Chicagoland Estate Cleaning Services — Compassionate Help When Families Need It Most (2025 Cornerstone Guide)

When “What Now?” Feels Overwhelming

Losing a loved one is never easy. Beyond the emotional toll, families are often faced with an unexpected task — sorting, cleaning, and preparing a home filled with memories. At ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, we’ve walked alongside hundreds of Chicago-area families through this process, offering compassionate, discreet, and efficient estate cleaning services across Chicago, the North Shore, Lake County, Oak Park, River Forest, and DuPage County.

Whether a home needs light cleaning, full property clearance, or deep restoration after years of accumulation, we help make difficult transitions easier — and restore peace of mind along the way.

What Is Estate Cleaning?

Estate cleaning (also known as estate cleanout or estate property restoration) is the process of sorting, removing, cleaning, and preparing a home for sale, transfer, or new occupancy following a death, relocation, or major life change.

Our services go far beyond basic junk removal. We help families:

• Safely handle sentimental or valuable items
• Coordinate donations and recycling
• Clean and sanitize kitchens, bathrooms, and living spaces
• Perform deep cleaning, deodorization, and mold removal
• Provide minor repairs, repainting, and staging for market readiness
• Manage special situations, such as hoarded properties, water or fire damage, and unattended deaths

Every project is handled with care, confidentiality, and respect for your family’s wishes.

Our Estate Cleaning Process

We’ve refined our process over 40+ years to ensure every family receives compassionate, complete support.

1. Free Consultation & Assessment
   We meet onsite or virtually to discuss your needs, timeline, and budget.
2. Tagging & Inventory
   Our team helps identify which items are to be kept, donated, or removed. We photograph and document high-value or sentimental belongings.
3. Removal & Sorting
   We carefully remove unwanted furniture, appliances, and debris, coordinating donations to local organizations like Habitat for Humanity, The Salvation Army, or area resale shops.
4. Deep Cleaning & Disinfection
   Using eco-friendly and EPA-approved solutions, we clean every surface, including walls, floors, fixtures, and hidden areas.
5. Repair & Restoration
   If needed, we provide optional services such as painting, drywall repair, carpet removal, or odor elimination.
6. Final Inspection & Presentation
   We ensure the property is safe, fresh, and move-in ready — whether for family members, realtors, or estate attorneys.

Where We Work — Serving All of Chicagoland

We proudly provide estate cleaning and post-loss restoration services throughout:

Chicago

From Lincoln Park and Lakeview to Beverly, Hyde Park, and Roscoe Village, we clean estates in every neighborhood north of Roosevelt Road. Our downtown Chicago team serves River North, Gold Coast, Old Town, and West Loop, while our West Side operations handle properties in Humboldt Park, Logan Square and Bucktown/Wicker Park.

North Shore & Northern Cook County

Our Skokie headquarters manages jobs in Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka, Kenilworth, Glencoe, and Highland Park, including neighborhoods like Indian Hill Estates, Sheridan Road Corridor, The CAGE, and Hubbard Woods.
We also serve Northbrook, Glenview (including The Glen and Swainwood), Deerfield, Morton Grove, and Niles.

Lake County

From our Deerfield office, we reach Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Mundelein, and Bannockburn. Many estate properties in these communities require delicate coordination between heirs, realtors, and attorneys — something our team handles routinely and confidentially.

Western Suburbs (DuPage County & Beyond)

Our Oak Park & River Forest division assists families across Elmhurst, Downers Grove, Glen Ellyn, Naperville, and Wheaton. We specialize in older estate homes and vintage architecture, using careful restoration techniques to protect historic details.

When Estate Cleaning Involves More Than Dusting

Some estate properties present unique challenges — and that’s where our training and certification matter most.

Hoarding & Cluttered Homes

Our technicians are IICRC- and RIA-trained to handle sensitive hoarding cases with empathy and discretion. We work closely with families and mental health professionals when needed, ensuring each cleanup preserves dignity while restoring safety.

Biohazard & Odor Removal

If a loved one passed away at home or the property contains animal waste or mold contamination, our biohazard remediation protocols ensure complete sanitization. Every surface is cleaned and treated with hospital-grade disinfectants.

Water or Fire-Damaged Estates

Many families discover old water leaks, soot buildup, or fire damage during the estate process. As an IICRC Master Fire and Water Restorer, our co-owner Sam Simon oversees every technical aspect of recovery — from drying and deodorizing to structural cleaning and content restoration.

Why Choose ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons

We combine compassion with technical excellence:

• 40+ years of local expertise across Cook, Lake, and DuPage counties
• Founded in Chicago in 1929 — America’s oldest restoration brand
• 2025 Inc. 5000 Honoree
• Winners of the Chicago Star Award, BBB Torch Award, and Stevie® Award for Business Excellence
• IICRC Certified in Water, Fire, and Mold Restoration
• RIA (Restoration Industry Association) members

We understand that estate cleaning isn’t just about clearing a space — it’s about helping families move forward with care, integrity, and trust.

Practical Tips for Families Beginning an Estate Cleanout

• Start small. Pick one room and work your way out.
• Label clearly. “Keep,” “Donate,” and “Discard” categories reduce decision fatigue.
• Don’t rush. Grieving families need space and time; let professionals handle logistics.
• Photograph sentimental items for digital keepsakes before donating.
• Document valuables and contact your attorney or executor for proper handling.
• Plan for deep cleaning before listing or transferring the home.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What does estate cleaning include?
Estate cleaning covers removal, donation coordination, deep cleaning, sanitization, and minor repairs — tailored to each property.

Q2: How long does an estate cleanout take?
A typical Chicago-area home can take anywhere from two days to two weeks, depending on contents, condition, and decision time.

Q3: Do you work with attorneys, executors, or realtors?
Yes — we regularly coordinate with estate representatives and legal teams to align cleanout work with probate timelines or listing dates.

Q4: Can you handle hoarder or biohazard conditions?
Absolutely. Our certified team uses PPE, HEPA filtration, and containment to clean even the most challenging conditions safely.

Q5: How much does estate cleaning cost?
Every estate is unique. After an assessment, we provide transparent, written estimates with optional service tiers.

About ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons

ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons is a multi-award-winning, IICRC-certified firm serving:

• Chicago (Downtown, Lincoln Park, River North, Logan Square, Hyde Park)
• North Shore (Skokie, Wilmette, Evanston, Winnetka, Highland Park)
• Lake County (Deerfield, Lake Forest, Libertyville, Vernon Hills)
• DuPage County (Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn, Naperville)

We’re led by CEO Nasutsa Mabwa and COO Sam Simon, authors of the book RESTORE: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Home As Your Most Valuable Asset. Together, we bring deep expertise, compassion, and precision to every restoration and cleaning project.

Call Us Today

If your family is preparing a home for sale, transfer, or transition, let us help lighten the load.

Chicago & Northwest Suburbs: (773) 376-1110
North Shore & Lake County: (847) 316-9145

We’re here 24/7 to restore order, dignity, and peace of mind — one home at a time.