Estate cleanout and junk removal for inherited homes in Quincy and the South Shore
A house full of someone's things is often the first big job after a family inherits a home. It is also the step that holds up everything after it: the walkthrough, the repairs, the photos, the sale.
This page covers how a cleanout usually goes, what to ask before you hire anyone, the disposal rules that apply in Massachusetts and Quincy, and local companies that work in Quincy, Braintree, Weymouth, Milton and Hingham.
Want the steps on paper? Print the inherited home checklist.
How a cleanout works for an inherited home
1. Secure the house and call the insurance company.
Lock up and make a list of who has keys. Call the homeowner's insurance company early. A policy does not automatically carry over to the estate or the family, and many homeowners policies limit or drop coverage once a house sits empty for a set number of days, often 30 to 60. Ask how the policy defines vacant, and whether you need a vacancy endorsement or a separate vacant-home policy. In winter, keep the heat at 55°F or higher, or have the plumbing winterized.
2. Set aside papers and valuables before anyone starts.
Walk through and pull out anything that looks important: mail, bank and tax papers, deeds, titles, wills, account statements, keys, jewelry, cash, photos and anything with sentimental value to the family. Put it in one box or one room that the crew is told to skip.
3. Check with the personal representative before anything leaves.
In Massachusetts, the person who manages the estate is called the personal representative (often still called the executor). Their authority starts when the Probate and Family Court appoints them. Once appointed, a personal representative can generally sell, donate or discard household contents, unless the will or a court order limits that. A special personal representative has narrower powers.
The personal representative also has to prepare an inventory of estate property, with the fair market value of each item, within 3 months of appointment. Photograph and list anything that might have value before it goes. If an attorney is helping with the estate, bring them in before the crew is booked.
4. Decide what goes where.
Most houses end up as a mix of three paths:
- Estate sale: worth a look when there is furniture, collectibles, tools or other items with resale value. Most estate sale companies take a percentage of what sells, commonly 30% to 50% of gross sales according to the National Estate Sales Association. Ask whether cleanup of leftover items is included or billed separately. See the estate sale guide or estate sale companies.
- Donation: usable furniture, clothing and household goods. Some cleanout companies drop off donations for you and give you receipts. See where to donate household items by county.
- Haul-away: everything else. A cleanout or junk removal company loads it and takes it away. Many price by how much of the truck the load fills, or give a flat quote after seeing the house. See the junk removal guide or junk removal companies.
5. Know the disposal rules.
Some items cannot go in the trash in Massachusetts. See Disposal rules in Massachusetts and Quincy below. A licensed hauler should handle these for you, but it helps to know what to ask.
6. Plan for broom-clean by closing.
Standard Massachusetts purchase and sale agreements usually require the seller to deliver the house broom clean and free of personal property at closing, unless the agreement says otherwise. Broom clean generally means empty of belongings and trash, and swept. It does not mean a deep clean or repairs. Many families clear the house before listing so it can be walked, repaired and photographed. Others sell with contents and write that into the agreement.
Disposal rules in Massachusetts and Quincy
Banned from the trash statewide (MassDEP waste bans). These cannot be thrown out with regular trash or sent to a disposal facility:
- Mattresses and box springs (since November 1, 2022)
- Textiles, including clothing, shoes, bedding, towels and curtains, even if worn or stained (since November 1, 2022)
- Old tube-style (CRT) TVs and computer monitors
- Large appliances like stoves, refrigerators, washers and dryers
- Scrap metal, recyclable paper and cardboard, and glass, metal and plastic containers
Items contaminated with mold, bodily fluids, insects, oil or hazardous substances are exempt from the mattress and textile bans.
Quincy, if you are handling part of it yourself (City of Quincy DPW, checked November 2026). Fees and rules change. Confirm with the town before you go.
- Furniture: up to 2 bulky items a week (sofas, chairs, recliners, lawn furniture) can go out curbside on trash day.
- Mattresses: not picked up on regular trash day. Call (617) 837-1299 or schedule online (link on the city's Waste and Recycling page) for a curbside pickup. South Shore Recycle lists it as free for Quincy homes, condos and buildings with 8 units or fewer.
- Appliances, TVs, monitors and computers: call (855) 533-3400 to schedule a curbside pickup for your regular trash day. Call by 3 p.m. one full business day ahead for most items, and at least 2 full business days ahead for TVs, monitors and refrigerators.
- Carpet: can go curbside if cut into 3-foot lengths, rolled and tied, no more than 5 rolls at a time.
- Electronics, metal, rechargeable batteries and mercury items (thermostats, thermometers, fluorescent bulbs): drop off at the DPW Yard, 55 Sea St., Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturdays mid-April through mid-December 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Refrigerators are not accepted at the yard.
- Clothing, shoes and bedding: textile bins at every Quincy public school yard and at the DPW Yard, open 24/7.
- Books: book collection box at the DPW Yard.
- Latex paint: not hazardous. Dry it out with kitty litter or sand, leave the lid off, and put it in the trash.
- Oil-based paint, chemicals, fire extinguishers: hold for Quincy's Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Day at the DPW Yard. It is for Quincy residents only, and a Massachusetts driver's license with a Quincy address is required. As of November 2026, the city lists the next date as to be determined.
- Medications: drop-off kiosk in the lobby of Quincy Police headquarters, 1 Sea St., open 24/7.
- Asbestos: must be removed by a licensed asbestos removal contractor.
- Construction debris, toilets and building materials: not picked up by the city. Hire a private hauler.
For other towns, see the town's page on this site. Checked facts are listed there with their source; anything not checked yet says so.
What to ask a cleanout company
- Which towns do you cover?
- Do you do full-house cleanouts, partial cleanouts, or both?
- Have you worked with personal representatives and estate attorneys before?
- Can you be paid from an estate account, and what do you need for that?
- How do you price the job: by how much of the truck it fills, or a flat quote after a walkthrough?
- How soon can you start, and how many days will the job take?
- What do you donate, what do you recycle, and do you provide donation receipts?
- How do you handle mattresses, clothing, TVs and appliances under the Massachusetts disposal bans?
- How do you handle papers, photos and anything that looks valuable if you find it mid-job?
- Are you licensed and insured? Can you send a certificate of insurance?
- Will you leave the house broom clean?
Local cleanout and junk removal companies
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By town
Barnstable County (15 towns)
Bristol County (20 towns)
Norfolk County (28 towns)
Plymouth County (27 towns)
TODO: typical price ranges only once they come from the companies themselves or another named source.
Tell us what the house needs
Not sure where to start? Tell us about the house and we'll point you to the right next step.
Questions families ask
Do we have to clear out the house before we sell it?
No. Some inherited homes sell with the contents still inside, often to cash buyers or investors. If so, the purchase and sale agreement should say so, since standard Massachusetts forms call for the house to be delivered broom clean and free of personal property. Other homes sell for more once they are empty and clean. It is worth comparing both numbers before deciding.
When can the cleanout start if the estate is in probate?
Once the court appoints a personal representative, they can generally decide what is sold, donated or thrown out, unless the will or a court order limits that. Before an appointment, hold off on removing anything of value. An estate attorney can say what applies to a specific estate.
What should we keep out of the cleanout?
Papers, mail, keys, valuables, photos and anything a family member has asked for. Set it all aside in one place before the crew arrives and tell them that space is off-limits.
How long does a cleanout take?
It varies with the size of the house and how full it is. Ask each company for a start date and how many days the job will take after they see the house.
Who pays for the cleanout?
Cleanout costs for an estate property are usually treated as an estate expense, paid by the personal representative from estate funds. If a family member pays up front, keep every receipt. Whether and how they are paid back is a question for the personal representative and the estate attorney.
About this page
Inclusion is not an endorsement or a guarantee of work. Please vet any company yourself, check its license and insurance, and get written quotes before hiring.
Disposal rules and city services change. Check with your town's public works department before you rely on a date or phone number here.
This page is general information and is not legal, tax or financial advice. For questions about a specific estate, talk with the estate's attorney.