From the first call to the last truck
St. Louis Hoarding Cleanup: Guide to the Cleanup Process in St. Louis
What happens at each step of a hoarding cleanup, so nothing about the day is a surprise.
- St. Louis and eleven towns within 28 miles
- Written price before work starts
- Licensed, insured local contractors
- Occupancy inspection rules covered
St. Louis Hoarding Cleanup wrote this guide for people about to let a crew into a home for the first time, which is a hard thing to do for a house that has been closed to visitors for years. It walks through each step of a typical hoarding cleanup around St. Louis, in the order it happens.
The first call
The call is about the house, not the person. Expect questions about the town, the size of the house, which rooms are affected, how full the worst room is, whether there is a basement or garage, whether the exits are clear, and whether there is a date to work to. You will hear a typical range for that kind of job, and whether it sounds like a cleanout or something that needs a biohazard company.
The walk-through
Before any price is final, someone looks at the house. The walk-through settles who has authority to make decisions, what must be kept, what must be searched for, where things are going, and how the truck will get close. It is also when the written price is set. Ask what is included: hauling, disposal fees, appliance recycling, a broom sweep.
Not sure how big the job is? Describe the rooms and what is in them, and get a straight answer on what it usually takes.
Call (636) 216-6490The first day
Crews usually start at the door. Exits and paths come first so everyone can move safely, then the kitchen and bathroom. The truck is loaded as the day goes, and the first load usually leaves before lunch. Neighbors will notice a truck, but crews keep bags moving straight to it rather than piling them outside.
If the homeowner is present, the crew works with them and at their pace. If a relative is managing it, many check in once a day rather than staying on site.
Sorting, searching and deciding
- Keep, set aside in one place in the house
- Search finds, like papers, photographs, jewelry and cash, boxed for the family
- Donate, bagged and taken to donation where the family wants that
- Recycle, including paper once checked, metal, appliances, tires and batteries
- Dispose, hauled to a transfer station or landfill
Questions come up as the crew works: a box of letters, a locked case, something that might be valuable. The crew should set those aside and ask, not decide.
The last day
The final day is usually basements, garages and anything left in the yard, then a broom sweep. Paint and chemicals are set aside for the regional household hazardous waste program, which residents of St. Louis City, St. Louis County and Jefferson County can use by reservation. A deep clean, if one is wanted, is a separate job priced once the floors are visible; the deep cleaning page covers it.
After the crew leaves
For a sale, the next steps are repairs and the occupancy inspection. For a rental, the rental inspection. For someone living in the home, the next step is support so it stays clear. In towns with a short window after a passed inspection, like Hazelwood at 90 days, the crew's last day and the inspection should be close together.
Not sure how big the job is? Describe the rooms and what is in them, and get a straight answer on what it usually takes.
Call (636) 216-6490What to have ready
- Keys, and permission for the crew to be there
- The search list, written down
- Where the truck can park, and any building rules
- Any document that shows your authority, such as a power of attorney or letters of administration
- A spot for the keep pile that the crew will not touch
How it feels, and why that is normal
People are often surprised by how hard the first hour is, and by how much easier the second day is. Letting strangers into a home that has been closed for years is the hardest part for many homeowners, and for families it is often the first time they have seen the whole house. Crews that do this work regularly expect embarrassment, anger and grief, and they do not comment on the house. If anyone on a crew treats the home or the person with less than respect, say so to whoever booked the job.
For the person who lives there, small choices help: deciding which room goes first, keeping one chair and one table clear as a place to sit, and seeing the keep pile grow rather than only the trash leaving.
Common questions on the day
- Can work stop for a break or for the rest of the day? Yes, if the person who lives there needs it.
- Can family take things home as the crew works? Yes, from the keep pile.
- What if something is found that nobody expected, like cash or a firearm? It is set aside and the family is told.
- What happens if a room turns out to have biohazard conditions? Work in that room stops and a remediation company is called.
The hoarder house cleanout page covers the work itself in more detail, and the cost guide covers what it usually costs.
Paperwork that speeds things up
The crew will want to know who can make decisions. For an owner, that is the owner. For a parent who has signed a power of attorney, it is the person named in it. For an estate, it is the personal representative, or the person collecting under a small estate affidavit, which Missouri allows for estates of $40,000 or less after debts. For a landlord, it is a copy of the abandonment notice or the court's order. Having the right document ready on the first day avoids a stop while someone finds it.
Questions people ask
What happens during a hoarding cleanup?
A walk-through, then clearing from the exits inward, sorting into keep, donate, recycle and dispose, and a broom sweep at the end.
Do I need to be there the whole time?
No. Someone with authority needs to agree what stays. Many families check in once a day.
Will the neighbors know?
They will see a truck, but crews keep bags moving straight to it and keep the job as short as they can.
What happens to things that might be valuable?
They are set aside and the family decides. The crew should ask, not decide.
How much does a hoarding cleanup cost?
Around St. Louis a whole house typically runs $2,000 to $6,000, at $1 to $2 per square foot.
Talk it through before anyone carries anything out
Say how many rooms are affected, whether there is a deadline, and whether anything in the house needs to be kept. You will hear what the job usually involves, what it tends to cost, and how long it tends to take.
Call (636) 216-6490