Hoarder cleaning?

Question

I own a professional cleaning Company and have been very successful. However, I have only done one Hoarder clean up. We recently got called to a job by a sweet elder woman that truly needs help. She is too sweet.  she has 3 dogs and 3 cats and it's more animal feces then it is anything.. but it is pretty bad I told her $1500 for the job but I wonder if that's too cheap? There's a dead bird in one bathroom (feathers everywhere)  and the entire house is covered in dog poo. it's 3 bedroom 2 bath 2 bedrooms aren't to bad but the living room and master bedroom are literally covered in dog poop and trash.. what steps do I take to really help this lady?.

Anonymous · Answer

There are some things you can do for her if you want to truly help her. Arrange for someone to take her dogs out, or if she has a yard maybe convince her to have it fenced so her animals can go outside. Puppy pads can be bought at the dollar store, set up a place where they can be put down, litter boxes as well. 
As mindshift has mentioned, removal of any rugs in the feces covered areas. Disinfect the areas that have been compromised. You could also clear out one room, and place plastic on the floors, puppy pads on top I'm sure you get the idea. Sounds like you have a good heart. Keep up the good work.
It's often the frontline workers who help people, not the official ones.

Pauline · Answer

Doesn't sound like a hoarder if the biggest issues are dog poo, trash and feathers.  Problems come when that trash is considered useful/treasured mementoes by the occupier.

Can you come up with a simple method /scheme to help her maintain the cleaned up place,  or do a follow-up visit a week to 10 days later?

mindshift · Answer

Are you asking how to help this lady? Or, are you asking how much to charge? If the house has wood, vinyl or tile floors it's cleanable. If the house has carpet, that's a tear-out. You will never get carpet clean after this abuse. If carpet has to go, recommend she replace with vinyl flooring. Obviously furniture will need to be removed to a garage if she has one, or at least covered with a rainproof tarp while it's outside, so that is more physical labor than a normal cleaning. How big is her house? If the area to be cleaned is 1500 sq. ft. you would be charging her $1 per sq. ft. Removing trash (especially if you tear out carpet) may require a dumpster, and I have no idea how much that would cost where you are.

Christin K · Answer

You call in the Animal Control people first--and get some haz-mat suits to clean this mess. Cleaning animal waste is dangerous for you AND her--call the Health Department as well.

B · Answer

you need to arrange for the care of the animals call the local shelter as they should not be there (call and arrange with local authorities police)

? · Answer

You might regret only charging her $ 1500.00. Think again.

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Hoarder cleaning?

6 Answers