Keep your clutter cleanup stress-free by staying organized
Before scheduling junk removal services on Angie's List, create a detailed room-by-room inventory of items you want removed to ensure accurate quotes and complete pickup.
Junk removal costs range from $140 to $380 on average, with pricing based on load size and item type, plus potential extra fees for furniture and appliances.
Set aside items in good condition for donation and clearly separate your keep pile from your discard pile to help the junk removal process run smoothly.
Hiring a local junk removal professional handles all the heavy lifting and hauling for you, plus many services offer donation drop-offs to simplify your whole cleanout.
If you’re facing a mountain of unwanted items taking up too much space in your house, hiring a junk removal service can help you achieve a clutter-free clean slate. These services haul away large loads of junk and dispose of it for you, handling all the heavy lifting so you can enjoy your home again.
These five steps for how to prepare for junk removal will help you navigate the process and make sure you’re ready when the truck pulls up.
Knowing what you need to get rid of ensures you don’t miss anything and allows the junk removal company to provide you with an accurate quote. Be methodical when making your list—go room by room to inventory items, focusing on larger items since those will take up the most room in the truck.
The best time to get rid of junk is often before moving or after a home cleanout, so a list will help you keep track of what you’re throwing out and remind you what you still have. Making the list can be time-consuming, so give yourself plenty of time before your scheduled junk removal day to complete the list without getting stressed out by a looming deadline.
Once you know what you’re getting rid of, contact a local junk removal service for a quote. Your price will be based on the size of the load and what’s in it. There may be extra costs to remove furniture and appliances or to dispose of old mattresses—some areas have additional fees for these items. Depending on the load size, junk removal averages between $150 and $350.
Sometimes, an item is in perfectly good condition, but you just don’t have any use for it anymore. Donating to charity is a good way for your unwanted items to get a new lease on life with someone who can use and enjoy them. As you’re working your way through your home identifying what to get rid of, designate a separate area to set aside anything that can be donated.
Many professionals who can haul your junk away will also bring items to a donation center. Ask the junk removal company if they handle donations—it can save you from making a trip yourself. Some services sort through the pickup load before donating, while others require donated items to be set aside. Either way, having a separate donation pile will help keep the junk removal process running smoothly.
There are some items that junk removal services won’t take due to environmental concerns or additional required permits, including paint, gasoline, batteries, and other hazardous materials. The company can provide you with a list of prohibited items and can direct you to the appropriate resources to dispose of hazardous material.
Some junk removal companies require you to bring your items to one place in your home, while others will collect items from different rooms. Ask the company if you need to bring everything to a central location before pickup. If not, make sure it’s clear which items you’re getting rid of and which you’re keeping.
Setting aside discarded items in the center of each room is a good way to separate what’s going and what’s staying. Make sure the discard pile doesn’t contain anything you want to keep—you don’t want to discover later that you got rid of sentimental or valuable items you wanted to hang on to. If you have large or heavy items you can’t move yourself, attach a tag to anything you want the junk removal service to take.
Preparing for junk removal means knowing how much you’ll likely pay. Junk removal costs between $140 and $380, depending on the type and amount of junk. Certain items, like bulky furniture and appliances, may have higher removal costs.
Check with your junk removal company first to see if you have any hazardous waste, such as paint, batteries, chemicals, or electronics, as not all junk removal services accept this type of waste. This might also be true for appliances containing Freon, such as refrigerators or air conditioning units.
Although hiring a pro for junk removal can be pricey, it’s often worth it for the time and labor savings. If you choose to remove junk yourself, you’ll need a vehicle that can handle your load and a local dump that’s open to the public. You might need several trips to get all your items to the dump.
Alternatively, you can rent a dumpster. The dumpster rental company will deliver the dumpster to your driveway, and you’ll fill it with your junk yourself. Once it’s full, the rental company will collect the dumpster and dispose of the items for you. Renting a dumpster typically costs between $300 and $500 per week.
A reliable team for moves across state. My switch to a new place needed careful lifting through tight hallways. The movers checked the doorway first, then carried heavier pieces with slow, controlled movements. Their patience helped prevent damage, and I?d choose them again.
This company is professional and efficient. We have used them for two moves and will definitely use again if needed. The drivers/movers have been pleasant and well mannered. The dispatcher is easy to work with and communicated well through out the process. Their assistance it completely worth...
All My Sons Moving & StorageIncredible workers! Very skilled with the machinery, climbing, cutting, roping, and removal. Handled everything. Professionals!
Hoffman Expert Tree ServicesExcellent experience in mounting our 77 inch TV with in wall cable management. Service was efficient and would highly recommend!
Tether HouseWindow Depot did an amazing job on my deck. I wasnt sure what I wanted to do, but their composite decking was affordable and will last a long time. I am excited to have family over, and I am no longer embarrassed by my backyard. Jeff and the ground crew were polite, respectful, and caring for...
Window Depot USA of Central OhioStorms Mobile Welding was great to work with. They were prompt, professional and did an overall excellent job on the project. I highly recommend.
Cameron and his crew did an excellent job. On time, professional and courteous. My driveway looks awesome!!
All Star Paving and SealingDid an amazing job transforming my yard. Also installed sod in places, would recommend to everyone.
Cardinal Landscaping & Construction LLCAbsolutely amazing, Rob and his team are extremely efficient and professional. Pink Dumpster Rentals, Demolition, And Hauling is a go to for getting my property cleared up so we can pursue the upgrades we want to make on our home.
Pink Dumpster Rentals, Demolition, And HaulingI am very pleased with the services performed by OTS. Bless my late Mother, but she was a bit of a pack-rat. The basement of her home was crammed with 40+ years of "stuff," and the other companies I contacted were concerned with possible mold contamination of the items due to the musty smell...
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Junk removal costs depend on the volume and type of waste you need removed, but paying a professional saves you time and energy over hauling it yourself.
Learn how much construction debris removal costs, exploring how factors like the volume, debris type, and removal method affect your final price.
Hiring junk haulers is the final step in a deep clean or large renovation. Curious about which questions to ask before hiring a junk removal company? Let's take a look.
Instead of lugging everything to the dump, hire a junk removal company that can transport everything quickly and safely with ease.
Whether you’re moving out or simply spring cleaning, junk removal can be chaotic. We’ve eliminated the stress with this simple junk removal checklist.
Looking for ways to make getting rid of debris easier? Use these junk removal tips to save time, money, frustration, and your back.
