Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Cleaning up after hoarders is a booming business

By Christian Boone

What's the difference between a hoarder and a pack rat?

"When I have to use my shoulder to push the door in, that probably means we're going to take the job," said Todd Reese, co-owner of Georgia Clean and Associates, which helps hoarders reclaim their homes from collectibles, debris and worse. The niche service has become a booming business for Reese and his associate, Gordy Powell, who recently combined their two companies to deal with demand.

They've overseen some well-publicized clean-ups, including the Sandy Springs home belonging to Mary Minter, who had to be rescued from chest-high debris in late June. She died two weeks later.

"People used to write [hoarding] off as someone just being messy, or lazy," Reese told the AJC. "But I think people are learning that it's a serious problem because of all the publicity from the TV shows."..." More

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