Services
Estate cleanout & downsizing
The house, the storage unit, and sixty years of belongings.
Estate cleanout companies clear, sort, and disperse a household — coordinating estate sales or auctions for what has value, donations for what's useful, and disposal for the rest. The good ones slow down for the family: photographs and papers set aside, keepsakes flagged before anything leaves. Senior move managers offer a gentler version of the same skill when a surviving spouse is downsizing rather than closing a house.
When you’ll need them
Weeks to months after the death — after the will's inventory, and never before the executor has authority to dispose of property.
What it typically costs
Typically $500–$2,500 for an apartment, $2,000–$6,000+ for a full house; estate sale companies instead take 30–50% of sale proceeds. Get the personal-papers policy in writing.
Typical U.S. ranges, for orientation only — prices vary widely by region and provider. Always ask for an itemized price list.
Questions worth asking
- How do you handle documents, photos, and potential keepsakes you find?
- Estate sale, auction, buyout, or cleanout — which fits this house, and why?
- Are you insured, and can the executor approve the plan before work starts?
Related guides
Keeping track of who you’ve chosen?
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