Cleaning professionals near you

There are various types of companies and professionals who can help you clean out your home, such as:

• Junk removal companies: These specialists focus on removing large items or lots of clutter, including furniture and old appliances. They can safely haul away and dispose of your items, and some also offer eco-friendly disposal methods. 

• Estate cleanout or liquidation services: These specialists are trained to manage sensitive materials like paperwork and heirlooms. They can assist with the difficult process of liquidating an estate. 

• Interior house cleaners: Clutter-free properties often need a deep cleaning before future tenants can move in. Interior cleaners professionally clean homes and commercial buildings to remove dust, grime and hazardous materials. 

• Professional organizers: These specialists provide long-term resources for decluttering and organizing your home or property. They will assess and organize your belongings before developing organizational plans. 

Estate cleanout services remove all or most items from a property or estate, leaving the space completely empty. Sometimes, junk removal and house cleaning companies offer estate cleanout as one of their services. 

You can also find companies that specialize and focus solely on estate cleanouts. These companies are often called “estate liquidators” or simply “estate services.” 

The national average cost to clean out a home or estate depends on what type of service you decide to hire. Here are national average cost estimates for several types of cleanout services you can find on Thumbtack: 

• Junk removal: $160 to $330*

• House cleaning: $150 to $290* (per cleaning)

• Home organizing: $220 to $610*

There are several factors that might impact the cost of this project, including:

• Property size: Larger properties take longer to clean out than smaller homes or condos.

• Number of items: More items mean more time needed for cleanout services.

• Scope of work: Do you need a pro to only remove items from the home? Or do you need someone to also help plan, organize and run an estate sale?

• Equipment needed: Consider if you'll need to rent any special equipment, such as a tow truck, to remove old cars.

*Data on file at Thumbtack. For a personalized cost estimate, request a quote from a professional.

A cleanout service may be the best option for you if you're dealing with the following situations:

• After a major life event: Professionals can assist with organizing paperwork and identifying valuable assets after a foreclosure, eviction, death or liquidation.  

• Moving or remodeling: Get help packing and removing items from your home to ease the process of relocation or to prepare your home for a remodel. 

• Downsizing or decluttering: When a property's clutter becomes too much, professionals can quickly sort and remove large quantities of objects. They can even help you strategize for better organization in the future. 

Of course, you can try to clean out your home by yourself, but you should consider hiring a cleanout service if:

• You don’t have the tools and resources: Cleanout professionals have heavy-duty tools and equipment to remove dangerous or bulky items. They can also complete a deep clean after removal, leaving your home or property ready for new tenants. 

• You don’t have time: Professionals often have a lot of experience handling large-scale jobs quickly and efficiently. 

• You’re worried about safety: Professionals often receive training on safe lifting, removal and disposal methods. This eliminates the risk of bodily injury, property damage or incorrect waste disposal. 

Typically, it will take at least a few days for a professional to complete a whole house cleanout. There are a few factors that may impact how long it takes, like:

• Home size: Small condos may take a few hours, while larger multi-level homes could take many days.

• Number of rooms: A single-room studio is much easier to clean out than a three-bedroom apartment.

• Amount of clutter: The more boxes you fill, the more trips to the landfill or your new home you'll have to take.

• Type of project: Are you looking for help removing items from your home or do you also need your pro to help clean, scrub and wash surfaces post-cleanout? This will impact the time frame.

Remember: The timeline for your project will vary depending on many factors. Always ask your clean out services pro to provide an estimate. 

In most cases, a professional or company will take the following steps when cleaning out your home:

• Assess the scope: Your professional should begin by evaluating the property's size and the scope of the job. 

• Take inventory: Professionals will assess your home's inventory and categorize it into groups for donation, retention or safe disposal.

• Remove trash, debris and large items: The first things to clear out will be trash, unwanted objects and hazardous waste. Speciality equipment may be used to clear out bulky furniture or large appliances. 

• Packing and disposal: Your remaining household items will be safely and efficiently packed, labeled and removed. If hauling services are included in the scope of work, these items will be safely delivered to their next destination. 

• Deep cleaning: After clearout, specialized technicians will use equipment to give the property a deep clean, washing carpets with hot, pressurized water and dusting and sanitizing all surfaces. 

• Final inspection: This step ensures that the scope of work has been completed in full. 

The average cost to haul away junk is $150, though this price can be expected to vary between around $75 and $375, depending on several factors. 

The first factor is the quantity of junk removed. Most junk removal services charge by the truckload, and most residential projects only require filling up part of a truckload.

Another factor is the type of junk. E-waste like computers and TVs may cost more to dispose of, as will more hazardous materials like mercury, paint and used motor oil. It also may cost more to remove big items like beds and couches.

To find out how much it will cost to get rid of your junk, get free estimates from the best junk removal companies near you.

To prepare for junk removal, start by listing all the items you should get rid of. Organize your list by which items are appropriate for the junk collection team and which may have some resale value or could be donated. 

Move through your house and hit problem spots like closets, attics and basements. Make a pile of items you plan to keep, give away, sell, donate and have the junk removers pick up. Finally, contact at least three junk removal companies for price quotes.

To get rid of your junk fast, start by organizing and making a list of what you have. Sell what you can, and give away items that you value but you don’t want to friends and family. 

If you don’t have the means to transport items or if you have too much junk to get rid of on your own, it’s time to hire a pro. A junk removal service can quickly and efficiently get rid of junk for you, including lifting heavy objects and making sure nothing is damaged.

Find a junk removal service near you and start asking for free estimates.

You may want to tip your junk removal team if they did an exceptional job. For instance, if they show up on time, are courteous and professional, take extra care not to damage your possessions and home, and leave a clean site afterwards, you may feel like giving them a tip. A reasonable tip might be $20 per crew member.

It’s also nice to tip them on especially hot days, or when the weather is inclement. You can also provide food and drinks for them.