Plan the cleanout after you know what is moving with you and before final cleaning. This suggested timeline is a planning tool, not a promised service lead time. If your move is sooner, work through the same decisions and ask what availability can be confirmed.
Two weeks before: define what is leaving
Walk through the property with the person who can approve removal. Include storage areas, patios and garages so the scope does not expand unexpectedly on pickup day.
- Separate your moving list from the removal list.
- Identify furniture and appliances you hope to donate or give away.
- Flag large, heavy or unusual pieces and anything needing disassembly.
- Check building requirements for elevator use, loading access and parking.
- For a managed rental, confirm who authorizes entry and removal.
One week before: request the pickup plan
Finish any donation arrangements you can confirm, then photograph the items still needing removal. Include both the pile and the carrying route. A preferred date is a request until the schedule is confirmed.
- Send the address, unit number, pickup ZIP and target date.
- Describe stairs, elevators, loading zones and long carries.
- Explain when cleaners or the next trade need access.
- Ask about any heavy or special items before arranging the rest of the work.
- Approve the complete quote and pay the full Square invoice, then wait for the pickup window to be confirmed.
The day before: make the boundaries obvious
Review the agreed plan and update the team if the scope has changed. Packing and removal piles should be easy to distinguish, especially when several people are helping.
- Mark furniture, boxes and fixtures that must stay.
- Keep documents, medications, chargers, keys and valuables with your moving belongings.
- Check drawers and cupboards for things you want to keep.
- Confirm the entry arrangements and onsite contact.
- Report connected equipment or suspected hazardous material; do not handle it simply to prepare for pickup.
Pickup day: check the agreed items and cleared space
By pickup day, the scope and total should be approved, the Square invoice fully paid and the pickup window confirmed. Walk through the agreed items with the operator. Resolve uncertain items before they leave the property; any added work needs a revised agreement first.
- Point out the approved items and anything excluded.
- Confirm whether the requested finish includes sweeping the pickup area.
- Check closets, cabinets and outdoor storage afterward.
- Review the cleared area before moving on to final cleaning.