Residential Junk Removal in Spokane: Clearing Unused Items from a Home and Garage - TMD Junk #2
After inheriting her mother's home following her passing, our friend and client was working through belongings accumulated over more than 25 years. She had gathered items from inside the home and garage that no longer served a purpose and placed them outside for removal.
We helped haul away the items she had chosen to let go of, freeing up space for her plans for the home.
Job At A Glance:
Service - Residential Junk Removal
Area - Spokane, WA - Audobon/Downriver
Items Removed - Furniture, Garbage, Household Items
Load Size: FULL Trailer
Main Challenge: Handling the cleanout with care following the loss of a loved one.
What We Were Working With
Most of the items selected for removal had already been set aside and placed outside. They were common household belongings that were either broken or no longer were useful or served a purpose, gathered as the customer worked through her home and garage. She had separated the items she wanted to keep, making it clear which belongings were ready to go.
The outdoor pile was expected to fill our entire trailer. Access to those items was straightforward, but removing additional belongings from inside meant navigating a compact split-level entrance, with stairs leading up to the main living area and down to the basement. The narrow space and tight corners required care, particularly when carrying larger items.
How We Handled The Job:
The outdoor pile proved to move by quickly with easy access through a gate in the fence where the trailer was parked. For some of the smaller items, we were actually able to toss them over the fence, across a sidewalk, and directly into the trailer. It's best to only use this strategy when it is items that will not cause damage to the trailer or the surrounding area. Our legs thanked us for the removal of some trips.
The outdoor pile proved to have less actual junk items than originally thought because of the way they were stacked. Pockets formed where items could not enter, so from the outside it looked like a massive pile, but the actual volume was less. When the outdoor pile was all but gone, we found that the trailer was only filled between 1/2 full and 3/4 full. We let our friend know that we had more room for any belongings she was looking to get rid of, or we would change the job size down.
Without skipping a beat, and with a destination in mind, she headed straight for the basement and handed us some items that we could take out to the trailer. While we carried the items given to us out, she organized the remaining belongings into two distinct piles, one for belongings she wanted to keep, and the other was for the items that needed to go.
When we returned, she showed us the two different piles so we knew where to keep returning and grabbing from to not have to keep asking her "Does this need to go or stay?" This kept the job flowing smoothly while leaving each decision about what to let go of in her hands without bother.
For smaller items, we used a garbage can and dolly to move several things at once, reducing the number of trips back and forth between the trailer and the house. Larger items were carried by both crew members, with careful maneuvering through the split-level entrance and tight corners to avoid hitting and damaging walls and railings.
After:
With the selected items removed, the outdoor staging area was cleared and additional space opened up inside of the home where the customer had set belongings aside for us to take.
The items she wanted to remain had new life and a place inside of the home, while the broken and unused items were no longer an eye sore that would be a constant reminder of space wasted.
With the original pile taking up less real estate in the trailer, we were able to remove additional items from inside during the same visit. That allowed her to make more progress on the cleanout than she originally had planned for, which is never a bad thing.
"I can't believe how much can fit into that trailer!"
Sorting through a home filled with years of belongings can involve decisions that go beyond whether something still works or takes up space. Our part was to handle the lifting and hauling while respecting her choices and the sensitivity behind choosing to let go of items from a loved one that is no longer with us. The result was more room for her plans for the property, with any further sorting left for her to approach in her own time.
Clearing Out a Loved One's Home? Here's What Helps.
-Start with the items you're ready to let go of.
You do NOT have to make every decision at once. Begin with the belongings you know that you can part with, such as broken household items or things you no longer need. If you're unsure about something, set it aside for another time. A removal visit can be one step in the process without clearing the entire home.
-Create clearly separated keep and removal areas.
On this job, our friend made distinct piles and showed us which one to collect from. Labels or designated areas can help everyone stay on the same page, especially when several people are sorting belongings or navigating around them. Keep undecided items separate from the removal pile so they are not taken by mistake.
-Discuss the load and indoor access before pickup.
Photos of the items can help us discuss the expected trailer space, with a free estimate walkthrough giving the best results for expected trailer size. Information about stairs and tight corners helps us prepare for carrying them out, with plans to avoid any and all property damage. Here, the outdoor pile took less case than the customer expected, leaving room for additionals items or us at TMD Junk lowering the space required for the job.
If you have other belongings you're already comfortable removing, point them out during the walkthrough so we can discuss whether they will fit.
Questions About Residential Junk Removal
-Does everything need to be outside before you arrive?
No. We can carry selected items out of the home as part of the removal. On this job, we collected both belongings already staged outside and additional items from indoors. Let us know about stairs, narrow doorways, or tight corners when discussing your pick up or during your free Estimate walkthrough.
-Can you help with a partial cleanout of an inherited home?
Yes. You can have us remove as much or as little items you have decided to let go of while keeping everything else. This customer was working through belongings accumulated over more than 25 years, and our visit focused on the household items she had selected for removal.
-What if my items take up less trailer space than was expected?
We will let you know what we are seeing as we are loading the trailer with items. Here, the outdoor pile took less space than anticipated, allowing her to select additional belongings for removal during the same visit. This can be a common occurrence as large piles can be hiding objects we cannot see, or actually has less items than we originally thought.
If she had chosen to stop there, she would only be charged for the amount of trailer space used, even though it was originally estimated at a full.
-Do I need to sort items by size before you take it?
No. You can leave the selected items together, and we will organize them as we load. It can help to separate out appliances, furniture, metals, and other items, but is not required.
On this job, we gathered smaller items using a garbage can and dolly and carried out larger items together. Just keep anything you want to save separate from the items being removed.
Need Help With a Similar Cleanout?
If you are sorting through an inherited home or clearing unused belongings from your house and garage, TMD Junk can help with the lifting and hauling. You decide what stays and what goes. Tell us what you are ready to have removed, and we will talk through the next step with you.
Need More Information?
Have questions about junk removal or planning a cleanout of your own? Explore our services and frequently asked questions, or contact TMD Junk to talk through what you need removed. We'll help you understand what to expect and how to get started.
Comments