desh jack7 months ago
★★★★★
Thanks, Serge, for the quick, professional, and reasonably priced service. Will use you again - highly recommend!
Overview
The scale professionals use rates the home, not the person, from Level I to Level V. Here is each level in plain words, and what it means for a cleanout.
The living room still works. The hallway is down to a path one person wide, the spare bedroom door opens about a foot, and nobody has eaten at the kitchen table in a long time. If you are trying to decide how worried to be about a parent’s house, or your own, there is a standard way to describe it.
When people talk about the levels of hoarding, they usually mean the Clutter–Hoarding Scale published by the Institute for Challenging Disorganization. It rates a home from Level I to Level V. Knowing roughly where a house sits tells you how much help it needs, and what kind. This guide is part of our Sacramento hoarder cleanout series.
What the Scale Measures
The Clutter–Hoarding Scale is an assessment of the home, not of the person who lives there. Its authors state that it is not for diagnosing people; it only assesses the volume of clutter and the environmental risks. It looks at five things:
- The structure of the home and its exits
- Animals and pests
- Whether the rooms can still do their jobs
- Health and safety
- How much protective equipment someone entering would need
The Five Levels
| Level | What the scale describes | What it means for a cleanout |
|---|---|---|
| I · Low | A standard household with little or no clutter. All doors, stairways and windows are accessible; smoke detectors work. | An ordinary junk pickup, if anything. |
| II · Guarded | One major exit blocked. Visible or odorous pet waste, light to medium signs of household pests, clutter getting in the way of some key living areas, mildew in the kitchen or bathroom. | A normal cleanout crew can handle it, usually in a day. |
| III · Elevated | The scale calls this the pivot point between a cluttered home and a hoarded one. Clutter visible outdoors, light structural damage, a light insect infestation, at least one room no longer used for its purpose, garbage cans full or overflowing. | A planned, multi-load job. Sorting takes longer than hauling. |
| IV · High | Structural damage older than six months, odor or evidence of sewer backup, clutter blocking access to exits, hallways and stairs, rotting food. | Needs a coordinated team: hauling plus cleaning, pest control and often repairs. |
| V · Severe | Irreparable structural damage, no running water, heavy infestation, key living spaces unusable, exits blocked, human waste present. | Needs outside intervention and written agreements. Remediation specialists come first. |
A Quicker Test: The Clutter Image Rating
The Clutter Image Rating is a set of nine photographs each for a kitchen, a living room and a bedroom, running from empty to packed to the ceiling. You pick the photo that looks most like your room. The International OCD Foundation says a room at picture 4 or higher may point to hoarding disorder, and that the person would benefit from seeking help.
For a family, that is its real use. “A little cluttered” and “a disaster” can describe the same room. A picture number gives everyone the same yardstick, so you can agree on how serious things are without arguing over words.
Clutter, Collecting or Hoarding?
- Clutter is disorganization. The rooms still work, and the person can part with things once they get to it.
- Collecting is selective and organized. Collectors display what they have and can still use their home.
- Hoarding involves persistent difficulty letting go, distress at the idea of discarding, and living areas so full they can’t be used as intended.
What the Level Means for Us
We haul household contents: furniture, boxes, bagged trash, appliances, yard debris. We don’t haul biohazard or medical waste, and we don’t clean, disinfect or treat for pests. That puts a fairly clear line through the scale:
- Levels I to III: we are usually the main crew you need.
- Levels IV and V: hauling is one part of a larger job, and a biohazard cleaning or remediation company should see the home first.
Send us photos or ask for a walk-through, and we’ll tell you honestly which kind of job it is. For prices, see hoarder cleanout cost in Sacramento. For the safety risks at the higher levels, see hoarding fire and safety hazards. You can also go straight to our hoarder cleanout service.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 5 levels of hoarding?
The Clutter–Hoarding Scale from the Institute for Challenging Disorganization runs from Level I (low: little or no clutter) through II (guarded), III (elevated, the pivot point between cluttered and hoarded), IV (high) and V (severe: unusable rooms, blocked exits, serious sanitation and structural problems).
What is Level 3 hoarding?
Level III is where the scale says a home moves from cluttered to hoarded: clutter visible outside, at least one room not used for its intended purpose, overflowing garbage, light structural damage and a light insect infestation.
Is the hoarding scale a diagnosis?
No. The scale assesses the home, not the person. Only a mental health professional can diagnose hoarding disorder.
Real Customer Reviews
Josh South8 months ago
★★★★★
Fast, convenient, and amazing service. I will definitely be a returning customer. Thank you!
Jason Roberts11 months ago
★★★★★
Great and punctual service! Reasonable prices and very friendly. I recommend highly. He hauled away an old piano. Very professional!
Erika Alvarez1 year ago
★★★★★
Fast, affordable, professional, and friendly! I called and Serge was here within about an hour.
BenWendy Webster1 year ago
★★★★★
Serge was awesome to work with. I am very grateful I found his company. I contacted them on a Tuesday and by Wednesday the hot tub was gone. He was on time and worked hard. Left the area cleaned up and I’m so excited to have my backyard back!
Lacey A1 year ago
★★★★★
Prompt response when I inquired about Hot Tub Removal. Fair price. Was available next day and only took about an hr and half. Would highly recommend.
Shawn Herrick1 year ago
★★★★★
Serge was amazing. Would definitely recommend. He was prompt, fair and very professional.
kyle c1 year ago
★★★★★
Reasonably priced, great communication, Serge was very friendly and got my junk hauled with ease! Would absolutely use TCJ Hauling again. Thanks so much
Luis Terrazas1 year ago
★★★★★
This guys are the real deal !!! Serge and his crew took care of our old furniture as we are transitioning into a new apartment. They were able to accommodate last minute and for a competitive price .
Prameet Chandra1 year ago
★★★★★
Messaged TCJ Hauling in need of getting rid of some junk that was accumulating in the garage. Not only was the company able to come the same day but were also very punctual and realiable which above all things mean the most me. The service was fast and the vehicle used was modern and able to accommodate for all the items I needed to be removed. Very Prosfessional and accommodating will definitely call them again and tell my friends and family to do the same. Thank you TCJ Hauling!
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