About Empty the Home
Settling a home after a death, a move to assisted living, or a downsizing is stressful and unfamiliar. Empty the Home exists to make the first step simple: one call, and we point you to a vetted local company that serves the area. We help families, executors, attorneys and realtors in the Washington DC area, Richmond and Metro Detroit.
How we work
- You tell us about the home, your situation and your timeline.
- We match you with a professional estate sale company that works near the home.
- They contact you — usually the same day — to set up a visit.
- You agree on terms directly with the company. We stay out of your way.
It is free to the family. The estate sale company charges its own commission on what it sells; you agree that with them before anything starts. See how it works for the full process.
How we choose the companies we recommend
When we refer a company or feature one in our guides, we look for:
- A real, established local presence in the area it serves
- Proper licensing, insurance and bonding
- A verifiable track record — reviews, ratings and references
- Clear, written contracts and transparent commission terms
- Membership in professional associations where applicable (such as the NAEL)
You are always free to choose your own company. We simply make the shortlist easier and point you toward firms that meet these standards.
Our editorial standards
Our guides are written to be genuinely useful, not to sell. We aim for accurate, plain-English information and we say when something is general information rather than legal or tax advice. We do not publish fabricated reviews, fake company listings, or invented data. When we cite figures — commission ranges, timelines, tax thresholds — they reflect common industry practice and public sources, and we update them as things change.
Contact
Call us at (248) 692-9335, Monday through Saturday, 8am to 8pm Eastern, or send us a message. Every call is answered by a real person.