The short answer
To prep for a junk pickup, text clear photos of everything that's going plus your city to (562) 219-9266, tell us about stairs and parking, and set aside anything you want to keep. You don't need to move anything outside. You don't always need to be home either, as long as we have clear access, instructions and payment arranged. Your quote covers what is in your photos; items added on the day adjust the price.
Start with photos
Photos are how you get a price fast. Text them to (562) 219-9266 with your city and a day and time that works. We text back an estimate.
Good photos save a second round of questions. Take a few of each pile, not one far-away shot of the whole room.
If something is hard to photograph, like a crawl space or an attic, just describe it in the text. If the job is big, like a whole house, a hoarding cleanout or a demolition, we'll set up an estimate from photos or an on-site visit before we give you a number.
Don't clean up before you take the photos. We'd rather see the pile as it really is. A neat photo that hides half the boxes leads to a quote that doesn't match the day.
- Each pile or room, close enough to see what's in it
- Big items on their own: couch, fridge, hot tub, shed
- Anything heavy: concrete, dirt, brick, rock, tile
- The path out: hallways, stairs, side yard, gate
- The street or driveway where the truck can park
Tell us about access and parking
We bring a pickup and dump trailer, so tell us where they can stop. A driveway, the street in front, or an alley behind a detached garage all work. Just say which.
Older Pasadena homes often have detached garages off an alley or a long driveway. Foothill homes in Altadena and Sierra Madre can mean steep driveways and long carries. A photo of the driveway or street helps us plan.
In an apartment or office building, tell us about elevators, loading areas, gate codes and the hours we're allowed to work.
If parking is tight, tell us the best time of day. Street sweeping days, school traffic and shared driveways all matter. We'll plan the arrival around what you tell us.
In Altadena and other foothill areas, narrow and winding roads can make parking harder. A quick note like "park on the street, carry is up 12 steps" is all we need.
“2 strong men carrying my sectional couch down the stairs very easily and professional…”
Mention stairs and tight spots
Stairs are fine. We carry furniture down from upstairs units and out of tight doorways. We just want to know before we show up, so tell us when you text photos.
Note the floor, whether there's an elevator, and any narrow turns or low ceilings on the way out. Stairs and long carries add labor, which is part of the price, so it's better to know up front.
You don't need to take doors off or empty dressers first unless you want to. If a piece won't fit through a doorway, tell us. When it makes sense, the crew breaks bulky items down so they take less room in the truck, so you pay for less space.
Set aside what stays
Anything in the pile is going in the truck. Before we arrive, pull out what you want to keep, or tell us clearly what to leave.
Tape a note on furniture that stays, close the door on rooms we shouldn't touch, or put keepers in one spot. For cleanouts, tell us about anything to look for, like papers, photos or keepsakes.
Hazardous items need their own drop-off. Check your city or county household hazardous waste program for those, and keep them out of the photos so the quote matches the load.
- Papers, IDs, mail and keys
- Photos and keepsakes
- Anything going to family or a buyer
- Hazardous items we don't take: paint, chemicals, solvents, asbestos, medical waste, propane tanks
Prep appliances, hot tubs and demo jobs
Some items need a little work on your end before pickup day.
These steps keep the crew from waiting on a shutoff valve or an electrician. If you're not sure whether something is disconnected, send a photo of the back of it or where it connects, and ask.
- Appliances: unplugged and disconnected from water and gas
- Water heaters: disconnected
- Hot tubs: power disconnected by an electrician
- Small demolition: utilities shut off before we start
Pick a time that works
We're open 24 hours, 7 days. Same-day and next-day pickups depend on availability, so text photos early with your city and a window that works.
If you need it done by a certain day, like before a move-out, a closing or a new tenant, say so up front. For a bigger cleanout, give yourself time for the estimate before the pickup date.
Do you need to be home?
Not always. If we have clear access, instructions and payment arranged, we may be able to pick up without you there.
Leave the gate unlocked or the garage open, mark exactly what goes, and confirm payment before the day. If anything is unclear, we'll call or text before we load.
If you are home, plan to walk the crew through once at the start. Show them what goes, what stays and the path out. After that, you can step away and let them work.
Adding items on pickup day
Your quote covers what's in your photos. If more items are added on the day, the price is adjusted for them.
That's normal. People find more once the big stuff is gone. Just point it out to the crew so there's no surprise.
If you think the pile will grow, send extra photos the day before. It's easier to price everything at once than to adjust on the spot.
How you can pay
We take cash, check, credit/debit, Zelle, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, PayPal and Cash App. Pricing starts at $250, and your first pickup gets $50 off.
Tell us which one you'll use when you book, especially if you won't be there. That's part of having payment arranged so we can do the job without you home.