Yes. In a hoarding cleanup with Emergency Cleanings, you decide what stays, and the keep, donate and discard rules are agreed with you before anyone lifts a box. Anything you are unsure about gets set aside for you to look at later, so nothing you care about leaves by accident.
Maybe a landlord letter finally landed. Maybe a code officer gave you a date. The scariest part is picturing strangers deciding what your things are worth. That isn’t how this works.
You Set the Rules Before Work Starts
During the free on-site assessment, a technician walks the home with you. Maybe every book stays. Maybe you want anything that once belonged to your mom kept, period. When you’re working out your hoarding cleanup what to keep list, say it out loud and it gets written down.
Those rules go into the written scope with one flat price, and the crew works from that list.
- Keep. Stays in the home, in the room you choose.
- Donate. Usable items you’re ready to pass on.
- Discard. Trash, spoiled food and broken items you’ve agreed can go.
- Not sure. Boxed and set aside for you to decide on your own time.
Papers, Photos and Valuables
Bills, deeds and old photos get mixed into every pile. The crew pulls paper, photos, cash, jewelry and anything that looks personal into a separate box for you to go through. Nothing in that box gets thrown out by the crew.
When a Landlord or Code Officer Is Involved
If you’ve been given an order, some areas may have to be cleared whether you’re ready or not. Those usually come down to safety, like clear paths to the doors and a sanitary bathroom and kitchen. Rules vary by state and city, so read your notice closely or call the office that sent it to learn what has to change.
We start with the areas on your notice so you meet the deadline. You still sort what’s in them.
One Room at a Time, Quietly
You don’t have to face the whole house in one day. The work can go one room at a time, with breathing room between sessions. Payment options exist too, so ask us about them when you call.
Technicians arrive in unmarked vehicles if you prefer. Nobody on the crew is there to judge you. They’ve seen a lot of homes, and yours is just the next job.
Cleanup Is Not Treatment
A cleanup makes your home safer. It doesn’t address the reasons things built up, and we won’t pretend to. If you want support, the International OCD Foundation keeps a hoarding resource site where you can search for therapists and support groups near you. You can read more about how the work runs on our hoarding cleanup service page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the crew throw away my things without asking?
No. The crew follows the keep, donate and discard rules you agreed to in the written scope. Anything that isn’t clearly covered goes in a set-aside box for you to decide on.
What happens to my papers and photos?
Papers, photos, cash, jewelry and personal items are pulled into a separate box for you to review. The crew does not discard anything from that box.
What if my landlord says certain areas must be cleared?
Safety areas like exits and the bathroom may need to be cleared by a deadline, and the exact rules vary by state and city. Emergency Cleanings can start with those areas while you keep sorting what’s in them.
Talk to Someone Who Won’t Judge
Call 888-560-8488 when you’re ready. We offer same-day response and a free on-site assessment, and you get a written scope with one flat price locked before any work starts. Emergency Cleanings keeps it quiet, and you stay in charge of your home.
