding cleanouts, hoarding cleanout help without judgment, hoarding cleanouts in Androscoggin County

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