How to clean out a house after a death

Before you start

Make sure the person handling the estate has the authority to clear the house. If an attorney is involved, ask them before anything leaves. This is practical guidance, not legal advice.

Step 1: Secure the house

Lock up, collect spare keys, forward mail, and check heat and water in winter. Empty the fridge early.

Step 2: Find what matters

• Wills, deeds, titles, insurance and bank records.
• Medications, which need proper disposal.
• Jewelry, cash, photos and letters.
• Keys, passwords and safe combinations.

Check drawers, coat pockets, books, the freezer and under mattresses.

Step 3: Let family choose

Give relatives a set window to take what they want. A deadline keeps the process moving.

Step 4: Sell or give away what you can

Good furniture and household goods can go to a sale or a local buy-and-sell group. Schedule this before the cleanout so leftovers can go on the same pickup.

Step 5: Photograph and price the rest

Photograph each room, the basement, attic, garage and outbuildings. Send them through the quote form. Caden prices the cleanout, and an attorney, personal representative or family member can pay by link or Stripe invoice.

Posted prices

Every job starts from the same posted price card. A single item is $64. A small job, up to about 1.5 cubic yards, is $119. A medium job, about 3 cubic yards or roughly a room, is $189. A large job, about 5 cubic yards or roughly a garage bay, is $239. An extra-large job, about 10 cubic yards, is $479, and anything past 10 cubic yards is $45 per yard. A mattress or box spring is $64 alone or $20 each on a job. A washer, dryer, stove or dishwasher is $69 alone and free on a job. A fridge, freezer, air conditioner or dehumidifier is $99 alone or $35 on a job. A TV or monitor is a $15 add-on. Construction debris is the job price plus 20%. Estate cleanouts start at $499 and hoarding cleanouts at $599. The full list is on the pricing page.

How long does it take?

Sorting usually takes the longest, often a few weekends. The removal itself is usually one visit once the keep pile is out.

Doing it from away

Many families clear a Maine house from out of state. A realtor or neighbor can give access, and you can mark what stays before the day.

Common mistakes

• Throwing things out before the will and papers are found.
• Letting the process drag for months without a deadline.
• Leaving the attic, crawl space or outbuildings out of the plan.
• Scheduling the cleanout the day before a closing.

Emotional pacing

Clearing a parent's house is hard. Take breaks, split rooms among family, and do not try to decide everything in one visit. Once the keep decisions are made, the removal is the easy part.

Keep a simple list of who took what. It prevents disputes later and helps the personal representative.

How booking works

Send photos through the quote form or text them to (207) 333-1422. No card is needed to ask. Caden looks at the photos and sends your price. If it works for you, you pay from the link he sends and that confirms the slot. The price we send is the price you pay unless the pile changes. If you add things after the price goes out, the price is updated before work starts, not after.

Related: estate cleanouts, estate cleanout guide for Androscoggin County, clearing a home from out of state, estate attorneys