Best time to deal with your junk is before move day, not on it. Clear out everything you are not taking a few days early, and you move less, pay movers for less, and leave a cleaner place behind. Here is the checklist, made for Chicago and Northwest Indiana.
Why deal with junk before the truck comes?
Because you pay to move every single box, and the worst boxes are the ones full of stuff you do not even want. Movers charge by time, weight, or space, so dragging a broken dresser to your new place means paying for it twice: once to move it, and once to get rid of it later when you admit it was always trash.
It also helps your deposit. A unit left full of leftover furniture and bags is a quick way to lose part of it, and most Chicago and NW Indiana leases want the place broom-clean anyway.
What is the room-by-room hit list?
Walk through a few days before the truck and pull out everything not making the trip:
- Bedrooms: old mattresses, the bed frame you are replacing, a dresser past its prime, bags of clothes you are not keeping.
- Living room: the worn-out couch, the wobbly bookshelf, the TV stand that has seen things.
- Kitchen: small appliances that died, the mismatched pile, and the cardboard breeding in the corner.
- Garage, basement, storage: usually the big one. Old paint trays, busted tools, bikes, totes, and the "I'll deal with it later" zone.
- Outside: bagged yard waste, the dead grill, patio furniture that lost a fight with the season.
How do I time it with the move?
Book your pickup a day or two before the movers show up, so the junk is gone before you load. Snap a photo of the pile, pick a flat price, set it at the curb, driveway, alley, or side of the house. You do not need to be home, which is great when you are also juggling boxes, utilities, and forty other things.
Most pickups go next-day. Down to the wire? Book by noon and same-day is usually available for a $39 rush. A full move-out often fits the XL load at $299 (up to half a truck), a lighter clearout is a standard load at $150, and a single big item is $79.
Do you even cover my neighborhood?
Probably. We cover Chicago's inner neighborhoods, the south suburbs, and Northwest Indiana too. Different city, same drill.
Not sure your address makes the cut? Drop your ZIP when you book and we confirm coverage in seconds, before any hold goes on your card.
What about the stuff you cannot take?
We haul furniture, mattresses, boxes, bags, bagged yard waste, small appliances, and most electronics, and we donate or recycle what we reasonably can. We cannot take hazardous waste like paint and chemicals, construction and demo debris, dirt and concrete, or tires. If your move left you with any of those, set them aside and plan a separate trip to a proper drop-off spot.
FAQ
How early should I book my move-out pickup?
Aim for a day or two before the movers arrive, so the junk is already gone when you load. Most bookings are next-day, and same-day is usually available if you book by noon.
Do you cover both Chicago and Northwest Indiana?
Yes. We cover Chicago's inner neighborhoods, the south suburbs, and Northwest Indiana. Enter your ZIP at booking to confirm your spot is in range.
What size do I need for a whole move-out?
A full apartment or house clearout often fits the XL load at $299. A lighter move may be a standard load at $150. Send a photo of the pile and we confirm the size before charging.