The short answer
Clear the house before the cleaners, stagers and photographer, not after. Agree with the seller in writing on what stays, text photos of every room, the garage and the yard for an estimate, and book the haul-out with a day or two of room before photos. Pricing starts at $190, and full houses get an estimate first.
Want it handled for you? See our house cleanout service.
Start with what stays
The most common mix-up on a listing cleanout is something leaving that was supposed to stay. Before anyone books a truck, get the seller to confirm in writing what goes with the house.
Mark keepers with tape and a note, or put them in one room. Then tell us in your text. A photo with an arrow works fine.
- Appliances included in the sale, like the fridge or washer and dryer
- Window coverings, light fixtures and built-in shelving
- Paint touch-up cans the seller wants to leave for the buyer
- Anything the stager is bringing in or holding on site
What to clear before photos
Buyers see the garage, the side yard and the closets, not just the living room. Walk the whole property with the seller and list everything that goes.
- Old furniture and mattresses the seller isn't taking
- The garage: boxes, shelving, old tools and broken appliances
- Side-yard and backyard piles, old patio furniture and yard debris
- Closets, the attic and under the stairs
- Leftovers after the seller moves or after an estate sale
Schedule backward from the photo date
Pick the photo date first. Then work back: staging before photos, cleaning before staging, and the haul-out before cleaning.
Same-day or next-day pickup depends on availability, so text as soon as you know the dates. A full house gets an estimate first, from photos or an on-site visit, so leave time for that too.
Hold one spare day between the haul-out and the cleaners. If the seller remembers a forgotten room, you still make the photo date.
| Order | Step |
|---|---|
| 1 | Seller confirms in writing what stays |
| 2 | Text photos for an estimate, or book an on-site visit |
| 3 | Haul-out: house, garage and yard |
| 4 | Spare day for anything missed |
| 5 | Cleaners, then staging, then photos |
Photos that get you a faster estimate
Text them to (562) 219-9266. The more we can see, the closer the estimate. Your quote covers what's in your photos; if more items are added on the day, the price is adjusted for them.
- Each room from the doorway, closets open
- The garage with the door up
- The side yard and backyard
- Stairs, narrow halls or a long walk to the street
- Where the truck can park, and any gate or lockbox details
You don't always have to be there
Agents juggle showings. If we have clear access, instructions and payment arranged, we may be able to do the job without you on site. Tell us how to get in and what stays, and we'll text when it's done.
Paying for it
Pricing starts at $190 and depends on truck space, the type of material, weight, access and labor. We never guarantee a final total over the phone.
Property managers can pay by invoice: first-time commercial clients pay upfront for the first job, then we invoice on net 10 or net 30 terms. For a one-off listing, the seller or agent can pay by cash, check, credit or debit, Zelle, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, PayPal or Cash App.
Roa Solution Junk Removal is a licensed, registered California LLC with commercial auto insurance and workers' comp for employees, and our crew is on W-2 payroll.
Leftover paint and chemicals
We don't take hazardous waste: paint, chemicals, solvents, asbestos, medical waste or propane tanks. Garages before a sale are often full of them, so set them aside early.
In Los Angeles County, the City of LA's S.A.F.E. Centers take household hazardous waste free from City of LA and LA County residents. In Orange County, OC residents can use the County's four household hazardous waste centers for free, up to 15 gallons or 125 pounds a trip.
More on this: hazardous waste drop-off in LA and OC
Sources: LA Sanitation & Environment: Los Angeles-Glendale S.A.F.E. Center; OC Waste & Recycling: Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers, checked Nov 2026
Sources
- LA Sanitation & Environment: Los Angeles-Glendale S.A.F.E. Center
- OC Waste & Recycling: Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers
Rules change. Check the city or county page before you rely on a limit, fee or date.