When we clear a house, everything in it ends up in one of three piles. Here's how we sort them, so you know what you're paying for before we pull up.
FIRST, THE HONEST PART
We are not a free cleanout service, and we're not a charity pickup. We have a limited amount of storage, and we only take items we already know we can resell. That's a real limit, not a negotiating position. We'd rather tell you that now than waste your afternoon and ours.
PILE 1 - ITEMS WE'LL TAKE OFF YOUR HANDS
If we can resell it, we'll take it at no charge to you. That item doesn't get billed, doesn't add to your dump weight, and doesn't ride to the transfer station.
That's per item, not per load. Us taking your dresser doesn't make the rest of the cleanout free - the hours still run and the rest of the pile is still a haul.
What usually qualifies: solid wood furniture in working condition; clean, dry, stain-free upholstery; antiques and mid-century pieces; home decor, glassware, china, porcelain, lamps; gemstones, crystals, jewelry, coins, collectibles; brand-name overstock still in the box; tools and small appliances that work.
What almost never qualifies, even though it's still good to you: particle-board furniture, anything damp or musty, exercise equipment, entertainment centers, and mattresses.
PILE 2 - ITEMS WE'LL HAUL FOR YOU
Everything we don't want but can legally take, we'll still clear out. That's normal paid junk removal: $140/hr, three movers and the 17ft truck, two-hour minimum, plus the transfer station fee passed through at cost with the receipt - no markup.
Most customers end up here for the bulk of the job, with a few Pile 1 items knocked off the total. That's the normal shape of a cleanout.
PILE 3 - ITEMS YOU'LL NEED TO HANDLE YOURSELF
These we can't take at any price, because the transfer station won't accept them from a hauler: hazardous material (paint, chemicals, solvents, motor oil, propane tanks, car batteries, tires) and electronics (TVs, monitors, computers and other e-waste).
Allegheny County runs collection events for both, and most municipalities have a drop-off point. Ask and we'll point you at the current one.
SEND PHOTOS BEFORE WE ROLL OUT
Before the job, send us photos - a wide shot of each room and close-ups of anything you think might be worth something. We'll come back with which items land in Pile 1 and what that takes off your bill, roughly how many hours the rest will run, a realistic read on the dump fee, and anything in Pile 3 you'll need to deal with separately.
Photos by text to 412-583-0516 or by Facebook Messenger.
ONE MORE TIME, PLAINLY
We take selected items at no charge. We haul the rest by the hour and you cover the dump fee. We don't do free cleanouts, and we don't take everything.