Estate Clean Outs in Allentown, PA
Allentown’s older homes and multi-generation households mean estate cleanouts are one of the most common calls we receive. Across neighborhoods like the West End, Old Allentown, and Southside, families find themselves facing houses filled with decades of belongings — and no clear plan for how to deal with it all.
This page covers everything you need to know about estate clean out services in Allentown and the surrounding Lehigh Valley. You’ll learn what the process looks like from start to finish, how pricing works, what happens to your items, and how to get started — even if you’re feeling completely overwhelmed right now.
We’ve helped over 500 customers since founding Total Hauling Junk Removal, and a significant portion of those jobs have been estate cleanouts. Our founder, John Santiago, built this company on a simple idea: treat every customer like family, show up when you say you will, and leave the property better than you found it. That approach hasn’t changed.
Our crew handles estate clean outs across every Allentown neighborhood — from the dense row homes near Hamilton Street to the larger properties out toward Trexler Memorial Park. You don’t need to sort anything, move anything, or even be at the property. We walk through the home with you (or your representative), confirm what stays and what goes, and handle every bit of the heavy lifting.
What a Full-Property Cleanout Actually Looks Like
When families call us about an estate cleanout, the first thing we do is listen. We understand this isn’t just “stuff” — these are someone’s belongings, and the situation is often emotionally charged. Whether you’ve lost a parent, you’re managing a property for a sibling who lives out of state, or you’re an executor trying to get a home listed, we meet you where you are.
Here’s what the process typically involves:
- Initial walkthrough or photo estimate — We can come to the property in person or you can send us photos. Either way, you’ll get a clear price before we start.
- Scheduled removal day — We work around your schedule, including weekends. You don’t need to bring anything to the curb (though it does cost less if items are already outside).
- Room-by-room clearing — Our crew moves through every room, closet, basement, attic, and garage. We load everything onto our trucks.
- Sorting at the truck — Salvageable goods are separated from disposal items. Electronics, metal, and brick are recycled. Usable items go to local donation centers like Goodwill or area churches.
- Sweep-clean finish — We sweep up when we’re done. The property is left ready for whatever comes next — listing, renovation, or handoff.
Many West End Allentown homes were built before 1960. They often have full basements, attic storage, and detached garages packed with generations of belongings. These properties frequently require multiple truck loads, and we plan for that upfront so there are no surprises on your invoice.
How Estate Cleanout Companies Charge
One of the most common questions we hear is: “Do you charge a percentage of sales or a flat fee?” At Total Hauling, we charge based on load size — meaning the volume of material we’re hauling determines your cost. This is straightforward and transparent. You’re not paying a percentage of anything, and there are no hidden fees tacked on afterward.
Our minimum charge is $150, or $89 for a single curbside item. A full estate cleanout varies depending on the size of the home and how much has accumulated, but we always provide an estimate before any work begins. You can get that estimate in person or by sending us photos — whichever is easier for you.
For families watching their budget, we also offer senior discounts, military discounts, first responder discounts, and local business discounts. John has always believed that if someone needs the service but the price is a stretch, there’s usually a way to make it work — whether that’s a discount or a suggestion on how to reduce the load before we arrive.
Is “Free Estate — Must Take It All” a Good Idea?
You may have seen posts on Facebook or Craigslist offering a free estate cleanout where someone takes everything in exchange for keeping whatever they find. Be careful with this approach. In some cases it works out fine, but more often it leads to problems: strangers cherry-picking the valuable items and leaving the rest, property damage during unsupervised removal, or people simply not showing up.
A professional estate cleanout gives you control over the process. You decide what stays, what gets donated, and what gets hauled. And when we leave, the property is actually clear — not partially picked through.
Furniture Removal in Allentown, PA
Large furniture is almost always the biggest headache during an estate cleanout. Sofas, dressers, dining tables, bed frames, entertainment centers — these pieces are heavy, awkward, and often too worn to donate. They’re also the items that make a property feel impossible to clear on your own.
Midtown Allentown homeowners deal with this constantly. The row homes and narrow stairwells in that part of the city make used furniture hauling especially tricky. Getting a full-size couch down a tight staircase and out a narrow front door takes experience and care — both for the furniture and for your walls and doorframes.
How We Handle Large and Heavy Pieces
Our crew removes furniture from any floor of the home. No elevator needed, no pre-staging required. If a piece is too large to fit through a doorway, we disassemble it on-site. Bed frames, sectional sofas, modular shelving — we break it down, carry it out, and load it up.
In most cases, furniture removal during an estate cleanout happens in a single visit. If you’re dealing with a particularly large home or multiple storage areas, we’ll let you know during the estimate so you can plan accordingly.
Furniture that’s still in usable condition gets separated for donation. Items that are stained, broken, or past their useful life go straight to disposal. You don’t need to make those decisions alone — we can help you sort through what’s worth keeping, donating, or hauling away.
Appliance Removal in Allentown, PA
Estate properties almost always have old appliances that need to go. Refrigerators that haven’t been replaced in two decades, washers and dryers in the basement, window air conditioning units, chest freezers in the garage — these are heavy, sometimes hazardous, and not something you should try to move yourself.
South Allentown families frequently call us when an estate home has aging appliances the new owners won’t keep. Many of these homes were built during the mid-century housing boom, and the appliances have been there just as long.
Safe Disconnection and Disposal
Our crew disconnects and removes appliances safely. You don’t need to do any prep work — just point us to what needs to go. Refrigerators and older cooling units contain refrigerants that Pennsylvania requires to be handled properly during disposal, and we make sure that’s taken care of.
Appliances are hauled off the property in one trip whenever possible. Scrap metal from old units gets recycled rather than dumped in a landfill. If an appliance is still functional, we’ll separate it for donation to local organizations in the Allentown area.
Hoarding Cleanouts in Allentown, PA
Estate cleanouts and hoarding situations overlap more than most people realize. A family member passes away, and when you open the door to their home, you discover the situation is far more severe than anyone knew. Rooms packed floor to ceiling. Pathways carved through stacks of newspapers, clothing, and household items. It’s overwhelming — and it’s more common than you might think.
We approach hoarding cleanouts with the same care and discretion we bring to every job. There’s no judgment here. John grew up in a big family where you could always count on each other, and that’s the energy our crew brings into every home — especially when the situation is sensitive.
More Than Just Hauling
A question we see homeowners ask frequently is: “How do I find services that do more than just haul junk during a hoarder or estate cleanout?” That’s exactly what we aim to provide. Our crew doesn’t just throw everything in a truck. We work methodically through the property, room by room, and we communicate with you throughout the process.
If you need us to set aside specific items — photo albums, documents, jewelry, sentimental pieces — we do that. If you want us to separate items for donation, we handle it. Hoarding cleanouts ranked as our number one residential service priority for a reason: families need someone who understands the emotional weight of the situation, not just the physical labor.
Properties in neighborhoods like Dutch Hill, East Allentown, and the Fairgrounds area often have older residents who’ve lived in the same home for 30 or 40 years. The accumulation can be staggering. We’ve seen it all, and nothing phases our crew.
Garage and Basement Cleanouts in Allentown, PA
If you’ve ever opened the door to a deceased relative’s basement in an older Allentown home, you know the feeling. Decades of tools, holiday decorations, paint cans, old furniture, boxes of who-knows-what stacked to the ceiling. Garages are often just as packed — lawn equipment, automotive supplies, sporting goods, and everything that didn’t fit anywhere else.
Basement and garage cleanouts are almost always part of a larger estate clean out, but they deserve special attention because they’re where the heaviest, most awkward items tend to live.
We Go Where the Junk Is
You don’t need to drag anything up the stairs or out to the driveway. Our crew goes into the basement, the garage, the shed — wherever the items are — and carries everything out. Homes near Lehigh Parkway and throughout the Southside neighborhood often have walk-out basements that make access a bit easier, but even if your basement has a narrow staircase and a low ceiling, we’ve handled it before.
Common items we remove from basements and garages during estate cleanouts include:
- Old workbenches, tools, and yard equipment
- Broken or outdated exercise equipment
- Holiday decorations and storage boxes
- Paint, stains, and finishing supplies (non-hazardous only)
- Shelving units and storage racks
- Old bicycles, sports equipment, and children’s toys
- Scrap wood, leftover building materials, and hardware
We also handle shed cleanouts and shed demolition if the structure itself needs to come down. That’s one of the advantages of working with a company whose founder spent nearly 18 years in the carpenter’s union — we know how things are built, which means we know how to take them apart safely.
Donation and Item Sorting Support
Here’s something that separates a good estate cleanout from a great one: what happens to the items after they leave the property. Many families feel guilty about sending everything to a landfill, and rightfully so. A lot of what’s in an estate home still has life in it — clothing, kitchenware, furniture, books, electronics.
At Total Hauling, we sort items at the truck. Usable goods are separated and routed to local donation centers, including Goodwill and area churches in the Allentown community. Electronics, metal, and brick are recycled through local facilities like Revolution Recovery. We believe in keeping as much out of the landfill as possible.
What About Valuable Items?
If you’re wondering about pricing items for resale during an estate cleanout, that’s a decision best made before we arrive. We’re not estate sale companies or appraisers — our job is junk removal, hauling, and cleanout. But we’re happy to work around your timeline if you need a few days to have valuables assessed or picked up by family members before we come through.
Some families hire an estate sale company first, then call us to handle everything that’s left. Others prefer to have us clear the entire property in one shot. Either approach works, and we’ll adapt to whatever makes the most sense for your situation.
Best Advice for Cleaning Out a Deceased Family Member’s Estate
If you’re reading this page because you’ve recently lost someone, we’re sorry for your loss. Estate cleanouts are one of those tasks that nobody prepares you for, and the emotional toll can make the physical work feel ten times harder.
Here’s what we’ve learned from helping hundreds of families through this process:
Don’t Try to Do It All Yourself
The single biggest mistake we see is family members trying to handle everything alone. They rent a dumpster, spend weekends hauling boxes, and burn out after clearing one room. A full house cleanout — especially in a larger Allentown home with a basement, attic, and garage — is a serious physical undertaking. Leave the heavy lifting to us.
Start with What Matters Most
Before any junk removal crew shows up, walk through the property and pull out the items that have sentimental or financial value. Photo albums, jewelry, important documents, family heirlooms — get those out first. Everything else can be handled during the cleanout.
Give Yourself Permission to Let Go
This is the hardest part. Not every item needs to be saved. Your loved one’s memory isn’t in the old kitchen table or the boxes of magazines in the basement. Keep what truly matters to you, and let professionals handle the rest with care and respect.
You Don’t Need to Be There
For rental properties, foreclosures, or situations where being at the home is too painful, you don’t always need to be present during the cleanout. If there’s a lockbox or a way for us to access the property, we can handle the job while you’re elsewhere. We’ll send you updates and photos as we go.
How to Manage an Overwhelming Estate Cleanout
We hear this all the time: “It feels like it’s taking over my life.” Between work, your own family, and the emotional weight of the loss, managing a full estate cleanout can feel impossible. Here’s how to make it manageable.
Break it into phases. You don’t have to clear the entire house in one day. Some families schedule a walkthrough first, then a removal day the following week. Others do it in stages — one floor at a time.
Delegate what you can. If you’re the executor, you don’t have to physically do the work. That’s what we’re here for. Your job is to make decisions about what stays and goes. Our job is everything else.
Set a deadline. Without a target date, estate cleanouts tend to drag on for months. If the property needs to be listed, use that listing date as your anchor. We offer same-day junk removal and flexible scheduling — including weekends — so we can work within tight timelines.
Ask for help. Whether it’s family members, friends, or a professional service, don’t carry this alone. We’ve worked with families across the Lehigh Valley — from Highland Park to Mountainville to Midway Manor — and the ones who have the smoothest experience are the ones who let people help.
Why Allentown Families Choose Total Hauling for Estate Clean Outs
John Santiago didn’t start Total Hauling planning to become an estate cleanout specialist. He started with nearly 18 years of experience in the carpenter’s union in New York City, a move to Pennsylvania, and a realization that families were paying too much for demolition, removal, and hauling services — and not getting the personal attention they deserved.
That insight turned into a business built on relationships. Almost five years later, most of our original customers are still with us. We’re working with their families, their neighbors, and their neighbors’ families. That kind of loyalty doesn’t happen by accident — it happens because people trust us in their homes.
What Sets Us Apart
- Family-first approach — It doesn’t get more personal than going into someone’s home, especially during a difficult time. Every crew member treats your property and your belongings with respect.
- Fair, transparent pricing — We charge by load size. No percentages, no surprise fees. Free estimates in person or by photo.
- Discounts for those who serve — Military discounts, senior discounts, first responder discounts, and local business discounts. If money is tight, talk to us — we’ll find a way to help.
- Demolition expertise — Need a shed torn down? Cabinets ripped out? A fence removed before the property goes to market? John’s carpentry background means we handle demo and removal that other junk removal companies can’t.
- We recycle and donate — Electronics, metal, and brick are recycled. Usable items go to Goodwill and local churches. We care about where your items end up.
- Bilingual service — We serve Allentown’s diverse community in English, Spanish, and Italian.
We’re also proud to be a Latino-owned, woman-owned, and LGBTQ+ friendly business. Allentown is a diverse city, and we believe everyone deserves to feel comfortable with the people they invite into their home.
Our Estate Cleanout Service Area
We’re based right here at 128 Jordan Drive in Allentown, and we serve the entire Lehigh Valley metro area. Whether your estate property is on a tree-lined street in the West End, a row home near Center City, or a suburban home in one of the surrounding communities, we’ll be there.
In addition to all Allentown neighborhoods — including Southside, Old Allentown, East Allentown, Rittersville, Mountainville, Dutch Hill, the Fairgrounds area, Highland Park, and Midway Manor — we also serve:
- Lehigh County: Emmaus, Macungie, Whitehall, Fullerton, Schnecksville
- Northampton County: Bethlehem, Easton, Nazareth, Bath, Hellertown, Wind Gap
- New Jersey border communities: Phillipsburg, Alpha, Washington
If you’re not sure whether your property falls within our service area, give us a call at 484-714-4551. Chances are, we can get there.
Frequently Asked Questions About Estate Clean Outs
How much does a full house estate cleanout cost?
It depends on the volume of material we’re hauling. We charge by load size, not by the hour or by a percentage of item value. Our minimum charge is $150, and we provide free estimates before any work begins. You can request an in-person walkthrough or send us photos for a quote.
Do I need to sort everything before you arrive?
No. You don’t need to sort, organize, or move anything. Just let us know what stays and what goes, and we handle the rest — including loading, hauling, and sweeping up afterward. That said, if items are already at the curb, it will cost less.
Do you donate usable items?
Yes. We sort items at the truck and separate usable goods for donation to local organizations like Goodwill and area churches in Allentown. We also recycle electronics, metal, and brick.
Can you handle a hoarding situation as part of an estate cleanout?
Absolutely. Hoarding cleanouts are one of our top services. We approach these situations without judgment and work methodically through the property, room by room. If you need us to set aside specific items, we’ll do that.
Do I need to be at the property during the cleanout?
Not always. If it’s a rental, foreclosure, or a property with lockbox access, we can complete the job without you being present. We’ll communicate with you throughout and can send photos of the progress.
How quickly can you schedule an estate cleanout?
We offer same-day junk removal when our schedule allows, and we work weekends. We can also work around your specific timeline if you need flexibility. Call us at 484-714-4551 or send photos to get started.
Do you handle demolition during estate cleanouts?
Yes. If the property needs a shed torn down, a fence removed, cabinets ripped out, or other demo and removal work, we handle that too. Our founder’s background in carpentry and construction means we’re equipped for demolition work that goes beyond basic junk removal.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept credit cards, checks, cash, and Zelle. Payment is due upon completion of the job.
Do you offer any discounts?
Yes. We offer military discounts, senior discounts, first responder discounts, and local business discounts. If cost is a concern, let us know — we’ll do our best to work with you.
What items can’t you take?
We can take just about anything that’s non-hazardous and can be lifted by our crew. Items we cannot take include asbestos, biohazard materials, gasoline, propane tanks, pesticides, paint thinner, pool chemicals, tires, and other hazardous materials. If you’re unsure about a specific item, just ask.
Ready to Get Started?
Dealing with an estate cleanout is hard enough without worrying about the logistics. Whether you’re clearing a small apartment near Cedar Creek Park or a large family home in the West End, Total Hauling Junk Removal is here to make it easier.
It’s one call for your Total Haul.
Call 484-714-4551 to schedule your free estimate, or send us photos of the property and we’ll get back to you with pricing. We’re available by phone, and we work weekends. Let us handle the heavy lifting so you can focus on what matters most.