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Cleanouts

Estate cleanouts in Minneapolis and St. Paul

Clearing out a parent's or relative's house is slow and emotional. Here's how I do it, and what to sort out before anything leaves the house.

Facts checked November 13, 2026

An estate cleanout empties a house after someone has died: the family keeps what matters, and everything else is donated, recycled or hauled away. I do estate cleanouts in Minneapolis, St. Paul and the north metro with my own crew. You tell me what to keep, photos, papers and anything of value are set aside for the family, and the house is left empty and ready to list or sell.

How does an estate cleanout work?

  1. Tell me about the house. Fill out the form and I call you back. Photos help if you have them.
  2. Walk-through or photos, then a price, before any work starts. No charge for the quote.
  3. The keep list. You tell me what the family wants and what to look for: a will, deeds, bank papers, jewelry, photos, letters.
  4. Sorting and clearing. My crew goes room by room. Anything on your list, plus papers, photos, cash and jewelry we come across, gets set aside for you.
  5. Everything else goes out. Usable things are donated where possible, metal and appliances are recycled, and the rest goes to a proper disposal site.
  6. An empty house, ready for the next step: list it, sell it, or move in.

Who decides what goes?

In Minnesota, the personal representative named by the court is in charge of collecting and protecting the estate's property (Minnesota Judicial Branch). A will can also leave personal items through a separate signed list (Minn. Stat. 524.2-513). So before anything leaves the house, make sure the personal representative, or the heirs if there's no probate, agrees on what is kept and who gets it.

Estate sale first, or straight to a cleanout?

If the furniture, tools or collections are worth real money, an estate sale company may sell them first, for a commission. What's left after the sale still has to go. I can clear the house after the sale, or right away if the family would rather not hold one. If you're not sure, the University of Minnesota Extension has a plain guide to dividing personal belongings in a family.

What changes the price?

Every house is different, so there's no price list. It depends on how much is in the house, where the dumpster can go, how many appliances and how much metal there is, and items like tires, mattresses and TVs that need their own handling. So every estate cleanout gets its own estimate, before any work starts, and the estimate is free. Why every price is different.

After the cleanout: list it or sell it as-is?

Once the house is empty you can list it with an agent, or sell it however you like. If you'd rather skip the cleanout entirely, I can buy the house as-is with everything in it: the family takes what matters and leaves the rest. Selling an inherited house in Minnesota covers probate, who can sign, and how a sale works.

Sources

  1. Minnesota Judicial Branch: Probate, wills and estates
  2. Minn. Stat. 524.2-513: Separate writing identifying devise of certain types of tangible personal property
  3. Minn. Stat. 524.3-715: Transactions authorized for personal representatives
  4. Minn. Stat. 524.3-805: Classification of claims
  5. Hennepin County: Drop-off facilities and fees
  6. University of Minnesota Extension: Distributing personal and household assets