Estate Cleanout in Denver: A Complete Guide for Families (2026)

Losing a loved one is devastating. Then comes the part nobody prepares you for: dealing with a houseful of belongings. Decades of memories compressed into a checklist of decisions about what to keep, sell, donate, and discard. It's overwhelming, emotionally and logistically.

This guide is written for Denver families navigating an estate cleanout. Whether the home is in Washington Park or Aurora, whether it's a tidy two-bedroom or a full four-bedroom with a packed basement and garage, we'll walk you through the entire process step by step.

When to Start the Cleanout

There's no perfect timeline, but here are practical considerations:

• If the home is rented: You typically have 30 days after the lease expires. Talk to the landlord about extensions if needed.
• If there's a mortgage: Payments continue regardless. Many families aim to clear and sell within 3-6 months to stop carrying costs.
• If the home is paid off: Less time pressure, but property taxes, insurance, and maintenance continue. Vacant homes also attract break-ins and code violations.
• If probate is involved: Colorado probate takes 6-12 months. You can begin cleaning out before probate closes, but check with the executor and attorney first. Some items may need to stay for appraisal.

Most Denver families begin the cleanout process 2-6 weeks after the funeral, starting with personal items and valuables, then moving to the bulk cleanout 4-8 weeks later.

The 5-Phase Estate Cleanout Process

Phase 1: Secure the Property (Day 1-3)

• Change locks if multiple people had keys
• Ensure insurance is current on the property
• Set utilities to minimum (keep water on to prevent pipe freezing in Colorado winters)
• Forward mail to the executor's address
• Remove obvious valuables (jewelry, cash, firearms, important documents)

Phase 2: Document Everything (Week 1-2)

• Walk every room and photograph contents (for insurance and estate records)
• Create an inventory of potentially valuable items
• Identify items with sentimental value for family members
• Gather all financial documents, bills, and account information
• Check for hidden storage (safes, locked drawers, attic spaces)

Phase 3: Family Selection (Week 2-4)

This is the hardest part emotionally. Give every family member the opportunity to walk through and choose items they want to keep. Tips:

• Schedule separate walkthroughs if family dynamics are complicated
• Use colored stickers: red for "keep," blue for "sell," green for "donate"
• Photograph items people want before they're moved
• Set a deadline. Without one, this phase drags on indefinitely.

Phase 4: Sell, Donate, Appraise (Week 3-6)

After family selection, the remaining items fall into three categories:

• Sell: Estate sale, online listings, antique dealers
• Donate: Charity pickup, drop-off
• Appraise: Anything potentially valuable gets a professional opinion before selling

Phase 5: Final Cleanout (Week 5-8)

Everything that didn't get kept, sold, or donated gets removed. This is where a professional estate cleanout service earns its fee. They remove everything remaining, clean the space, and leave it ready for sale or turnover.

Estate Cleanout Costs in Denver

Home Size	Light Contents	Average Contents	Heavy/Full Contents
1-bed apartment	$500-800	$800-1,500	$1,500-2,500
2-bed home	$800-1,500	$1,500-3,000	$3,000-5,000
3-bed home	$1,200-2,500	$2,500-5,000	$5,000-8,000
4+ bed home	$2,000-4,000	$4,000-8,000	$8,000-15,000+

Costs vary based on: volume of contents, basement and garage inclusion, number of floors, access difficulty, and whether hazardous materials are present (paint, chemicals, etc.).

"Heavy/Full" typically means decades of accumulation with packed closets, garage, basement, and attic. This is common in long-term family homes and hoarding situations.

Working with Estate Sale Companies

If there's significant saleable value, an estate sale company can turn belongings into cash before the cleanout.

• Commission: 25-40% of total sales (industry standard)
• Typical Denver estate sale revenue: $2,000-15,000+ depending on contents
• Timeline: 2-4 weeks to organize and conduct the sale
• What they handle: Pricing, staging, advertising, running the sale, and removing unsold items

Denver estate sale companies to consider: Blue Moon Estate Sales, Estate Sales by Sarah, and Caring Transitions of Denver. Always interview 2-3 companies and ask for references from recent sales.

Choosing an Estate Cleanout Service

For the final cleanout phase, look for:

• Experience with estates specifically. Regular junk removal crews can be insensitive. Estate-experienced crews understand the emotional context.
• Flexible pacing. Some families want everything gone in one day. Others need the crew to work room by room over several days.
• Donation commitment. A good estate cleanout service separates usable items for donation rather than landfilling everything.
• Photo documentation. Before-and-after photos of every room. Useful for the estate and for any disputes.
• Broom-clean guarantee. The home should be empty and swept when they're done. Ready for a realtor to walk through.

Trustie Services handles estate cleanouts across the Denver metro with care and discretion. We work at your pace and donate everything we can. Call (720) 213-5521 for a walkthrough estimate.

Tax Deductions and Documentation

Donated items from an estate are tax-deductible. Keep records of:

• Itemized list of donated items with estimated fair market value
• Donation receipts from receiving charities
• Photos of donated items (helpful if audited)
• For items valued over $5,000: professional appraisal required before donation

Consult a tax professional about estate-specific deductions. Colorado has additional considerations for estate tax that may apply.

Sensitive Situations: Hoarding, Mold, Biohazard

Some estate cleanouts involve complications beyond normal clutter:

Hoarding

Estimated 2-5% of Americans struggle with hoarding disorder. If the home has floor-to-ceiling accumulation, restricted pathways, or structural concerns from weight, you need a crew experienced with hoarding cleanouts. Cost increases 50-100% due to volume, time, and sometimes biohazard conditions.

Mold

Common in Denver basements, especially in older homes. If you see or smell mold during the estate walkthrough, get a professional mold assessment before cleanout begins. Disturbing mold during removal can spread spores throughout the home.

Biohazard

In cases of unattended death, significant pet contamination, or sewage issues, biohazard cleanup must be done by certified professionals before regular cleanout can begin. This is not a DIY situation.

Timeline Planning

Phase	Timeline	Key Actions
Immediate	Week 1	Secure property, remove valuables, start documentation
Family selection	Weeks 2-4	Family walkthroughs, keepsake selection
Sale/donation	Weeks 3-6	Estate sale, online listings, charity donations
Final cleanout	Weeks 5-8	Professional removal of remaining items
Property prep	Weeks 7-10	Deep clean, minor repairs, staging for sale

Total timeline: 8-12 weeks for a standard estate. Complex estates with probate, family disputes, or hoarding can take 6-12 months.

Denver-Area Resources for Estate Families

Colorado has specific resources and legal frameworks that affect estate cleanouts:

Colorado Probate Specifics

• Small estate affidavit: If the estate is valued under $80,000 (excluding real property), Colorado allows a simplified process without full probate. This can accelerate the cleanout timeline significantly.
• Executor authority: In Colorado, the personal representative (executor) has authority to manage estate property including cleanout decisions. However, major dispositions should be documented and communicated to all beneficiaries.
• Vehicle titles: Colorado DMV requires specific documentation to transfer vehicle titles from a deceased person. Don't donate, sell, or junk a vehicle without proper title transfer. The Denver County Probate Court can assist.
• Real property timeline: Colorado doesn't require immediate property sale, but carrying costs (mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities, HOA) continue. Most Denver estates sell within 6-12 months to minimize carrying costs of $2,000-5,000+/month.

Donation Resources in Denver

Organization	What They Accept	Pickup Available	Tax Receipt
ARC Thrift Stores	Furniture, clothing, housewares, electronics	Yes (schedule online)	Yes
Habitat for Humanity ReStore	Building materials, appliances, cabinets, fixtures	Yes	Yes
Goodwill	Clothing, housewares, small furniture	Drop-off only	Yes
Denver Rescue Mission	Clothing, bedding, toiletries	Drop-off only	Yes
Disabled American Veterans	Clothing, household items	Yes (schedule)	Yes
Furniture Bank of Metro Denver	Gently used furniture for families in need	Yes	Yes

Pro tip: Schedule donation pickups for the SAME WEEK as your estate sale. After the sale, anything unsold goes directly to donation without an extra trip or storage. Most organizations need 1-2 weeks notice for pickup scheduling.

Emotional Support During the Process

Estate cleanouts are emotionally taxing in ways most people don't anticipate until they're in it. Some guidance from families who've been through it:

• Take photos of sentimental items before letting go. You can't keep everything, but photos preserve the memory. Create a digital album of the home and special belongings before the cleanout begins.
• Give yourself permission to keep nothing. Guilt drives people to keep boxes of items they'll never use. Your loved one lives in your memory, not in their old kitchen utensils. Keep what truly matters, let go of the rest.
• Also give yourself permission to keep things. If Grandma's ugly vase makes you smile every time you see it, keep the ugly vase. There are no rules for grief.
• Hire help for the physical work. You don't need to personally carry every box. Directing a crew is enough. Save your emotional energy for the decisions, not the labor.
• Set a deadline and honor it. Without a deadline, estate cleanouts drag on for months or years. Carrying costs accumulate, family tensions build, and the emotional weight grows heavier, not lighter. Set a reasonable deadline and work toward it.
• Consider grief counseling. Colorado has excellent grief support services. The Denver Hospice (thedenverhospice.org) offers free bereavement support groups. Estate cleanout often triggers grief that hasn't been fully processed.

Insurance Considerations

Important insurance details during estate cleanouts:

• Maintain homeowner's insurance. A vacant home is a liability risk. Most policies have vacancy clauses that limit or void coverage after 30-60 days of vacancy. Contact the insurer immediately to discuss options.
• Valuable item insurance: If the estate contains high-value items (art, jewelry, antiques, collections), get them appraised and insured separately before moving them. Standard homeowner's policies cap jewelry at $1,500-2,500 and art at $2,500.
• Liability during cleanout: If contractors or cleanup crews are working in the home, verify your insurance covers injuries on the property. Require crews to carry their own general liability insurance.