Estate Clearing Toronto empties the whole property, including basement, garage and attic, and hands it back broom-clean and ready for listing photos. Our estate cleanout services always start with the family's keepsake review and day-one auction identification, then route donations with receipts and record disposals in manifests. Sentimental items and papers are held for you as executor throughout. You receive the documentation package with the keys, on a date set around your realtor's listing plan.
What Is a Full House Estate Clearing?
A full house estate clearing takes a home from fully furnished to empty and swept. It is the most complete form of estate clearing we offer, and it is what most executors need when a house is being sold. Unlike a hauling crew that loads a truck and leaves, our full clear is organized: the family reviews keepsakes first, valuables are identified for auction or beneficiaries, usable items are donated, and only then is the remainder cleared and recorded.
The result is a property your realtor can stage and photograph, and a set of records that shows exactly where everything went.
What Our Full House Estate Clearing Includes
Basement, garage and attic clearing
Storage spaces often hold more than the living areas. Basements in Toronto homes collect decades of tools, preserves, trunks and paperwork. Attics and crawlspaces hold seasonal items and old photographs. Garages and sheds hold equipment, paint and hardware. We plan these spaces as their own phases so they get the time they need, and we sort before we clear.
Keepsake review first
Before anything leaves, family keepsakes are set aside, labelled and photographed. Beneficiaries who cannot attend approve items by photo, and approved items are delivered or shipped. Nothing sentimental is discarded without family review.
Donation and auction routing
Usable furniture and housewares go to Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Salvation Army, Toronto Goodwill and community furniture banks, with receipts in the estate's name. Valuable items, identified on day one, are routed to beneficiaries or sold through MaxSold online auction at 15% of hammer price with no upfront cost.
Disposal manifests
Items that cannot be reused or recycled are recorded in disposal manifests. Paint, chemicals, batteries and electronics are separated for proper handling. The manifests close the loop: everything that was in the house is accounted for.
Broom-clean delivery
When the home is empty, wall hangings are taken down, old rugs lifted and floors swept throughout. The property is ready for a realtor walk-through, stagers, painters or photographers. Keys and the documentation package are handed over together.
Century homes and condos
Toronto's older homes in the Annex, Riverdale, Trinity-Bellwoods and Cabbagetown bring narrow staircases, tight landings and laneway access. Large furniture is disassembled and padded to protect stairs and moldings, and street parking is planned in advance. Condos bring a different challenge: elevator and loading dock bookings, building insurance certificates and allowed move hours. We arrange those with building management on your authorization.
When Do Executors Need a Full House Clearing?
- Before listing. The house needs to be empty and swept for staging and photography.
- Before closing. The agreement of purchase and sale requires vacant possession on a fixed date.
- Before renovation. The estate is renovating to improve sale value.
- When a rental or condo must be returned. Lease ends or building rules set a deadline.
Full House Clearing Cost Factors
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Bedrooms and floors | More rooms mean more sorting and carrying days |
| Basement, attic and garage volume | Often the largest share of the work |
| Access | Narrow stairs, laneways, condo elevators and parking |
| Valuable contents | Auction preparation adds time but recovers value |
| Hoarding overlap | Multi-week sorting in the premium tier |
A Room-by-Room Handoff Checklist
At the final walk-through, the executor or realtor checks each area with our crew lead. This is the standard every full house estate clearing is held to:
| Area | What you should see |
|---|---|
| Living and dining rooms | Empty, wall hangings down, floors swept |
| Kitchen | Cupboards, drawers, pantry and fridge empty, counters cleared |
| Bedrooms and closets | Empty, shelves and rods clear, floors swept |
| Bathrooms | Cabinets and vanities empty, personal items removed |
| Basement and cold cellar | Empty, shelving cleared, floors swept |
| Attic and crawlspaces | Empty of stored items |
| Garage and sheds | Tools, paint and equipment removed, floors swept |
| Outside | Patio furniture and garden items removed unless they stay with the house |
Fixtures and chattels
Before the clearing starts, confirm with your realtor which items stay with the house. Light fixtures, built-in appliances, window coverings and sometimes a shed or garden structure may be included in a sale. We record these as staying so they are never removed by mistake, and we note them in the inventory.
What happens to the keys and records
At handoff, you receive the keys, garage remotes and access cards together with the executor documentation package: the inventory, auction results, donation receipts and disposal manifests. With your authorization, copies go to your estate lawyer and realtor the same day.
How Long a Full Clear Takes
A 1-bedroom condo usually takes a few working days. A 2-3 bedroom house usually takes several working days over one to two weeks, depending on basement and garage volume. A large multi-floor home with auction waves can take several weeks. As a reference, the Thompson family's 5-bedroom Lawrence Park estate was delivered broom-clean on day 42, 2 days ahead of the probate filing deadline. Your written itemized quote within 48 hours of the consultation sets the exact dates.
Serving Homes Across Toronto and the GTA
We complete full house estate clearings in Lawrence Park, Leaside, Davisville, Rosedale, Forest Hill, Casa Loma, the Annex, Riverdale, High Park and the Beaches, and across North York, Etobicoke, Scarborough, Mississauga, Oakville and the GTA. Request a confidential consultation and bring your listing or closing date.
