- ESTATE CLEANOUT GUIDE
Estate Cleanout Checklist: What to Do, in Order
By Kevin Traub, Owner of Fly By Junk Haulers · Published October 27, 2026
Quick answer: An estate cleanout checklist, in order: secure the house, find the important papers, check with the executor, photograph every room, agree with family on who wants what, sort room by room, donate or sell what’s usable, then haul away the rest and do a final walkthrough. You don’t have to do it in a day. Doing it in stages is normal.
Fly By Junk Haulers has cleared many family homes after a death, and Google shows us at 5.0 out of 5 from 250+ reviews. This is the long version of the short table in our guide to how to clear out a house after a loved one dies. Check things off as you go, skip anything that doesn’t apply, and take the time you need.
The estate cleanout checklist
Six stages, from the first week to the last walkthrough. Work through them in order if you can, but nobody is grading you. Some families move the hauling stage up early so the house feels manageable, and that’s fine. You can print this page and check the boxes by hand.
1. The first week: secure and gather
- Lock the house and collect every key. Write down who has a spare.
- Hold or forward the mail.
- Check the basics: water, heat in winter, and anything in the fridge that will spoil.
- Find the will, deeds, account statements and insurance papers, and put them in one box.
- Call the executor, or the attorney handling the estate, before anything of value leaves the house.
- Photograph every room, drawer and closet before you move anything.
2. Agree on the plan
- Talk with family about who wants what, before anyone starts sorting.
- Write down who gets what, so two siblings don't remember the same shelf differently.
- Find out the deadline. A sale, a lease or the estate may set one.
- Pick one person to run the day-to-day.
3. Sort room by room
- Start with the easiest room, like a garage or bathroom. Save the kitchen and bedrooms for later.
- Make four piles: keep, give to family, donate or sell, and haul away.
- Keep a box marked "decide later". It's allowed to exist.
- Check coat pockets, books and kitchen drawers for cash, papers and keys.
- Box the photos, letters, jewelry and anything with a story first.
- Don't shred papers until the executor or attorney says it's okay.
4. Donate or sell
- Ask the executor before you sell anything that might be valuable.
- Call every donation center before you load the car. Many don't offer pickups, and the ones that do limit what and how much they take.
- If something has to leave by a certain day, don't count on a donation pickup.
5. Haul away the rest
- Get an upfront quote before anything gets loaded. Tell the company what's going, where it's sitting, and whether there are stairs.
- Tell them up front about hazards like bugs, mold or no power, so the quote covers it.
- Mark or set aside anything you want to keep, so it doesn't leave by mistake.
- Confirm the number in writing.
6. The final walkthrough
- Walk every room, closet, the attic, the basement, the garage and any shed.
- Check that nothing you wanted left with the load.
- Ask the executor or the buyer's agent when the utilities can be shut off.
- Take final photos for your records, then hand over the keys.
None of this is legal advice. The rules for who can act on an estate, and when, depend on the situation and on Ohio law, so check with the executor or an attorney before anything of value leaves the house.
Check with the executor first
Before anything of value leaves the house, check with the executor of the estate, or an attorney. A short call first can save a family argument later.
Ask three things: who is allowed to remove items, when the house has to be empty, and whether anything needs to be kept or appraised before it goes.
How do the four piles work?
Use four piles: keep, give to family, donate or sell, and haul away. If you can’t decide, put it in a box marked “decide later” and keep moving.
Before you donate anything, call ahead. Many donation centers don’t offer pickups, and the ones that do limit what and how much they take.
What does hauling the rest cost?
The haul-away stage is the only part with a price tag. It depends on how much is there, what it is, and how hard it is to reach. Our junk removal cost guide explains the eight things that move the number. Here are our typical prices:
| Job size | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Partial load | $400 to $600 |
| Garage or basement | $800 to $2,500 |
| Whole house or estate | $1,500 to $20,000+ |
Prices from Fly By Junk Haulers, October 2026. We give an upfront quote, and the exact number depends on how much is there and how hard it is to reach.
On time, one of our whole-house jobs in Cleveland Heights, about 4,000 square feet, was finished in 4 days after one week’s notice. Another family’s house in Brecksville was cleared out and then taken down over 2 weeks. Yours may be faster or slower, and nobody should rush you.
*Fly By’s prices generally include everything – all labor, hauling, equipment and disposal fees.
Living out of town?
You don’t have to be there for every hour. Share photos or walk through the house by phone, tell us what to keep, and we’ll quote it. Mark the keepers with sticky notes before you send the photos.
What we see in the field
The checklist is the easy part. The hard part is the first hour, when someone stands in the doorway and has to start. We let people walk through first, point to what they want, and change their mind.
One customer wrote, “The team was able to get me on the schedule after the passing of my father. Next day! They were prompt, even early. Finished quickly and took care with the items and didn’t bang walls.” (Mike J., June 2025.)
Frequently asked questions
What is the first thing to do when clearing out a house after a death?
Secure the house and find the important papers, then check with the executor or an attorney before anything leaves. Do these before you sort or donate anything.
Do I need to wait before clearing out the house?
We can’t give legal advice, and timing depends on the estate, the lease or the sale. Ask the executor or an attorney before anything of value is removed.
How long does an estate cleanout take?
It depends on the house and how you want to work. One whole-house job we did in Cleveland Heights, about 4,000 square feet, was finished in 4 days after one week’s notice. You can also do it in stages.
How much does an estate cleanout cost in Cleveland?
A whole house or estate typically runs $1,500 to $20,000 or more with Fly By Junk Haulers, and a garage or basement runs $800 to $2,500. We give upfront quotes.
Can I print this estate cleanout checklist?
Yes. Use your browser’s print option on this page, or take a screenshot and keep the checklist on your phone.
Want a hand with the heavy part?
You can do the sorting and we’ll handle the lifting. Read about our estate cleanout service, or schedule a visit and get your upfront quote.
Kevin Traub, Owner. Kevin bought Fly By Junk Haulers in June 2023 and runs it from the company’s Broadway Avenue building in Cleveland.
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