Inventory every area
List bedrooms, living spaces, kitchen, closets, attic, basement, garage, shed, deck, yard, and any off-site storage that may be part of the project. Note appliances, mattresses, exercise equipment, safes, pianos, hot tubs, scrap, and construction material separately.
Estimate volume honestly
Wide photographs and a room-by-room list are more useful than a single item count. Mention whether cabinets, shelves, drawers, and closets are full. A future provider should explain what happens if actual volume or material categories differ from the initial description.
Describe the loading route
Include stairs, narrow halls, elevators, low ceilings, soft ground, long carries, gated access, parking restrictions, and loading hours. Tell the provider whether disassembly is expected and whether walls, floors, doors, or common areas require protection.
Separate work that is not a standard cleanout
Demolition, carpet removal, appliance disconnection, refrigerant handling, pest conditions, mold or sewage, hoarding remediation, needles, asbestos-containing material, and structural hazards may require a different scope or qualified specialist. Do not bury these conditions in a general request.
Define “done” in writing
- Every included room and exterior area
- Items or materials that remain
- Donation or sale handling, if any
- Transport and disposal responsibility
- Broom sweep or other cleanup level
- Completion deadline and access handoff