Frequently Asked Questions
Scalvage Bros serves San Diego County with estate liquidations, property cleanouts, hoarding cleanouts, e-waste recycling, and metal recovery. Browse the questions below or jump to a topic page for the full Q&A.
Property Cleanout for Realtors
What is a property cleanout for realtors?
A property cleanout for realtors is a full-service removal of all furniture, appliances, personal belongings, and debris from a home before listing or closing. Scalvage Bros works directly with San Diego agents to clear properties quickly, salvage items of value, and divert materials from the landfill.
How much does a realtor property cleanout cost in San Diego?
Most single-family homes range from $400–$1,500 depending on size and volume. Scalvage Bros provides free on-site or photo-based estimates. Properties with items of resale or scrap value may qualify for reduced rates.
Landlord Cleanout Services
What is a landlord cleanout?
A landlord cleanout is the full removal of a previous tenant's belongings, trash, and debris from a rental unit after move-out or eviction. Scalvage Bros handles the hauling, sorting, and disposal — landlords just hand over the keys.
Do landlords need to notify tenants before removing their belongings in California?
Yes. Under California Civil Code 1983–1988, landlords must send a written Notice of Right to Reclaim to the former tenant. The tenant has 15 days (in-person delivery) or 18 days (mailed) to retrieve their items. Items worth less than $700 may be disposed of after that period; items over $700 must be auctioned.
Abandoned Tenant Belongings & California Law
How long before tenant property is considered abandoned in California?
California does not use a fixed abandonment deadline. Landlords must send a Notice of Right to Reclaim and wait 15 days (personal delivery) or 18 days (mail). After that period with no tenant contact, the property is legally treated as abandoned and can be disposed of based on its value.
Can a landlord throw away items a tenant left behind in California?
Not immediately. California law requires written notice first. Items valued under $700 may be disposed of after the notice period. Items estimated at $700 or more must be sold at a public auction, with proceeds — minus storage costs — going to the county.
Estate Liquidations San Diego
What is estate liquidation?
Estate liquidation is the process of converting the contents of a home into cash or donations — typically after a death, divorce, or major downsizing. It may involve an estate sale, a direct buyout of items, or a combination of selling, donating, and disposing of what remains.
What is the difference between an estate sale and estate liquidation?
An estate sale is a public selling event held on-site over one or more days. Estate liquidation is broader — it includes estate sales, direct buyouts, and full cleanouts. Scalvage Bros specializes in direct liquidation: faster, no strangers in the home, and everything resolved in one visit.
Estate Cleanout vs Junk Removal
What is the difference between an estate cleanout and junk removal?
Junk removal is item-level: you point at what you want gone, and it's hauled away. An estate cleanout is whole-property: everything is sorted, assessed for value, donated, recycled, or removed. Estate cleanouts are used after a death, eviction, or major transition — junk removal for single-room or item-by-item jobs.
Is estate cleanout more expensive than junk removal?
Not necessarily. Estate cleanouts include sorting and value recovery, which often reduces the net cost compared to pure junk removal for large volumes. For a single item or small load, junk removal is faster and cheaper. For a full household, estate cleanout typically delivers more value.
Junk Hauler vs Estate Liquidator
What is the difference between a junk hauler and an estate liquidator?
A junk hauler removes unwanted items for a fee — their focus is volume and speed. An estate liquidator sells the valuable contents of an estate, typically taking a 30–40% commission on sales. Scalvage Bros bridges both: we identify and buy items of value while handling the full cleanout for one straightforward fee.
How does Scalvage Bros differ from a traditional estate liquidator?
Traditional estate liquidators run multi-day public sales with commission fees. Scalvage Bros offers direct buyouts and cleanouts — no open house, no strangers in the home, no waiting weeks for a sale. One visit, everything resolved. Ideal for realtors, landlords, and families on a deadline.
Hoarding Cleanout San Diego
How much does a hoarding cleanout cost in San Diego?
Hoarding cleanouts in San Diego typically range from $1,500 to $5,000+ depending on severity, square footage, and number of loads. Scalvage Bros provides free estimates after a walk-through or photo assessment. Items with scrap or resale value can reduce the overall cost.
How long does a hoarding cleanout take?
Mild to moderate hoarding situations are often resolved in 1–2 days. Severe cases — multi-room accumulation, biohazard conditions, or access issues — may take 3–5 days or more. Scalvage Bros creates a clear timeline during the estimate stage so you know what to expect.
E-Waste Recycling San Diego
Can I put electronics in the trash or dumpster in San Diego?
No. It is illegal in California to dispose of electronics in the trash. TVs, computers, and most screens are subject to the California Electronic Waste Recycling Act and must be recycled through a certified facility. Scalvage Bros handles e-waste properly during every cleanout.
What electronics does Scalvage Bros accept for recycling in San Diego?
We recover TVs, monitors, computers, laptops, printers, phones, tablets, networking equipment, small appliances, and stereos during estate and property cleanouts. All electronics are separated for proper e-waste recycling — no extra charge within a cleanout service.
Metal Recycling San Diego
What metals does Scalvage Bros recycle in San Diego?
We recover ferrous and non-ferrous metals including copper, aluminum, steel, iron, brass, stainless steel, and insulated wire from estate cleanouts, property cleanouts, and commercial projects. Recovered metals are delivered to licensed San Diego recycling facilities.
Does Scalvage Bros pay for scrap metal from estates or cleanouts?
In some cases, the scrap metal value recovered from a cleanout can offset part or all of the service fee. The amount depends on the type and volume of metal found. We disclose this transparently during the estimate.