Estate Sale vs. Junk Removal ROI: Which Makes the Most Money When Selling an Inherited Home

If you’re ready to sell an inherited home, you may be contemplating what to do with everything in it.

In general, you have two options: Hold an estate sale or hire a junk removal service.

The right choice depends on a few factors, such as your property value, timeline for selling, and how much time you want to devote to the process. 

If the home has many items that would be considered of value to the general public, an estate sale might make sense. 

However, if the property has a lot of “junk” and you want to get it on the market ASAP, a junk removal service is likely your best bet.

How estate sales and junk removal services differ

While both an estate sale and junk removal service can help remove the home’s belongings and clear it of clutter, they follow very different processes.

“An estate sale company will go into the home, appraise the items, declutter the area, take pictures of all the items, set up the estate sale, advertise it, and manage it,” explains Rachel Hunter, co-owner of Cactus Crew Junk Removal in Phoenix.

If you do go the estate sale route, the company will take a commission from the proceeds, which usually ranges from 25% to 45%.

A junk removal service, on the other hand, will clear out the whole house and pack everything up. They may take the items to the dump, donate them to charity, or sell them themselves. Most reputable junk removal companies will ask you where you want your goods to go.

Fortunately, junk removal companies are fairly affordable. According to Angi, you may pay anywhere from $60 to $700, depending on volume or how full the truck is.

Should you hire an estate sale company or junk removal service?

Junk removal is usually the more popular choice.

“Ultimately, a lot of what people keep has limited resale value or just isn't worth the effort to clean and categorize. Junk removal is usually a much better option for average houses, and especially cluttered or hoarder properties,” says Ryan Dossey, co-founder at SoldFast in San Diego.

Danny Johnson, owner of Danny Buys Houses in San Antonio, recently purchased a hoarder house and is in the process of clearing it out.  

“Even though the house is requiring five 40-yard dumpsters to clear out, very little was of any real value. Many hoarding situations are best handled with junk removal services,” explains Johnson.

In some cases, however, an estate company can be worthwhile.

“Hiring an estate company is a good idea if you know the property has items that are actually considered valuable and desirable to the general public,” explains Dossey.

Even with the commission, you could benefit from an estate sale company as long as you know there’s potential value in the property. Just make sure you get the exact commission and estimates of expected proceeds in writing. 

Consider an estate sale if:

• The inherited home has documented antiques, artwork, or collectibles worth an estimated $20,000 or more.
• You want to maximize the value of the home’s contents and potentially earn a profit.
• You’re not in a rush to sell the property and have time to commit to the process.
• You agree to pay a commission to the estate sale company.

Consider a junk removal service if:

• The inherited home contains average furniture and no documented collectibles of value.
• You inherited a “hoarder” property.
• You hope to sell the home as soon as possible.
• You prefer a faster process and don’t have the time or desire to go through every item.

Why clearing clutter matters

Clutter can legitimately make selling a property much harder. 

“People worry about cleanliness and maintenance backlogs. They often pass up on houses that are otherwise in fine shape,” says Dossey.

Also, a clean house helps people visualize what the property would be like if it were their own, which ultimately leads to faster home sales and, many times, higher prices.

If you want to list the property quickly, a junk removal service is ideal.

“They’ll remove everything the day they come and ensure the house is one photo session away from a listing,” says Hunter.

An estate sale service can actually fetch you a profit if it goes well, but it will take longer—usually a few weeks—to set up and execute.