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Legacy Junk Removal

Estate cleanouts

North Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley

“Ricardo and his crew did an outstanding job cleaning out a family member's home yesterday.”

EchoCharlie4, Google
Get a quote(909) 566-3090

5.0 on Google from 463 reviews

How does an estate cleanout work?

Start with a call or photos of each room. Tell us what the family is keeping and what should be set aside. We give you a price, pick a day that works for everyone, and clear the rest: furniture, closets, garage and yard. We donate items that are in fair shape so they get a second life, and recycle what we can. When your items are donated, you'll get a donation receipt from the drop-off location within 14 business days. We sweep up as we finish.

What we take

  • Whole-home contents: furniture, beds, closets, kitchens
  • Garage, shed and attic contents
  • Appliances
  • Yard debris and patio furniture
  • Items left after the family has taken what they want

Ask us first

  • Medications, chemicals, firearms and ammunition: set them aside before we arrive.
  • We don't take paint, chemicals (like motor oil and solvents), tires, asbestos, medical waste, ammunition or propane tanks, empty or full. We'll point you to the right drop-off.

Always included

Loading, hauling, disposal and sweep-up are included.

How our pricing works
Before: a pile of broken furniture, boards and household junk outside an alley garageBefore
After: the alley in front of the garage clearedAfter
A real Legacy job, photographed from the same spot.

How it works

Most jobs go from first text to swept-up driveway the same way.

  1. Send photos

    Text a few photos and your ZIP, or use the quote form. Wide shots of the pile or room work best.

    “Sent them a pic and they sent a quote with a range low to high…” Tim S.

  2. Get a price by text

    We text back a price based on truck space and labor.

    “Got a call back from Ricardo immediately after placing online request.” Stacy O.

  3. Pick a time

    Same-day and next-morning pickups most days. We give you a window and text before we arrive.

    “They gave me a 2 hr service window and texted me 20 min before their arrival.” Janet S.

  4. We haul it and sweep up

    We carry everything out from wherever it sits, load the truck, and sweep up before we leave.

    “took everything, broke down old play equipment, and even swept up.” Michelle M.

How much does estate cleanout cost?

Estate cleanouts are priced by the total truck space and the labor, which is why a walk-through or room-by-room photos matter. Text us a few photos and your ZIP. You get a price back by text, and that's the number you pay unless what's there is different from what was in the photos.

Fastest quote: text photos of your items to (909) 566-3090.

Clearing a parent's or relative's home is a practical job wrapped in a hard time. The work goes best in a set order: legal go-ahead, then the family's picks, then the search for papers and valuables, and only then the haul. This section covers that order, the California rules that apply to what's usually left in an older home, and where the contents can go.

What's included, step by step

  1. Confirm who can decide. Before anything leaves, the person handling the estate (executor, administrator, trustee, or the family agreeing together) should sign off. We can't advise on probate. If you're unsure, check with the court or an attorney.
  2. Family walk-through. Each person marks what they're taking. Sticky notes, painter's tape or a spare room for "keep" piles all work.
  3. Search pass. Go through desks, closets, coat pockets, books, freezer bags and under drawers for documents, cash, keys and photos.
  4. Photos and price. Text pictures of every room, the garage and the yard. You get a price by text before anything is scheduled.
  5. Cleanout day. The crew clears room by room, sets aside anything that looks like papers or keepsakes, loads the truck, and sweeps as each room is finished.

Before cleanout day

  • Get the executor's or family's OK in writing, even a text, for what can go.
  • Remove everything the family is keeping, or tape it clearly.
  • Search for wills, deeds, titles, account statements, keys and safe-deposit information.
  • Collect medicines and needles separately; they can't go in the trash.
  • Box up paint, cleaners, pesticides and batteries from under the sinks and in the garage.
  • Cancel or pause utilities only after the cleanout, so the crew has lights.
  • Tell us about stairs, a steep driveway, or a building with elevator reservations.

California and LA rules that apply

Older homes usually hold a few decades of cleaning supplies, medicines and garage liquids, and California doesn't let those go out with the furniture. It's illegal to put hazardous waste in the garbage,[1] and that includes:

  • Batteries of every kind, from hearing-aid button cells to the car battery in the garage.[1]
  • Mercury items common in older homes: thermostats, thermometers, old barometers and blood pressure gauges.[1]
  • Paint, even cans that dried out years ago.[2]
  • TVs, monitors, computers, microwaves and phones, which are on the state's trash-ban list.[1]
  • Sharps, which may not go in any trash, recycling, green or roll-off container.[3] They have to travel in a sharps container to an approved drop-off,[3] or go back by free mail-back through the state's sharps program.[4]

Anyone in LA County can bring household hazardous waste and electronics to a City of LA S.A.F.E. Center for free, within the 15-gallon or 125-pound limit per trip.[5],[6] Those centers don't accept medical waste,[6] which is why medicines and needles need their own plan.

Old computers and phones may still hold a relative's email, photos and banking logins. LASAN advises wiping personal data before e-waste is recycled.[6]

What affects the price

An estate is usually the biggest single-home job a family books, so a few things move the number:

  • How much is left after the family takes its share. Every piece someone keeps is truck space you don't pay for.
  • The whole property. Attics, garages, sheds and backyards often hold as much as the house.
  • Access. Second-floor bedrooms, an apartment without an elevator, or a long walk from the curb add labor.
  • Heavy or special items: safes, appliances with refrigerant, and anything with its own disposal rules.
  • Timing. A fixed listing or move-out date may mean a bigger crew for one day instead of a smaller one over two.

Free city options vs. paying a hauler

City programs can take some of the load if the family has time and hands. In the City of LA, bulky pickup takes furniture, mattresses and electronics free at the curb for homes LASAN serves,[7] and its move-in/move-out pickup takes boxes and bags on trash day, each no heavier than 30 pounds.[8] Burbank adds a per-item charge for appliances and mattresses,[9] Glendale needs three business days' notice and wrapped mattresses,[10],[11] and Pasadena allows two free pickups a year, each capped at about 3 cubic yards.[12],[13]

The honest math: a full house is dozens of trips to the curb, every item has to be listed when you book, and the leftovers can't sit on the parkway between pickups. That works for a family with a free month. It rarely works when a house is going on the market or a landlord needs the keys back. The city guides cover each program in detail: Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena.

If you'd like to talk it through before sending photos, call. A family business: Ricardo works alongside his dad and his brother, with a crew customers know by name: Brian, Carlos and Rene. We're based on Victory Blvd in North Hollywood.

Text photos for a priceor call (909) 566-3090

Where it goes afterward

Contents from an estate usually go four ways. Clean, working furniture and housewares can be donated: The Salvation Army schedules free pickups by ZIP code,[14] St. Vincent de Paul of Los Angeles picks up for free if items are outside at street level,[15] and Out of the Closet will come for two or more large furniture pieces.[16] Mattresses go to Bye Bye Mattress drop-off sites, which take them regardless of condition.[17] Refrigerators and freezers need the refrigerant recovered first,[18] and metal goes to scrap recycling. What can't be reused or recycled is disposed of as regular waste.

If the estate wants a tax deduction for donations, keep the receipts. Donated household goods generally have to be in good used condition or better,[19] and a tax professional can say whether it's worth claiming.[19]

What customers said about this job

More reviews
Google

Legacy Junk Removal did an excellent job clearing out the apartment if a friend who has moved into a nursing home. They worked effectively and efficiently. Costs are very reasonable. I higly recommend this company.

Karen M.Estate cleanoutProperty cleanout
Google

Would 100% recommend. Better prices than other companies and super accommodating. I had to change the date they were coming to my house last minute and they were able to accommodate me. We hired them to clean out a two story house.

Jennifer O.Property cleanout
Google

As a real estate agent, I’ve worked with several junk removal companies, and Legacy Junk Removal truly stands out. Their team is incredibly professional, reliable, and efficient. They show up on time, communicate clearly, and get the job

Evelyn A.Commercial junk removalProperty cleanout

Where we do this

Based in North Hollywood, working mostly within 10 miles: the east and central San Fernando Valley and the neighborhoods just over the hill.

Estate cleanout: questions

Can the family keep some things?

Yes, and that should come first. Walk the house together, label or move what each person is keeping, and tell us about anything still to be decided. The crew only loads what you've said can go. If family members are coming from out of town, pick a cleanout date after they've had their turn.

Do we need the court's permission before clearing a relative's home?

It depends on the estate, and it's a legal question we can't answer. If there's a will, a trust, or a probate case, the executor, administrator or trustee usually decides what happens to the contents. Check with the court or an attorney before anything is sold, donated or hauled, especially if relatives disagree.

What should we look for before the cleanout?

Papers first: wills, deeds, titles, tax returns, bank and insurance statements, keys and safe-deposit information. Then photos, letters, jewelry and cash, which often turn up in coat pockets, books, freezers and under drawers. Tell the crew what you're still missing and they'll set aside anything that looks like it.

Can the usable furniture be donated?

We donate items that are in fair shape so they get a second life, and recycle what we can. When your items are donated, you'll get a donation receipt from the drop-off location within 14 business days. No single piece is promised to a charity. If you want a specific organization to have something, several in LA offer free pickups, including The Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul. St. Vincent de Paul needs items labeled and outside at street level, and its crews don't go inside.

Can the estate take a tax deduction for donated items?

Possibly, but ask a tax professional. Under IRS rules, donated household goods generally have to be in good used condition or better, a gift of $250 or more needs a written acknowledgment from the charity, and deductions usually require itemizing. Keep the charity's receipts if you drop things off yourselves.

What do we do with leftover medications and needles?

Don't put them in the trash. California bars home-generated sharps from every household and roll-off bin, so put needles in a sharps container. The state's industry-funded program mails free sharps containers on request. Glendale's household hazardous waste facility takes non-controlled medicines and sharps from its residents, and Burbank lists participating pharmacies as a sharps option.

Does someone from the family need to be there?

It helps on the first day, when the crew learns what stays and what goes. After that, many families hand over a key or a lockbox code and let the work continue while they deal with the bank, the realtor or the rest of the estate.

How long does an estate cleanout take?

A one-bedroom apartment can be finished in a few hours. A full house with a packed garage and yard often takes a full day or more, and sometimes more than one truckload. Photos of every room, closet, the garage and the yard let us give you a time estimate before the day.

Can you meet a realtor's listing date or a landlord's move-out deadline?

Tell us the date when you first reach out. Realtors and property managers book cleanouts around listings and turnovers, and a firm deadline helps us plan the right size of crew and truck. Same-day service most days when you reach us by early afternoon; next-morning slots are common.

What about an old refrigerator or freezer in the house?

It can go with everything else. California requires refrigerant to be removed by a certified appliance recycler or an EPA-certified technician before a fridge or freezer is scrapped. If the home is in the City of LA, LASAN also picks up metal appliances free at the curb for homes it serves, with a day's notice.

Can the City pick up the leftovers for free?

Partly. City bulky pickup takes furniture and mattresses at the curb if the City collects that home's trash, but someone has to carry everything out and list each item. Boxes and bags need LASAN's move-in/move-out pickup, capped at 30 pounds per box. For a full house on a deadline, most families end up hiring help.

What happens to mattresses and beds?

Mattresses and box springs from California homes can be dropped off free at Bye Bye Mattress sites regardless of age or condition. Many donation centers, including Goodwill Southern California and Habitat LA ReStores, don't take them. Bed frames aren't part of the mattress program and go with the furniture.

More questions and answers →

Sources

Last reviewed: September 2026. Rules, fees and hours change; check with the city or program before you go.

  1. [1]Waste Banned from the Trash — CalRecycle (calrecycle.ca.gov)
  2. [2]FAQs — PaintCare (paintcare.org)
  3. [3]Health and Safety Code §118286 — California Legislative Information (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)
  4. [4]Sharps Waste Stewardship — CalRecycle (calrecycle.ca.gov)
  5. [5]East Valley: Randall Street S.A.F.E. Center, LA Sanitation & Environment (sanitation.lacity.gov)
  6. [6]S.A.F.E. Centers (Household Hazardous Waste Disposal), LA Sanitation & Environment (sanitation.lacity.gov)
  7. [7]Schedule a Bulky Item Pickup, LA Sanitation & Environment (sanitation.lacity.gov)
  8. [8]Move-In & Move-Out Extra Pickup, LA Sanitation & Environment (sanitation.lacity.gov)
  9. [9]Bulky Item Pick-Up, Public Works (burbankca.gov)
  10. [10]Collection Services, Glendale Integrated Waste Management (glendalerecycles.com)
  11. [11]Bulky Item Pickup, Public Works (glendaleca.gov)
  12. [12]Call Before You Throw (multifamily/bulky flyer, "Revised July 25") (cityofpasadena.net)
  13. [13]Residential Refuse Service & Recycling, Department of Public Works (cityofpasadena.net)
  14. [14]Salvation Army Thrift Store and Donation Center FAQs (satruck.org)
  15. [15]Donation of Goods, St. Vincent de Paul of Los Angeles (svdpla.org)
  16. [16]Donate Today, Out of the Closet Thrift Stores (outofthecloset.org)
  17. [17]Frequently Asked Questions — Bye Bye Mattress (byebyemattress.com)
  18. [18]Health and Safety Code §25212 — California Legislative Information (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)
  19. [19]Publication 526 (2025), Charitable Contributions — IRS (irs.gov)
  20. [20]Household Hazardous Waste Program, Fire Department (glendaleca.gov)
  21. [21]Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) (burbankca.gov)
  22. [22]Goodwill Southern California, Donation Guidelines poster (goodwillsocal.org)
  23. [23]Donate Building Materials, Appliances, & More, Habitat for Humanity Greater LA (habitatla.org)
  24. [24]Mattress Disposal in California — Bye Bye Mattress (byebyemattress.com)
  25. [25]Health and Safety Code §25211.1 — California Legislative Information (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov)
  26. [26]Metal Appliance Pickup, LA Sanitation & Environment (sanitation.lacity.gov)

Facilities and organizations mentioned are general local information, not Legacy Junk Removal partners.

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