Estate Cleanout & Liquidation
Clean out entire estates after deaths, managing items, donations, and disposal
Overview
Estate cleanout services charge $2,000-$15,000+ per estate depending on size and contents.
Completing 4-15 estate jobs monthly generates $100,000-$500,000 annually with 40-60% margins after labor, disposal, and vehicle costs.
In 2025, aging population creates consistent demand as families need help clearing deceased relatives' homes.
Services include sorting through entire homes, identifying valuable items for estate sale or auction, coordinating donations to charities, disposing unwanted items responsibly, deep cleaning empty homes, working sensitively with grieving families, and completing cleanouts on tight timelines.
Successful businesses develop gentle customer service approach, partner with estate sale companies and auctioneers, build relationships with probate attorneys and senior living facilities, and provide comprehensive service including item valuation.
Many offer estate sale services earning commission on items sold.
Pricing typically flat-rate based on home size after walkthrough.
Key clients include executors handling probate, adult children after parent deaths, and senior living communities.
Referrals from funeral homes, probate attorneys, and realtors drive steady business.
Required Skills
- Empathy & Sensitivity
- Estate Valuation Basics
- Organization
- Team Management
- Logistics
- Heavy Lifting
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Higher revenue per job than regular junk removal
- Steady demand from aging population
- Can add estate sale services for extra income
- Referrals from attorneys and funeral homes
- Meaningful work helping families during difficult times
Cons
- Emotionally challenging working with grieving families
- Time-consuming jobs taking multiple days
- Need sensitivity and professionalism beyond typical hauling
- Dealing with hoarding situations and difficult homes
- Requires team and trucks for large estates
How to Get Started
- Get proper licensing, insurance, and business structure
- Build team with trucks and reliable labor
- Develop sensitive customer service approach for grieving families
- Partner with estate sale companies and auctioneers
- Create pricing structure based on home size
- Network with probate attorneys, funeral homes, senior living
- Market through professional referral network
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