We completed the kind of whole‑home clear out we envisioned would become a core part of our services.
Erin first reached out by email. Her uncle had recently passed away, and she needed help clearing out his 1,500‑square‑foot home on Cleveland’s West Side. The house was filled with decades of belongings: clothing, knick‑knacks, dated furniture, stereo equipment, and kitchenware.
Our Initial Walkthrough
As with every new engagement, we began with a full walkthrough to understand Erin’s goals and expectations. Aside from a few items the family wanted to keep, the plan was to remove nearly everything from the home. During the walkthrough, we identified a significant amount of furniture and clothing that was suitable for donation. We asked Erin to mark the pieces she wanted to keep so that we could easily identify them and put them aside for her.
Sorting, Donating, and Responsible Disposal
When we arrived with our crew, we set to work bagging and clearing out the piles of paper, old mail and trash for easy access to the donatable items. We then wiped off end tables, lamps, easy chairs and the sofa before carefully loading those items for delivery to the Cleveland Furniture Bank.
Then we tackled the bedrooms, office, and kitchen. Clothes in good condition and kitchenware were boxed up. In total, we donated three full truckloads of household goods.
Preserving Sentimental Items
As we worked through each room, we discovered several personal and sentimental items: family photographs documenting multiple generations, and Erin’s uncle’s high school yearbooks. We set these aside so Erin and her family could enjoy them. We also put things aside that we thought a young homeowner might like to have as she sets up her home. There was a collection of beer mugs. There was a brand-new Nest thermostat in an unopened box, and tools that would come in handy down the line.
Setting the Stage for Renovation
Once everything was cleared, the home’s potential became evident. We vacuumed the entire home removing years of dust and cat hair. The floors were cleaner and the air was easier to breathe. Erin was already planning to have the floors refinished, and the bathroom updated, and the clean, empty space gave her a fresh starting point for the next phase.
Every clear-out we work on is different, yet, with each one reminds us how important it is to help families honor what’s been left behind while making space for what comes next.