What to do before junk removal day (and what you can skip)

I want to be upfront about something: you don't need to do much before we arrive. The whole point of hiring a junk removal crew is that we handle the work. But there are a few things that do make the job smoother — and a few things people stress about that don't matter at all.

What actually helps

• Mark what stays. A piece of tape, a sticky note, a verbal walkthrough when I arrive — whatever works. I won't touch anything until I know what's going and what isn't.
• Clear a path to the stuff. You don't need to move it — just make sure I can get to it. If access is tight, let me know ahead of time so I can plan.
• If you won't be home, leave a way in. A garage code, an unlocked gate, a key with a neighbor. I document everything with photos and call when we're done.

What you can skip

• Moving things to the curb. I carry from wherever the items are — attics, basements, back corners. That's what the labor is for.
• Pre-sorting into 'donate' and 'trash' piles. We sort at the truck. You don't need to have it figured out.
• Breaking furniture down or disassembling anything. I handle that.
• Cleaning up the space first. We leave it broom-clean. You don't need to clean before we clean.

The one thing that speeds everything up

Photos. If you can text me a few photos of the space before we arrive, I can show up with a more accurate estimate and the right plan for the job. It also means less time standing around while I figure out what we're dealing with — we can get straight to work. You can send photos through the booking form or text them directly to the number you'll get when you book.

What about items that might have value?

If you think something might be worth selling — furniture, tools, electronics — set it aside before we arrive. Once it's on the truck it's gone. I'm not in the business of appraisals, but I can tell you that anything in usable condition goes to donation rather than a landfill, so it won't be wasted.