Last updated: 2026-11-12
Do You Even Need to Prepare?
Not really. We carry everything out, load it, and haul it away. You don't have to bag anything, sort anything, or drag anything to the curb. But a little prep helps us give you an accurate price and get in and out faster, which can save you money.
Before You Call
- Walk through the house and make a quick list of what's going.
- Take photos of the bigger items and the overall pile from a couple of angles.
- Note where things are: upstairs, attic, backyard, or garage.
- Measure your gate if anything is in a fenced backyard.
- Mention anything heavy or unusual, like a piano, safe, hot tub, concrete, or tires.
The more you can tell us, the closer the quote. See our junk removal cost guide for how pricing works.
Set Aside What You're Keeping
This is the most important step. Anything you want to keep should be clearly separated from what's going. Move it to another room, mark it with tape, or put it in one corner. That way nothing gets loaded by mistake.
Before the crew arrives, take one last look through drawers, closets, cabinets, and boxes for:
- Important papers and documents
- Photos and keepsakes
- Jewelry, cash, and keys
- Anything you meant to give to family
Prep Appliances
- Fridges and freezers: Unplug them a day ahead so they can defrost. Empty all food.
- Washers: Turn off the water and disconnect the hoses if you can.
- Gas appliances: Have the gas line shut off and capped by someone qualified.
- Water heaters: Turn off the power or gas and water, then drain the tank.
More details are on our appliance removal page.
Prep a Hot Tub
- Drain it completely a day or two ahead.
- Shut off the breaker. If it's hardwired, have an electrician disconnect it.
- Clear a path to the gate.
More details are on our hot tub removal page.
Separate Hazardous Items
We can't haul paint, chemicals, fuel, oil, propane tanks, or other hazardous materials. Set those aside in one spot so they don't get mixed into the load. See what junk removal won't take for the full list and where to take them.
Clear a Path
If you can, make it easy for the crew to get in and out:
- Move cars out of the driveway or out of the way of the garage.
- Clear hallways and doorways of small stuff.
- Unlock gates and side doors.
- Keep pets inside or in a separate room.
On Junk Removal Day
- Do a final walk-through with the crew and point out exactly what's going.
- Confirm the price before we start.
- Tell us about anything fragile nearby, like a glass door or a freshly painted wall.
- Let us do the lifting.
When we're done, we sweep up the areas we worked in.
Prepping for Bigger Jobs
For a full house, estate, or move-out cleanout, give yourself a little more time to go through things first. Our estate cleanout checklist and moving out junk checklist walk through bigger jobs step by step.