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Estate Cleanout Checklist: What to Do After Losing a Loved One


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Losing someone you love is never easy.Along with the emotional weight comes the difficult task of cleaning out their home or belongings — often while grieving.

At Junk Jumpers, we’ve helped many families in Madison and surrounding areas handle estate cleanouts with care and respect. We created this simple checklist to help guide you through the process, one step at a time.

 Estate Cleanout Checklist

1. Secure the Property

  • Change the locks or update access if needed

  • Make sure important documents and valuables are safe

  • Notify utility companies, HOA, and property managers

2. Locate Important Documents

Gather:

  • Will or trust

  • Birth certificate, marriage license

  • Deed or mortgage paperwork

  • Financial records (bank, insurance, taxes)

  • Utility and subscription accountsTip: Create a folder or box just for legal and financial documents.

3. Sort Personal Belongings

Go room by room. Start small — one drawer, one closet.Sort items into:

  • Keep (photos, heirlooms, letters)

  • Donate (clothes, kitchenware, books)

  • Sell (antiques, furniture, collectibles)

  • Dispose (damaged, expired, or unusable items)

Give yourself (and your family) time to go through emotional items. There’s no rush.

4. Decide What to Do with the Home

Options include:

  • Selling the home

  • Renting it

  • Transferring ownership

Make sure legal paperwork is in place before moving forward with any decision.

5. Call an Estate Cleanout Company

Once you’ve gathered keepsakes and personal items, a professional junk removal company like Junk Jumpers can:

  • Clear out remaining furniture, appliances, and trash

  • Sort for donation and recycling

  • Clean up the space so it’s ready for sale or transition

We handle the hard part — so you can focus on healing.

Why Families Trust Junk Jumpers

  • Discreet and respectful service

  • Upfront pricing with no surprises

  • Broom-clean finish on every job

  • Same-day or next-day availability in Madison, WI

We understand this is more than “just junk.” We treat every estate cleanout with compassion and care.

 
 
 

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