I’d be crushed if this note from my dad disappeared.
If you’re planning an estate cleanout, here’s one piece of advice we can’t stress enough: clearly identify anything with sentimental value before we arrive.
The best-case scenario is simple.
👉 Remove those items from the home ahead of time.
If it’s truly important—photos, letters, heirlooms, personal mementos—getting it out of the work zone entirely is always the safest move. Once a full cleanout is underway, things move quickly, and even with the best systems, mistakes can happen.
If You Can’t Remove Them, Label Them Clearly
We understand that it’s not always possible to pull everything out in advance.
In those cases, the next best step is to.
👉 Clearly label sentimental items using color stickers or tags.
Even more important.
👉 Tell us exactly what those labels mean—in writing.
If you’re using sticky notes, make sure they’re secured with tape—otherwise they can easily fall off during the process.
And don’t make assumptions about your notes.
If you mark one photo album, don’t assume we’ll know you mean all photo albums. Mark each item you want saved, and spell that out in your written instructions.
👉 Even better: send us photos.
A quick set of JPG images of sentimental items gives us a clear visual reference of exactly what we’re on special lookout for.
👉 Pay special attention to smaller items.
The smaller something is, the easier it is to miss. Photos, envelopes, keepsakes—these are the items most likely to be accidentally handled if they’re not clearly identified. It’s pretty hard for us to mistakenly remove a grandfather clock you’ve marked. A stack of photographs is another story.
Why Writing It Down Matters
Written and color-coded instructions can be a big help to homeowners and to us.
Giving us instructions in writing is far more useful than just telling us.
Here’s what happens on our end.
- You send written instructions.
- We immediately paste them into the job notes for that project.
- Every team member sees those notes before work begins.
When we arrive on-site, the crew chief reviews those notes as part of the setup.
If there are no notes, he contacts me directly to confirm there are no special instructions before the job gets underway.
And if you’re there when we arrive, we always welcome a quick walkthrough—pointing out key items in person adds another layer of clarity.
This is how we build redundancy into the process—because protecting what matters most deserves more than one line of defense.
When in Doubt, We’ll Ask
We also make it a practice of calling whenever we come across items that feel like they might have sentimental value but aren’t clearly marked.
But the more clarity you give us upfront, the better we can protect what matters most to you.
Quick Checklist: Protecting Sentimental Items
✔ Remove important items from the home before the cleanout whenever possible.
✔ Group sentimental items in one clearly defined area.
✔ Mark every individual item you want saved—don’t assume categories.
✔ Use color stickers or tags to clearly identify those items.
✔ Secure any sticky notes with tape so they don’t fall off.
✔ Pay extra attention to small items like photos and keepsakes.
✔ Write down exactly what your labels mean and send it in advance.
✔ Send JPG photos of key sentimental items for visual reference.
✔ Walk us through key items on-site if you’re present.
✔ Assume anything not marked may be handled as part of the cleanout.
Need Help With an Estate Liquidation and Home Cleanout?
Contact Orion’s Attic today to learn how we can make the process easier. Be sure to check out our YouTube channel at Orion’s Attic TV, too.
Learn more about liquidating estates in our Estate Liquidation and Downsizing Guide.
About Orion’s Attic
Based in Silver Spring, Maryland, Orion’s Attic provides estate liquidation, downsizing, and whole-home cleanout services throughout Montgomery County and the greater Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Northern Virginia region. Since 2011, we have completed more than 100 full-home estate liquidation and cleanout projects each year, guiding families through life transitions in a calm, organized, and stress-free manner.
In addition to estate liquidation services, we buy gold coins, silver coins, sterling silver flatware, fine jewelry, and select collectibles and estate items.
We operate as a “green choice” estate liquidation and estate solutions company, emphasizing donation, reuse, recycling, and environmentally responsible cleanouts whenever possible.
Our service area includes Montgomery County (Ashton, Aspen Hill, Barnesville, Bethesda, Boyds, Cabin John, Chevy Chase, Colesville, Derwood, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Glen Echo, Laytonsville, Montgomery Village, Olney, Potomac, Rockville, Silver Spring, Spencerville, Takoma Park, Wheaton), as well as Frederick County, Howard County (Columbia, Ellicott City), Prince George’s County (College Park, Greenbelt, Hyattsville), Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia.
