How an estate cleanout works

An estate cleanout empties a home completely, usually after a death or a move into assisted living. It is a bigger job than a junk pickup and it is paced differently, because the family is making decisions as the work goes on.

The walk-through

The company walks every room with you, photographs the contents and gives a written quote. Expect the quote to be by truck load or by room, with the final clean priced separately. A 1,500 square foot house full of a lifetime's belongings typically takes two to four truck loads.

Sorting

Good estate cleanout crews sort as they go, into four streams:

• Keep. Items the family has tagged, plus anything the crew flags: documents, photographs, jewelry, cash found in drawers and books, firearms, medications.
• Sell. Furniture, tools, collectibles and vehicles with resale value. Some companies run the sale themselves, others refer an estate sale service.
• Donate. Working furniture, clothing, kitchenware and books. Ask for the donation receipts; they have tax value for the estate.
• Dispose. Everything else.

Tell the crew up front what you are looking for. "Grandfather's watch" and "the deed to the lake lot" are found far more often when the crew knows to look.

Removal and the final clean

Removal happens over one to three days. The final clean is a broom clean or a full clean to listing standard, and it is worth paying for if the house is going on the market.

What it costs

Nationally, full estate cleanouts run from about $1,000 for an apartment to $5,000 or more for a large house, before any credit for resale. Hoarding situations cost more because of the sorting time and the protective equipment required.