Planning timeline
- First: Documents: deeds, titles, financial and legal papers — one box, one person
- Second: Valuables and heirlooms: photograph, decide, distribute
- Third: Donations: usable furniture and clothing do good and shrink the haul
- Fourth: Book the dumpster — everything remaining goes in one decisive push
- Ongoing: Out-of-town family: alternate weekends on a 14-day rental
Safety reminders
- Pace the emotional work — the physical work will wait
- Two people on furniture; the rear doors and a dolly do the rest
- Check pockets, drawers, and book pages — valuables hide
- Set aside old chemicals, paint, and medical items; they can't ride
Dumpster sizing
A typical single home clears with one 20-yard and sometimes a swap. The 14-day rental exists for exactly this — book it up front instead of racing a weekend. Not sure? Take the 60-second size quiz or see the full comparison chart.
Tips from the pros
- Do documents first even if the family wants to start elsewhere
- Photograph heirlooms before distributing — it prevents disputes
- Text us placement photos and the can is waiting when you arrive
- One decisive dumpster push beats a month of trailer trips
Recycling suggestions
- Furniture and clothing donations honor the estate — schedule pickups
- Books: libraries and Friends groups take boxes
- Metal: bring us a metal load and the dump fee is waived
Common mistakes to avoid
- Dumpstering before the document sweep
- Letting the house sit for a year because the job feels too big
- Refrigerant appliances in the can — they need certified handling first
- Racing a 3-day rental when the 14-day costs little more
Want the deeper read? See the full blog guide on this project.