Brianna HarrisonWhen a close friend’s grandfather passed away, he said the grief was overwhelming. But what made it harder was the thought of clearing out his house.
Every room was filled with memories and items that felt impossible to part with; my friend was emotionally drained and didn’t know where to begin. That’s when I gently suggested hiring a professional estate cleanout service.
Not only does it take the physical burden off your shoulders, but it also brings emotional relief during a process that can be heavy. They can sort, donate, or dispose of belongings with care so that you don’t have to.
Here, we rounded up the best estate cleanout services in Toronto. Who knows—it might just be the help you didn’t know you needed.
How much do estate cleanout services cost in Toronto?
The average cost of estate cleanout services in Toronto is $1250. Prices can range as low as $50 for minimal jobs and exceed $6000 for large or complete clearouts.
Factors like the volume of items, disposal needs, and special services (like donation drop-offs or hazardous waste removal) can affect the final price.
How We Chose the Best Cleanout Services in Toronto
1. Shine Window and Eaves Cleaning
Since 2019, Shine Window and Eaves Cleaning has been brightening up homes with their window and eavestrough cleaning. But what many people don’t know is that they also offer estate cleanout services.
Their team inspects the property first to give you an idea of how much time and effort it’ll take to clear everything out. Then, they take the time to sort, clean, and prep the space so it looks best by the end of the job.
We like that they make donations whenever possible, instead of just hauling everything to the dump.
And if you’re worried about quality, don’t be—they offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Keep in mind that we heard isolated reports of property damage. This is not ideal, especially if you’re planning to sell the home.
Went above and beyond and represented the company very well
“I have been with Shine Windows for 2 seasons now! The neighborhood is called Forest Hill North (Midtown Toronto). Today Travis, Thomas and Dirie attended! They were very professional, hard working and had excellent customer service. They went above and beyond and represented the company very well. They made the whole process stress free.”
Michael Laurie Google Review
The Upper Beaches area is better with them around
“Ryan and Rainer were excellent! Always making sure to keep me updated and just overall great guys. The work was outstanding and despite how cold it was they were doing everything to make sure things were perfect. The Upper Beaches area is better with them around.”
Navin Alagan, Google Review
2. Simply Home Downsizing
Simply Home Downsizing is co-owned by Pauline Duhart, whose goal is to ease the emotional and physical toll of downsizing.
Her company offers a complimentary consultation, which is a great opportunity to talk through your plans and goals.
If the plan is to sell the home, they’ll completely clear the home and perform the necessary repairs. They can also professionally stage it to get the best price on the market.
On the flip side, if the property is staying in the family, they’ll help with organizing, liquidating assets, and choosing which items to keep, donate, or let go of.
It’s worth mentioning that they can be on the pricey side. But remember, you’re not just paying for manual labor but for the experience and level of care.
Cleared a house that had 50 years’ worth of belongings
“The team was a dream — super efficient, positive, and sensitive. They helped us clear a house that had 50 years’ worth of accumulated belongings, a Herculean task which would have been impossible without their help. They were wonderful with reading our energy and capacity, and adjusting tasks accordingly, making everything feel manageable. Mary gave an accurate quote, and in fact they finished the job in less than the allotted time. I would not hesitate to recommend their services.”
Kathleen Kajioka, Google Review
Made the cleanup effortless and stressless on our end
“Pauline, Amy, and the team were exceptional. They cleaned out my grandparents’ house, and believe me, it was a BIG project! We are living long distance, and they still made the clean up effortless and stressless on our end. Pauline provided me with updates every few days. She answered my questions in a matter of minutes. They all made me feel so comfortable. We were able to ask for items that we wanted, and they put them aside as they found them. The pricing was very reasonable for the amount of work they did! I would work with them again in a heartbeat.”
Sabiha K., Google Review
3. Savvy Concierge
Savvy Concierge is led by owner Janice Savage. She believes in treating every client with compassion and zero judgment.
You’ll begin with a complimentary one-hour face-to-face consultation, where Janice and her team will assess the property (if needed) and lay out a verbal action plan.
Next, they’ll help declutter and purge items, organize, pack, and deliver belongings to friends, family, or storage. They’ll even take care of garbage removal.
If you’re not sure what to do with everything, they can handle donations and bring in appraisers. They can also arrange online auctions or get items into consignment—it’s all up to you.
Sure, they can be pricier since they charge by the hour. But they offer a 12-hour package deal to help cut down costs, as well as a senior discount.
Best decision I ever made
“Partnering with Janice was the best decision I ever made. She helped me during one of the most emotional times in my life. She is extraordinarily professional, kind, caring, organized, trustworthy, and most importantly, empathetic. As a caregiver to a family member with dementia, Janice made one task less heavy. Massive THANK YOU, Janice!”
Marni Otis, Google Review
Pleasant, efficient, and thorough
“Janice helped us pack up and donate the last things from our parents’ home when they moved recently. She was pleasant, efficient, and thorough. Our only regret is we did not call her sooner!”
Amalia Reef, Google Review
4. Total Estate Services
Since 2012, Total Estate Services has been helping families handle property contents with empathy. In fact, their team has backgrounds in healthcare and funeral services, meaning they understand how emotional these situations can be.
They encourage you to leave everything exactly as it is (e.g. trash, food in the fridge, etc.). Their team will take stock of everything and then decide what can be recycled, repurposed, donated, or sold.
Speaking of which, they use the MaxSold online auction platform to sell items. The proceeds here can help clients offset the costs of cleaning, repairs, or property damage.
Donation and disposal services are offered too, for items that can’t be sold.
Note that they can be a bit on the pricey side. Before committing, we recommend getting a free, no-obligation estimate first.
One of the best service providers I have hired!
“Total Estate Services are one of the best service providers I have hired! They are responsive, efficient, knowledgeable, hardworking and honest! On the first day, I was handed an envelope of cash that was found in a drawer – that’s incredible honesty and integrity. When they curated lots for the web auction, I couldn’t believe that people would buy that stuff! And buy it they did! These guys know what they are doing. I can’t recommend this company enough! Thanks so much, Todd and Linda… you are the best!”
Don Saytar, Google Review
Caring, compassionate, hard working, and just sooo nice!
“Todd and total estate are lifesavers! He was on the ball with answering my call for help and did it in such a timely manner. I cannot say enough good words about the job they did. I will continue to use and recommend them to everyone I know! Caring, compassionate, hard working, and just sooo nice! Thank you, you made an incredibly hard time easier!”
Alexandria markovinovich, Google Review
5. Transition Squad
Transition Squad was launched in 2005 to help people sell their homes. After the founder went through a difficult journey related to his aging father, he had a new mission: to offer compassionate full-service downsizing and estate cleanouts.
We appreciate their turnkey clear-out service. Meaning, they’ll handle everything from decluttering to organizing.
To help with this, they created their own online selling platform that features auctions and “Buy Now” sales. Afterward, they’ll clear out unsold items.
Items that are not fit for resale will be donated, and they’ll even get you a tax receipt.
To start, you can book a free consultation—a nice, no-pressure meeting to check how they can help your specific situation.
Unfortunately, we heard about hidden fees, so it’s best to double-check the final bill or bring this up during consultation.
Achieved the best possible outcome for all parties involved
“In October 2023, we used Transition Squad to run an online auction and estate sale to empty my parents’ home after their passing. It was a true pleasure working with this company. During the pre-planning stage, much time was devoted to explaining, very patiently, the procedures. On the day of the sale, enough staff were provided to ensure a smooth operation. All members of the team were extremely respectful and sensitive to the emotional challenges of parting with memories. They worked very congenially and efficiently together, with us and with customers. We felt that they were working in our best interests and that they achieved the best possible outcome for all parties involved. Interestingly enough, buyers who came to the door also demonstrated the same generous and respectful attitude, so the company’s “spirit” influences buyers, too. We felt confident in the team’s knowledgeable decision-making. Working with Transition Squad was an extremely positive experience. We highly recommend them.”
Sandra Dennis, Google Review
Team is patient, kind, forthright, and fun to work with!
“Very helpful company during what can be a daunting time for those in the process of downsizing. The team is patient, kind, forthright, and fun to work with! Their rates are reasonable and they have a strong sense of urgency that enables them to help even on tight timelines.”
Alicia Sumar, Google Review
