What Does an Estate Cleanout Cost? What to Ask Before You Book

Why can two estate cleanout estimates for the same house look so different, and how do you know which one is fair?

It is one of the most common questions families have. Unfortunately, there is no single price for an estate cleanout. Every home is different, and so is every company's way of working. What you can do is understand what affects a quote and ask the right questions so you can compare estimates with confidence.

What affects the cost of a cleanout

Most estimates are shaped by a handful of factors. Knowing them helps you understand why one quote is higher or lower than another.

Volume

The amount of stuff is usually the biggest factor. A tidy two-bedroom home is a very different job from a house with a full basement, a packed garage and a shed. Many companies estimate by truckload or by how many hours and crew members the job will take.

Stairs and access

Carrying furniture down three flights of stairs takes longer than rolling it out of a ground-floor garage. Narrow hallways, long driveways, steep yards, small elevators and apartment rules can all add time.

Travel

If the property is far from the company's base, there may be a travel charge, or the drive may be built into the estimate. Rural properties can also mean longer trips to the nearest transfer station or recycling center.

Disposal fees

Companies usually pay to dump or recycle what they haul away. Those fees vary from place to place. Some items cost more to dispose of than others.

Special items

Certain things need extra handling or carry extra fees. Common examples include:

• Pianos, safes and hot tubs
• Refrigerators and other appliances with refrigerants
• Mattresses, tires and electronics
• Paint, chemicals and other materials that may require special disposal or may not be accepted at all

If you know about items like these, mention them when you ask for an estimate.

Labor and timeline

A rush job may need a bigger crew or after-hours work. A job that involves careful sorting, such as setting aside papers and photos, can take longer than a straight haul-away.

Questions to ask when comparing estimates

Once you have two or three estimates, these questions can help you compare them fairly.

• Is this estimate a fixed price, a range or an hourly rate?
• What exactly is included: labor, truck, disposal fees, donation drop-offs, a final sweep?
• What would cause the final price to change, and will you tell me before doing extra work?
• Are there any items in the house you will charge extra for or cannot take?
• Is there a travel charge?
• Do you need a deposit, and when is the balance due?
• Will I get the estimate in writing?
• If items are donated, will I receive a receipt?
• How do you handle items that might have resale value?
• What happens if the job takes less time than expected?

Write down the answers next to each estimate. You may find that a quote that looked higher actually includes more, or that a lower one leaves out disposal fees.

Get the details in writing

A written estimate protects everyone. It should describe the scope of work, what is included and how changes will be handled. If anything is unclear, ask before you book.

Ways families sometimes reduce the scope

Without promising savings, there are a few things that can change the size of the job:

• Having relatives take items they want before the cleanout
• Holding an estate sale first, then having a cleanout company clear what remains
• Donating some items yourself if you have time and a vehicle
• Sending clear photos so the company can estimate more accurately

Whether these make sense depends on your time, distance and energy. Sometimes paying a company to handle everything is the kindest choice for your family.

A practical example

A family receives three estimates. One is a single number. One is a range. One is an hourly rate with a disposal fee added at the end. By asking the same questions of each company, they learn that the single number includes donations and a final sweep, the range excludes the piano and the hourly rate depends on a crew of three. With that information, they can compare the estimates on equal footing.

Keep reading

• 10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Estate Cleanout Company
• Estate Cleanout, Estate Sale, or Junk Removal? How to Decide What You Need

Compare local providers

Ready to request estimates? Browse junk removal and hauling companies on Estate Pro Directory, many of which handle estate cleanouts.