Moving to a new place is exciting, but it also forces you to face every piece of furniture, appliance, and random box you’ve accumulated over the years. And let’s be honest — a lot of it isn’t making the trip.
That old couch that won’t fit through the new door. The mattress you’ve been meaning to replace. The garage full of stuff you forgot you had. A move is the perfect time to get rid of it all — but you don’t want to spend your moving week making dump runs.
That’s where junk removal comes in. While your movers handle what’s going to the new place, a junk crew handles everything that’s staying behind.
The Packing Problem: What About All the Stuff You Don’t Want?
When people start packing for a move, the same realization hits almost everyone: I have way more stuff than I thought, and half of it needs to go.
Movers pack and transport what you want to keep. But they’re not going to haul your broken treadmill to the dump or take that stained mattress off your hands. That’s a different job entirely.
What Movers Won’t Take
- Broken or damaged furniture — Movers transport your belongings, they don’t dispose of them
- Old mattresses and box springs — Most moving companies won’t touch these
- Hazardous materials — Paint, chemicals, propane tanks, cleaning supplies
- Construction debris — Leftover materials from home projects
- Yard waste — Brush, soil, old fencing, landscaping debris
All of this is standard junk removal territory. A crew like Junk B Gone picks it all up — you just point to what needs to go.
Pre-Move Cleanout: The Smart Way to Start a Move
The single best thing you can do before a move is get rid of everything you’re not taking. Here’s why:
- Lower moving costs — Movers charge by volume or weight. Less stuff means a smaller truck, fewer hours, and a lower bill.
- Faster packing — Your movers (or you) spend less time packing because there’s less to pack.
- Cleaner start — Arriving at your new place with only the things you actually want feels different. No boxes of junk following you to the next house.
How a Pre-Move Cleanout Works
- Walk through your home and decide what’s going and what’s staying behind
- Call Junk B Gone at (206) 722-4285 for a free estimate
- We show up, load everything you don’t want, and haul it away
- About 80% gets donated or recycled through Second Spark, our 501(c)(3) partner
- Your home is lighter and your movers can work faster
Post-Move Cleanup: What to Do After You’re Settled
Even after the movers leave, there’s usually a pile of stuff at both ends of the move that needs dealing with.
At the Old Place
- Items that didn’t make the cut but got left behind in the chaos
- Packing materials, broken boxes, and tape everywhere
- Stuff that was hiding in closets, attics, or crawl spaces you forgot about
At the New Place
- Furniture that doesn’t fit the new layout
- Boxes you unpacked and realized you don’t need what’s inside
- The previous owner’s leftover junk (it happens more than you’d think)
A post-move junk removal visit handles all of it. One call, one crew, done.
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What Does Junk Removal Cost During a Move?
Pricing is based on volume — how much space your items take up in the truck. It’s not by weight or item count.
| Load Size | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Minimum load ($99) | A few small items — a chair, some boxes, a lamp |
| Quarter truck | A room’s worth of furniture and boxes |
| Half truck | A couple of rooms or a garage cleanout |
| Full truck | A whole-house cleanout or major declutter |
Junk B Gone’s trucks are bigger than what the national franchises use, so you get more removed per trip. We always give a free estimate before any work starts — no surprises, no hidden fees.
Packing Tips to Make the Junk Removal Easier
A little prep goes a long way. Before the junk crew arrives:
- Mark it clearly — Use colored tape or sticky notes to tag items that are going to junk removal versus the moving truck
- Group it together — Put all the “junk” items in one area (garage, driveway, spare room) so the crew can load fast
- Don’t overthink it — You don’t need to sort, bag, or organize. Just get it in one spot and we’ll do the rest.
- Schedule junk removal first — Have the junk crew come the day before the movers. That way, move day is focused on what you’re keeping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I get rid of junk before or after moving?
Before, if possible. A pre-move cleanout saves money on movers (less to transport), speeds up packing, and gives you a fresh start at the new place. But if you discover more stuff after the move, we do post-move pickups too.
Will you take furniture that’s in bad shape?
Yes. Broken couches, stained mattresses, wobbly tables — we take it all. If it’s in good enough shape to donate, it goes to Second Spark. If not, we dispose of it responsibly.
Can you come the same day I call?
In most cases, yes. Junk B Gone offers same-day service in the Seattle area. Call us at (206) 722-4285 and we’ll work with your schedule.
What if I’m not sure what I want to get rid of yet?
No problem. We can do a walkthrough with you and help you figure out what makes sense to haul versus keep. There’s no pressure — the estimate is free and you’re not committed until you say go.
Do movers and junk removal ever work on the same day?
They can, but it’s smoother to schedule junk removal a day or two before the movers. That way, the movers aren’t working around a second crew, and your home is already lighter when packing starts.
Moving? Let Us Handle What’s Not Coming With You.
Free estimates, same-day service, and a crew that treats your home like their own.
