Settling an estate in a full home
Executors and family members often discover the condition of a home only after a parent or relative has died or moved into care. Grief, distance and deadlines all arrive at once, and the volume of belongings can make it hard to know where to begin.
We take the physical work off your shoulders while keeping you in control of every decision about the estate's property.
Some families want to be present for every box. Others prefer to visit at the end and review what we set aside. Either approach works, and we can change course partway through if you need to. Nothing leaves the property until the person with authority has agreed to it.
Searching carefully while we sort
Important items often turn up in unexpected places: inside books, coat pockets, freezers, envelopes or shoeboxes. We sort methodically and set aside anything that may matter, including:
- Wills, deeds, titles, tax and bank records
- Insurance policies and account statements
- Cash, coins, jewelry and collectibles
- Photographs, letters and family records
- Firearms and ammunition, which are set aside for the executor to handle
How an estate cleanout proceeds
- Consultation with the executor We confirm who has authority over the property, what the timeline is and what you are looking for.
- Safety and biohazard check Before sorting, we look for hazards such as waste, pests, spoiled food or signs of an unattended death.
- Methodical sorting Items are grouped as keep, distribute to family, donate, sell or discard, following your instructions.
- Removal Discarded items and contaminated materials are removed; donations can be delivered where arranged.
- Deep clean and deodorize Cleared rooms are cleaned and disinfected, and odor sources are removed.
- Hand-off You receive photos of the property and a list of recovered items for your records.
When a death occurred in the home
If your loved one died at home and was not found right away, the medical examiner must first authorize removal of the body. After that, the affected area needs cleanup before sorting can continue in that room. Our unattended death cleanup service handles that portion with the same crew and the same care.
We do not remove or transport human remains; that is the role of the medical examiner and funeral home.
Safety in older, crowded homes
Older homes that have been full for years can have weakened floors, leaks, mold and rodent activity. We work with protective equipment, remove rodent droppings using wet methods recommended by CDC, and stop to reassess if we find structural concerns. Repairs are referred to qualified contractors.
Medications found in the home are gathered and set aside for the family rather than thrown in the trash, and any needles are placed in puncture-resistant containers.
Preparing for the cleanout
- Confirm with the probate attorney that you have authority to clear the property.
- Share a list of items the family is hoping to find.
- Let us know if relatives want to walk through before anything is removed.
- Keep the utilities on if you can; water and lights make the work safer.
Who else may help
Some estates include a rental unit or a small business space as well, and we handle those the same way, including any pest or waste cleanup. Probate attorneys, estate sale companies, appraisers and real estate agents often play a role, and we are glad to coordinate schedules with them. Questions about the estate itself, such as who inherits what, belong with the attorney. Our main hoarding cleanup page explains our general approach.