What to Do With a House Full of Stuff After Inheritance

So, you’ve just inherited a house—and it’s packed to the brim. Closets overflowing. Kitchen drawers jammed. Bedrooms stacked with boxes of who-knows-what. It’s not just a property; it’s a time capsule.

The emotional weight? Heavy. The physical task? Overwhelming. You’re not just sorting through furniture and belongings; you’re also trying to figure out what to do with the house itself.

If you’re facing this situation in Florida, especially around Jacksonville and the surrounding areas, you’re definitely not the only one. Inherited homes often come with decades of belongings and unanswered questions.

At Orbit Properties, we’ve helped many families figure out how to move forward when they’ve inherited a house full of stuff. Whether you’re thinking about keeping it, clearing it out, or selling it as-is, we’ve got you covered. Let’s walk through the options, step by step.

First Things First: Take a Breath and Prioritize

It’s easy to panic when you walk into a home and see piles of belongings. But the key here is not to let the visual chaos stop you in your tracks.

Start by asking yourself:

• What’s the end goal? Are you keeping the home, renting it out, or selling it?
• How much time do you realistically have?
• Are there legal or probate steps still in process?

You don’t have to deal with everything at once. Give yourself a little grace and tackle one piece at a time.

Understanding the Legal Side

Before you start donating furniture or putting the home on the market, make sure the legal ownership has been transferred—or is in process.

In Florida, inherited properties often go through probate unless:

• The home was held in a trust
• There was a transfer-on-death deed
• It was jointly owned with survivorship rights

If you’re not sure where things stand, it’s a good idea to consult a local probate attorney. And if probate is in motion, that doesn’t mean you have to wait months to take action. You may still be able to sell the home during probate if you’re the personal representative and follow proper procedures.

For help navigating those steps, visit our page on how we buy houses—we’ve worked with many families selling during probate.

What’s Inside? A Quick Breakdown of What You Might Find

Before you decide what to do with everything inside the home, it helps to understand what you’re really dealing with.

Here’s a general breakdown:

Not everything in the house needs to be kept, sold, or agonized over. Sometimes the hardest part is just starting.

Your Options for Handling the Contents

Once you’re ready to make decisions about the stuff inside, here are the most common approaches:

1. Do-It-Yourself Cleanout

Roll up your sleeves, grab some gloves, and tackle it room by room.

Pros:

• Saves money
• Gives you control over what stays and goes

Cons:

• Emotionally draining
• Time-consuming
• Can take weeks or even months

Tips:

• Start with one small area—don’t try to do it all at once
• Use colored stickers or labels for keep/sell/donate/trash
• Invite family members to help with sentimental sorting

2. Hire an Estate Cleanout Service

Estate cleanout companies specialize in clearing houses full of belongings, often after a death or move.

Pros:

• Quick and professional
• Can handle heavy lifting and disposal
• Often offer estate sale services too

Cons:

• Can cost $1,000–$3,000 depending on size
• May not be available on short notice

3. Sell Items of Value

You might be surprised by what people will pay for. Online marketplaces, estate sale companies, and local consignment shops are good places to start.

Items worth selling:

• Gold and silver
• Vintage furniture
• Rare collectibles
• Electronics in good condition
• Tools, especially power tools

If selling sounds overwhelming, a professional appraiser or estate sale company can help evaluate and manage it all.

4. Donate Functional Items

If it still works, someone out there probably needs it. Donating to local charities not only helps others but may also be tax deductible.

Organizations that accept furniture and household items in Florida:

• Habitat for Humanity ReStore
• Goodwill
• Salvation Army
• Local shelters or faith-based outreach programs

Be sure to call ahead to check what they’ll accept—and whether they’ll pick up large items.

5. Trash and Junk Removal

Let’s face it: some things just need to go. If it’s broken, moldy, outdated, or damaged beyond use, call a junk removal company or rent a dumpster.

Popular junk removal services in Florida:

• 1-800-GOT-JUNK?
• College Hunks Hauling Junk
• Local disposal services

What If You Don’t Want to Clean It Out?

Here’s the good news—you don’t have to.

If the idea of sorting through decades of belongings, finding contractors, or listing the home is too much, you can skip all of it by selling the house as-is.

At Orbit Properties, we buy homes in any condition—including ones packed to the ceiling with furniture, old boxes, and random knick-knacks. We’ve purchased houses with everything still inside, right down to expired pantry food and dusty VHS tapes.

You don’t need to clean. You don’t need to haul. You don’t even need to sweep.

We’ll handle it.

Options for Selling a House Full of Belongings

Why Selling As-Is Might Be the Best Move

Selling your inherited home for cash might not be what you first considered—but for many people, it’s the most efficient option.

When you sell to a local cash buyer like Orbit Properties:

• You don’t have to clean or repair anything
• We pay all closing costs
• There are no realtor fees or commissions
• You choose the closing date
• We help with probate and paperwork if needed

If the house is packed with belongings and you’re out of town or simply overwhelmed, this route saves you time, energy, and emotional strain.

Want to see how it works? Check out our full how we buy houses process and get a clearer picture.

What About Other Family Members?

Inherited homes often have multiple heirs. That means more opinions—and sometimes more stress. Here’s how to handle it:

• Get everyone on the same page early: If the goal is to sell, agree on how proceeds will be split.
• Assign a point person: Ideally, the executor or personal representative handles communication.
• Be honest about what you can and can’t do: Not everyone has time to clean or sort.
• Use a professional mediator if needed for serious disagreements.

We’ve worked with many families in this situation and can help coordinate everything if you choose to sell for cash.

Tips for Managing the Emotional Load

Sorting through a loved one’s belongings is about more than logistics—it’s emotional work. Photos, letters, and keepsakes can bring up unexpected feelings.

Here are some ideas to help manage it:

• Set a timer: Start with short sessions to avoid getting overwhelmed.
• Keep a memory box: Save the most meaningful items in one place.
• Take photos of heirlooms: You can’t keep everything, but you can remember them.
• Invite support: Bring a friend or family member to help you decide what to keep.

And remember—letting go of stuff doesn’t mean letting go of memories.

Need to Sell a House That’s Still Full of Stuff?

We’re here to help you make that next step easy.

At Orbit Properties, we’ve worked with people across Florida who inherited homes and just didn’t know where to start. Whether the house is full of clutter, in probate, or completely untouched since the ‘90s, we’ll buy it as-is and take care of the mess for you.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Visit https://sell2orbit.com/
2. Fill out the short form with basic info
3. We’ll schedule a visit or virtual walkthrough
4. You’ll get a cash offer within 24 hours
5. Choose your closing date—no repairs, no cleanout needed

It’s really that simple.