When an adjuster or restoration contractor unknowingly walksinto a claim involving a hoarding situation, the immediate responsetends to be, “Oh no.” Hoarding claims are more complex becausemerely entering the home can be a challenge; there are asignificant amount of contents involved along with unknownrisks.

It may be hard to tell from the outside of a home that hoardingwill be an issue. The curtains might be closed and there may be acollection of items in the backyard, but usually it is apparent themoment someone steps into the house. A number of television showsdepict how these individuals live, what they collect and theirinability to part with their belongings.

Frequently, items are stacked haphazardly from floor to ceilingor just piled in a room until it is impossible to enter the spacesafely. There will be a mixture of items that most would considertrash – used boxes and bags, old newspapers and magazines, junkmail and the like – mixed in with clothes, shoes, knick-knacks,books and other objects. Since no one can enter the rooms, it'sdifficult to know what's actually in them and if there are anyproblems adjusters should anticipate with the claim.