Clearing an entire home is a big job, usually done during a move, a sale or after a loss. A clear order of operations keeps it manageable and keeps important items from being thrown out.
Start with the paperwork and the people. If the home belongs to an estate, confirm who has legal authority to make decisions and to dispose of belongings, and check with family about items with sentimental value. Rules about what can be cleared and when vary by situation, so consult the executor or an attorney if there is any doubt.
Walk through the whole property, including attic, basement, garage, sheds and storage units, and take photos of each room. Photos help with planning and with any later questions about what was in the house.
Set a realistic timeline and a budget before you begin. Cleanouts almost always take longer than expected, and setting dates for container delivery, donation pickup and any property deadline gives you a schedule to work toward.
Before anything is hauled, look for documents and valuables. Legal papers, deeds, wills, insurance policies, tax records, bank statements, jewelry, cash, keys, photographs and electronics can be hidden in unlikely places. Check desks, files, coat pockets, books, kitchen drawers and safes.
Set up a box or room for items to keep and check that nothing in it is mixed with the discard pile. Shred or securely handle documents that contain personal information rather than tossing them in a container.
Make a note of where each valuable was found and who received it. A short written log kept during the cleanout can prevent confusion later, particularly if several relatives are involved or if the estate must account for its contents. It takes only a few minutes per room.
Work room by room and sort everything into keep, donate or sell, recycle, and dispose. Having four clear piles keeps decisions moving. Label areas or use colored tape so helpers know where things go.
Be realistic about what to keep. Photographing items you are not ready to part with can help family members decide. For donation and recycling ideas, the guide recycle and donate before you dump can speed up the sorting.
Small decisions add up, so try a rule for borderline items. If an object has not been used in a long time, has no value to anyone in the family and is not needed for records, it can probably go. Items that cause disagreement can be set aside in a single box for a later conversation.
Old houses often hold paint, solvents, pesticides, batteries, fuel, propane tanks, medications and appliances with refrigerant. These cannot simply go in a dumpster. Many places offer household hazardous waste drop-offs, and pharmacies and local agencies often handle medication take-back.
Keep the restricted pile separate from the start. The list of commonly prohibited items is in what can not go in a dumpster.
Keep paperwork for anything you donate or recycle if you may need it for taxes, and keep receipts for disposal expenses if the estate needs to track costs. Ask an accountant or attorney which records matter in your situation.
If any item is valuable but you cannot tell how much, such as old coins, artwork or collectibles, set it aside and ask a qualified appraiser before it goes anywhere. Once something has been donated or hauled, it is very difficult to get back.
For a whole house, a large roll-off container is the typical choice, often paired with a haul-away crew for heavy furniture or a trailer for yard debris. If the home has stairs and a lot of furniture, the crew can save significant labor. A small apartment may need only a haul-away visit.
Sizing depends on the number of rooms and the amount of stored material, and the size guide will help you choose. Our junk removal and roll-off dumpster rental pages explain the options.
Think about the logistics of the day. Plan parking for the truck and the container, protect floors and doorframes, and arrange for enough helpers to carry heavy pieces. If there is any chance that a crew will arrive on the same day as the container, coordinate the timing so they do not get in each other's way.
Start with the biggest and most obvious items and clear paths to make working easier. Then move to smaller rooms, closets, the kitchen and the garage. Save the attic, basement and shed for later in the process, when you know how much room is left in the container.
Finish with a deep clean and a final walk-through. Check every closet, drawer and shelf, look under beds and behind doors, and take photos of the empty rooms.
Do not forget utilities, locks, mail and keys at the end. Before you finish, arrange for final readings and shutoffs where appropriate, collect all keys and garage openers, forward the mail, and leave the house secure and broom clean.
Wear gloves, closed shoes and a mask in dusty areas, and take care with sharp objects, mold and pests. Lift with your legs and ask for help with heavy furniture. If you find signs of mold, asbestos-containing materials or other hazards, stop and consult a professional.
Tell neighbors about the cleanout and check HOA and permit rules about container placement, covered in do I need a permit for a dumpster. Take breaks, because cleanouts are emotional as well as physical.
Finally, take care of yourself and your helpers. Provide water, snacks and breaks, and keep a first aid kit nearby. A cleanout can last several days, and tired people make mistakes with heavy items and sharp tools.
It depends on the size of the home, the amount of belongings and the number of helpers. Allow more time than you expect, particularly for sorting.
Keep important records and securely destroy those with personal information, rather than putting them in a container.
A crew saves labor, while a container saves money on big volumes if you can load it. Many cleanouts use both.
Many charities accept usable items but have their own rules and schedules, so check with them first.
Tell us what you are getting rid of and we will reply with the right option and next steps.