Clearing out a family home — whether after a loss, a move to assisted living, or just decades of accumulated belongings — is a different job than hauling off an old couch. It's slower, more personal, and usually involves sorting through decisions that have nothing to do with junk. Here's what to expect if you're facing one in the St. Louis area.
How an estate cleanout is different
A standard junk pickup is quick: you point, we load, we haul. An estate cleanout or downsizing job usually means going room by room — separating what's being kept, donated, sold, or thrown out — often while family members are still deciding. We work at whatever pace that requires, including scheduling multiple visits if the sorting is happening in stages.
What it typically costs
Pricing is still based on volume — how much of a trailer load the removed items fill — the same as any junk removal job. For reference, a single room of furniture and boxed belongings usually runs in the $300–$600 range, while a full house cleanout (multiple rooms, garage, basement) typically lands somewhere between $1,200 and $3,000+ depending on size and how much is left behind. We always walk the property first and give a real number before anything gets loaded — not a phone estimate.
What happens to the items
Furniture, housewares, and clothing that are still in good condition get set aside for donation whenever possible — we work with local charities in the St. Louis area rather than sending everything to a landfill by default. Anything with real resale value (antiques, tools, collectibles) is worth flagging before we start, since that's a conversation for an estate sale company or appraiser, not a cleanout crew.
What to have ready before we arrive
- A general sense of what's staying vs. going, even if it's not room-by-room yet
- Anything with sentimental or financial value set aside ahead of time (documents, jewelry, photos)
- Access arranged in advance if you won't be on-site (a key, a code, or a family member available)
- Any items that need special handling — paint, chemicals, or anything hazardous — pointed out upfront
Getting a straight answer, without the pressure
This is often an emotional job as much as a physical one, and we treat it that way — no upselling, no rushing a family through decisions. If you're facing a cleanout in the St. Louis area, reach out and we'll walk the property, answer questions, and give you a real number with no obligation.