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(Updated December 2016)
Hoarding seems like a new problem, but the first recognized hoarders were the Collyer Brothers. Homer and Langley Collyer died in 1947, in their house filled with 120 tons of junk, including a Model T chassis and 14 grand pianos. Shows like Hoarders have brought awareness to this psychological condition. Find out the impact of hoarders on real estate, and resources to help hoarders. (A. Siudzinski, Senior Library Information Specialist)
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What Is Hoarding?
“Hoarding is the persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value. The behavior usually has deleterious effects—emotional, physical, social, financial, and even legal—for a hoarder and family members.
For those who hoard, the quantity of their collected items sets them apart from other people. Commonly hoarded items may be newspapers, magazines, paper and plastic bags, cardboard boxes, photographs, household supplies, food, and clothing.”
Source: Hoarding: The Basics (Anxiety and Depression Association of America, n.d.).
Clutter vs Hoarding: What’s the Difference?, (WebMD, 2014).
Hoarding and Real Estate
10 tips for handling a hoarder’s home, (RISMedia/Housecall, July 27, 2015).
Help Hoarders: Care for Them & Their Homes, (REALTOR® Magazine, Feb. 2015).
Hoarding Is a Selling Agent’s Nemesis, (Daily Real Estate News/REALTOR® Magazine, Oct. 13, 2014).
Hoarding: Are Fair Housing Laws in Play?, (PAR Just Listed, Apr. 10, 2014).
Hoarding Homeowners: How Do They Affect the Market?, (Matin Real Estate Group, Mar. 26, 2014).
Selling a Hoarder’s Home: The Trouble With Stuff, (The New York Times, Oct. 11, 2013).
Hoarding and Housing, (International OCD Foundation, 2013).
Hoarding Resources
How to help a hoarder, (Budget Dumpster, June 15, 2016).
Helping hoarders to de-clutter their homes, (Upside of Downsizing, Feb. 2, 2016).
How Do You Recognize and Help When a Loved One Is Hoarding?, (GoodTherapy.org, Aug. 17, 2015).
Hoarding: How to Help a Friend, (Hoarders Anonymous, n.d.).
Hoarding Disorder: Treatments and Drugs, (Mayo Clinic, May 8, 2014).
Find Help, (International OCD Foundation, n.d.).
eBooks & Other Resources
eBooks.realtor.org
The following eBooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:
5 days to a clutter free house (Kindle, OverDrive Read, EPUB eBook)
Be an angel—clear that clutter! (Kindle, OverDrive Read, EPUB eBook)
Children of hoarders (Kindle, OverDrive Read, EPUB eBook, PDF eBook)
Clutter-free home living (Kindle, OverDrive Read, EPUB eBook)
Clutter busting (Kindle, OverDrive Read, EPUB eBook, PDF eBook)
The life-changing magic of tidying up (OverDrive Listen, OverDrive MP3 Audiobook)
Organize for a fresh start (Kindle, OverDrive Read, EPUB eBook, PDF eBook)
Organizing for dummies (Kindle, OverDrive Read, EPUB eBook)
Field Guides & More
These Field Guides and other resources in the Virtual Library may also be of interest:
Field Guide to Preparing & Staging a Home for Sale
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