01. 14 days out: walk every room with a flashlight
Open every closet, drawer, cabinet, attic hatch, and garage shelf. Pull anything that hasn't moved in 12 months into one of three piles: keep, sell/donate, haul. The honest truth: 30–60% of what you've been moving with you for years is haul-pile material.
02. 10 days out: sell or list the donate pile
Marketplace, Craigslist 'free,' OfferUp — whatever moves quickly. Set everything 'pickup only' so you don't waste an afternoon delivering a $40 dresser. Anything still sitting on day 5 goes to the haul pile. Don't let perfect be the enemy of empty.
03. 7 days out: book the haul
Most Phoenix-metro junk-removal crews book 3–5 days ahead this time of year. Book the haul window for 2–3 days before your move-out walkthrough — that gives you a buffer for surprise finds during packing.
04. 3 days out: the bulk haul
We come, you point, it's gone in 60–90 minutes. Typical move-out haul is 1/4 to 1/2 a truck: $329–$549. Get a written receipt with the volume breakdown for your records.
05. 1 day out: the final sweep
Garage corners, behind the washer, the top shelf in every closet, under the bathroom sinks. Bag what's left. If it's more than a few bags, call us back — same-day add-ons are normal during move week.
06. What renters can leave (don't haul)
Standard appliances that came with the unit, ceiling-mounted light fixtures, blinds installed by the landlord, fitted carpet. Don't pay to remove things that aren't yours.
07. What sellers should haul before showings
Garage clutter (buyers always open the garage), patio furniture if it's sun-baked, old appliances in the garage 'for parts,' lawn equipment you're not taking, sheds full of the previous owner's leftovers. Cleared garages and side yards add real perceived square footage at showings.
08. Arizona-specific rules
- Paint cans cannot go in the truck — dry them out with kitty litter and toss with regular trash, or drop at Maricopa County HHW.
- Propane tanks (BBQ size) go back to a propane exchange, not the dump.
- TVs, monitors, and CRTs are e-waste — we take them but they're not allowed in city trash.
- Fridges and freezers require EPA refrigerant recovery — we handle it; city bulk trash refuses them.
- Book the haul 7 days out, scheduled 3 days pre-walkthrough
- Most move-out hauls fit 1/4 to 1/2 a truck — $329–$549
- Don't pay to move things you'll throw out anyway
- Get a written receipt — sellers may need it for closing
- Cleared garages and side yards help sellers at showings
Common questions
Most apartment move-out cleanouts run $249–$549. Small homes are $399–$795. Pricing is by truck volume, not weight.
Yes — same-day is standard during the week. Saturday move-outs fill up fast; book 5–7 days ahead.
Same-day add-on hauls during move week are routine. Text us a photo and we'll roll back if a crew is still in the area.
No — Arizona regulates household hazardous waste separately. We'll list what to set aside and where to drop it at a Maricopa County HHW site.
Yes — itemized receipt with volume hauled, donations routed, and date stamped for buyer and title-company records.