Below are the questions that come up on nearly every call. If yours is not here, phone it in. The walkthrough is free and so is the conversation.
Common questions
How do I find out what my cleanout will cost?
Book the free walkthrough. Every house is genuinely different: two houses the same square footage can be a half-day job and a three-day job depending on the basement, the stairs, the driveway and how much is actually in there. That is why a number over the phone is worth nothing, and why anyone who gives you one without walking the house may not honour it. Twenty minutes on site produces a written number you can rely on.
How quickly can you clear a house?
A walkthrough comes first, then a date. A standard full-house job is usually a single day once it is scheduled; heavy accumulation runs longer. If a closing date is driving it, say so on the first call.
What happens to everything you take out?
Three destinations. Usable furniture, housewares, tools and building materials go to local donation with receipts issued to the estate. Metal goes to scrap. The rest goes to the transfer station. Documents, photos and anything that looks significant stay in the house in a set-aside box.
Do you provide donation receipts for the estate?
Yes. This matters when the estate is itemizing, and it is one of the reasons the donation pass is worth the extra hour it costs.
Can you work with an executor who lives out of state?
Routinely. Video walkthrough for the quote, photo documentation of every room before anything moves, progress photos during the day, and final photos at the end. You do not need to fly in.
Do I need to separate the trash from the donations first?
No. Sorting is our job. Yours is marking what stays.
Will you take the piano?
Yes, but say so when you call. Pianos, safes, gun cabinets, hot tubs and chest freezers all change the crew size, and a surprise on the morning of costs everyone the schedule.
What about hazardous materials in the basement?
Old paint, solvents, pesticides and pool chemicals are not household trash in Michigan. Washtenaw County operates a Home Toxics Center at 705 N. Zeeb Road in Ann Arbor, free to county residents and by appointment rather than drop-in, with Saturday collections running April through November. We will flag what needs to go there rather than quietly put it in the truck.
Can you clear the house before probate closes?
That is a question for the personal representative and the estate's attorney, not for us. Generally the personal representative has authority to dispose of personal property, but do not take that from a cleanout company. Get it in writing from counsel before the crew shows up, especially if any beneficiary is contesting.
Are you licensed and insured?
The contractor who performs the work carries general liability and workers' compensation, and will provide a certificate of insurance on request. Ask for it. Any cleanout company that hesitates is telling you something.
What if I change my mind after the walkthrough?
Nothing happens. The walkthrough is free, there is no deposit, and there is no cancellation fee.