Owner-operated · Minneapolis Local

Estate Cleanout Services Handled With Genuine Care

about 15 years helping Twin Cities families clear homes after loss, with licensed crews and no pressure.

4.9 from 1,987 Google reviews

Call (612) 444-5865 Request an estimate

Free estimate

Tell us what you need

Three fields. It reaches a person here, not a call centre.

What estate cleanout involves

Estate cleanout companies vary more than you'd think, and the difference matters most when you're already carrying something heavy. Junk Genius has spent about 15 years working alongside Twin Cities families during the hard in-between: the days after a loss, the weeks before a home sale, the moments when a parent's house needs to be emptied and nobody quite knows where to begin. Our crews are licensed under MN License #3772090-2, background-checked, and trained to work at your pace, not ours. If you're ready to talk through what you need, call (612) 444-5865 for a no-pressure conversation and a free on-site estimate.

Clearing an estate isn't the same as hauling away unwanted furniture. These belongings carried meaning. That worn armchair was someone's favorite reading spot. Those boxes in the basement hold photographs, letters, and objects that tell a family's story. Our crews understand this, and they treat every item and every family with the respect the situation requires. Scope determines cost more than anything else: a single room might take a few hours, while a multi-floor home with a garage, outbuildings, and decades of accumulation can span a full day or more. Pricing follows a volume-based model, so you pay only for the space your items occupy in our truck, with all labor, loading, hauling, and disposal included. Every job is different. Contact Junk Genius for an accurate estimate.

Our Approach

Estate Work Requires a Different Kind of Crew

We slow down when the situation calls for it, and we never rush a grieving family.

Most junk removal jobs are straightforward. Estate cleanouts aren't. You might need us to pause while you sort through a closet, step out while you make a phone call, or simply avoid certain rooms because they're too much right now. We do all of that. Our crew members receive specialized training in compassionate service before they ever set foot in a home that's being cleared after a loss. That training is real, not a line on a website. Every crew member is licensed, background-checked, and certified in waste management and recycling safety. They've seen situations like yours before, and they won't treat your family's belongings like they're just cargo. We also work alongside you, or your designated family representative, rather than operating independently. If you can't be present, that's fine too. We can coordinate with an estate attorney, a realtor, or a neighbor you trust. The goal is to make this feel manageable, because right now, that matters more than speed.

A junk removal truck with branded graphics featuring a cartoon mascot, parked in a residential driveway during a service call.

How It Works

Four Steps From First Call to Final Sweep

No-Obligation Consultation

We start with a conversation. Walk us through the property, tell us what you're dealing with, and share any concerns about specific items or rooms. We'll give you a clear, honest estimate and build a plan around your family's timeline, not a corporate scheduling system.

Sorting and Categorizing Together

Our crews work alongside you or a family representative to sort what stays, what goes, what gets donated, and what gets recycled. Nothing leaves without your say-so. We take the lead on logistics so you can focus on the decisions that actually matter.

Responsible Removal and Donation

Items your family no longer needs don't disappear into a landfill. We follow our Four R's philosophy: Remove, Re-use, Recycle, and Reduce. Furniture and household goods in good condition go to charity partners like Bridging in Minnesota and Habitat for Humanity ReStore locations. Your loved one's possessions can keep serving families who need them.

Final Sweep and Follow-Up

Once removal is complete, we leave spaces clean and ready for whatever comes next, whether that's listing the home, transferring it to new owners, or simply closing this chapter. We stay available after the cleanout too. Estate processes sometimes stretch over weeks, and we're here if something turns up later.

Why It Matters

Local Ownership Changes How This Job Gets Done

National franchise operations send whoever's available. You might get a different crew than the one you spoke with, dispatched from a call center that's never been to the Twin Cities. Junk Genius is different in a specific way: Mike Reimann's name is on the business, and has been for about 15 years. When you call (612) 444-5865, you reach people who know this area, know which local donation centers accept specific items, and genuinely care about getting this right for their neighbors. We won't pressure you to schedule before you're ready. We won't upsell you on services the situation doesn't call for. And we won't send a crew that treats this like a routine haul. With 4.9 stars across 1,987 Google reviews, the families who've been through this have told us what they value most: crews who show up when they say they will, work with care, and make a hard day a little easier. If you're also dealing with items beyond the main living space, our team can handle storage unit cleanouts and even renovation debris removal if the property needs work before it goes on the market.

Junk removal dumpsters and service vehicles displayed at a business lot exterior.

What We Handle

Common Estate Cleanout Scenarios

Inherited Homes

A parent or grandparent's home, often filled with decades of furniture, clothing, tools, and paperwork. We sort, donate, recycle, and haul so the property is ready to transfer or sell.

Assisted Living Transitions

Moving a family member into assisted living often means clearing a full household on a compressed timeline. We can coordinate around facility move-in dates and handle everything from large furniture to personal effects.

Multi-Room and Full-Property Cleanouts

Some estates span multiple floors, garages, and outbuildings. We scale our crew to the scope of the job. From a single bedroom to a five-bedroom home with a detached shed, we bring enough people and truck space to finish it properly.

Post-Estate-Sale Remainder Removal

Estate sales rarely sell everything. The items left behind after a sale still need to go somewhere. We do remainder pickups quickly, often same-week, so the property doesn't sit half-cleared while the estate settles.

Long-Distance Family Situations

You can't always be on-site. We coordinate with estate attorneys, realtors, or designated family contacts. We send photos when you need documentation and keep communication clear throughout, so you're not flying blind from another state.

Hoarding-Adjacent Situations

Some estates involve conditions that go beyond standard cleanout. Our crews approach every situation without judgment. If the home falls into a more complex category, we also offer dedicated household junk removal services built for higher-volume situations.

Quick Facts

Estate Cleanout: What to Know Before You Call

Cost is driven by volume and scope

You pay for the space your items take up in the truck, plus labor. A single room might run a few hundred dollars. A full multi-floor estate with outbuildings can reach several thousand. Every job is different. Contact Junk Genius for an accurate estimate.

Timeline depends on the property

A focused, single-floor cleanout often finishes in a half day. Larger homes with garages, attics, and decades of accumulation typically take a full day or more. We give you a realistic estimate before we start, not after.

You don't have to sort everything first

Families often ask if they need to pre-sort. You don't. Our crew will work through items with you or your representative. If you want certain things set aside before we haul, just tell us. We follow your lead.

Donation & recycling

We don't landfill what can be reused. Furniture in good shape goes to Bridging Minnesota and Habitat for Humanity ReStore. Electronics and appliances go through certified recycling. Your loved one's belongings don't just disappear.

Same-week scheduling is usually available

We're available seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. When an estate needs to close on a tight timeline, same-week or next-day scheduling is often possible. Call (612) 444-5865 to check current availability.

We call 30 minutes before arrival

Our crew calls ahead so you're prepared when we arrive. Returning to a parent's home is hard. The last thing you need is to be caught off-guard. That courtesy call is standard, every time.

Customer Reviews

What Families Say After the Cleanout

Diane Hansmeier

I had a few places come do estimates, and Junk Genius was definitely the most reasonable. They were also able to switch our day/time when we had something coming up. Big shout out to Lester and Isaiah! They were friendly, respectful of the space, and incredibly efficient!

Shannon Stordahl

Owen and Curtis were so helpful in figuring out how to address my unwanted items! They had great ideas to make it for my budget. Very kind, professional, and explained everything. Great experience.

Riley Jay

Sosa and Diego did an incredible job on my garage. I had bought a house and the seller had left all sorts of junk in the garage including an old fridge and many mattresses. They were able to work with me to get it done fast and affordably. I will definitely be keeping them in mind for future work

Common Questions

Estate Cleanout FAQs

How much does it cost to have an estate cleaned out?

Estate cleanout costs vary based on the volume of items, property size, and how much sorting the crew needs to do. A focused single-room cleanout can run a few hundred dollars. A full multi-floor estate with a garage and outbuildings can reach several thousand dollars or more. Pricing is volume-based: you pay for the truck space your items occupy, with all labor, hauling, and disposal included. Every job is different. Contact Junk Genius for an accurate, on-site estimate with no obligation.

What is the best way to clean out an estate?

Honestly, the best approach is to start with a clear plan before anything moves. Identify items the family wants to keep, then items suitable for donation or estate sale, then what's left for removal. A professional crew handles the removal layer most efficiently because they can sort, load, and route items to the right destinations (donation partners, recyclers, disposal) in a single visit. Trying to DIY a full estate cleanout often takes multiple trips and weeks longer than a single coordinated crew day.

How long does an estate cleanout take?

A focused single-floor cleanout typically takes a half day to a full day. A two-story home with a full garage, attic, and basement can take one to two full days with a full crew. Homes with decades of accumulation or hoarding-adjacent conditions may take longer. We give you a realistic time estimate before we start so you can plan accordingly, and we don't pad the clock once we're on-site.

How do estate cleanouts work?

We start with a free, no-obligation walk-through of the property. You tell us what stays and what goes. Our crew then sorts, loads, and hauls everything out, routing items to donation partners, recycling facilities, or disposal. You don't have to pre-sort or do anything before we arrive. After removal, we do a final sweep of the spaces we cleared. We're also available for follow-up if additional items surface later in the estate process.

Can you handle an estate cleanout if I'm not able to be there in person?

Yes. We work with family members remotely, estate attorneys, realtors, and designated contacts all the time. Long-distance estate situations are common. We coordinate the walk-through, keep communication open throughout the job, and can send photos for your records. The process doesn't require you to be on-site as long as someone has authorized the cleanout and we have clear access to the property.

What happens to the items after an estate cleanout?

We follow our Four R's approach: Remove, Re-use, Recycle, and Reduce. Furniture and household goods in usable condition go to Twin Cities charity partners including Bridging Minnesota and Habitat for Humanity ReStore locations. Electronics and appliances are routed to certified recyclers. We landfill only what genuinely can't be donated or recycled, which is typically a small fraction of a full estate load. That's not a marketing claim; it's our standard operating process.

Ready to Talk Through What You're Facing?

Call Mike's crew when you're ready. No pressure. No automated systems. Just a real conversation about what you need.

Call (612) 444-5865 Get a free quote