Knowing whether to hire a cleanout/junk removal company or rent a dumpster and do it themselves is a common dilemma that people and businesses both face.
Cleanouts happen all the time and for a number of reasons. A relative passes away and you need to clean out the estate. You’re downsizing and need to get rid of the junk in your home. You have a construction project or remodel and needs to clean up the mess. An old tenant left a lot of their belongings behind and they need to be removed.
If you are facing this decision with your upcoming cleanout project, then we have just the information you need. We will discuss the processes of both, what are the ideal situations for choosing each choice and what to consider when choosing your option.
When to Rent a Dumpster
Dumpsters are a great way to clean out trash, junk, debris, or unwanted items yourself. Businesses, construction companies, landlords, homeowners and just about anyone can benefit from a dumpster rental at the appropriate time. Because they are dropped off at your location, a dumpster provides you with the flexibility to work at your own pace.
How does renting a dumpster work?
When you rent a dumpster, the company you rent from, will drop off the dumpster of your choice and pick it up when you are ready for it to be hauled away. You can keep it for the predetermined amount of time, which is usually a week or two. If need be you can extend this time for a small fee.
The dumpster can be filled to a pre-determined amount, height and weight, so you will need to choose the container wisely based on how much you think you will throw away. If you fill the dumpster too much, the company will either pull some of the waste off leaving it at your property, charge you with an overfill fee, or worse, refuse to pick up the container.
When it comes to costs, dumpsters can run anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to nearly $2000. The average cost to rent a dumpster in Maryland is $300 to $500 excluding taxes and fees. Of course, pricing is dependent on the size of the rental, taxes, fees and any additional overcharges that occur.
When is it ideal to rent a dumpster?
Individuals rent dumpsters all the time and for good reason. It can be quite convenient to have something available at your property to work at your own pace. Here are usually the best times you will want to rent a dumpster. When you:
- Want to dump as you go (ideal for construction, or sorting through contents)
- There is no rush to have the property cleaned out
- Have many hands able to help
So, if you have a project and don’t mind doing the work yourself, then renting a dumpster could be ideal for you.
When to hire a cleanout crew
Hiring a junk removal company or cleanout crew is a great way to clean out unwanted items without having to do so yourself. Just like with renting a dumpster, businesses, construction companies, landlords, and homeowners all request the assistance of a junk removal company for specific jobs. The convenience of this option is that you don’t have to worry about doing the labor-intensive work and it’s done in a quicker manner.
The junk removal process
This process is somewhat similar to renting a dumpster. When you initially call the company, they will provide you with a quote for simple jobs or you will schedule a time for them to come out to see the size of the job. Once they’ve seen the project they will provide you with an estimate or quote.
After you have accepted the quote, you will schedule a day for the company to come out. Once they arrive, they will take care of everything from the cleanout process to hauling the contents away in their own dump trucks. Most companies will donate or recycle items that are still in good condition and some will even give cash for newer items that they can resell.
Junk removal companies are willing to take on jobs as small as removing a few pieces of furniture to large jobs such as an estate cleanout or a hoarding cleanup. Regardless of the job, the process is generally the same for every customer. The only major difference may be the price and the number of people who show up to help.
The costs associated with hiring a clean out crew vary greatly from company to company but the major determining factor is the length of time required to complete the job. On average, junk removal in the Maryland area costs around $150 - $300 for homeowners. Businesses tend to pay a little bit more because their jobs often require additional work or require special waste services such as E-waste disposal. The bigger the job, the more manpower the company will require and in some cases the more trucks they need to bring.
When to choose a junk removal company
It is fairly common for a business, landlord or homeowner to hire a junk removal company to get a job done. It’s convenient for the customer and they know the work will get done right. People hire cleanout companies for several different reasons. Here are several reasons you may consider hiring a junk removal company:
- On a time crunch
- Unable to do it yourself
- The job is potentially dangerous
- Want to simplify the process
If you have unwanted items, or an entire property that needs to be cleaned out but don’t want to do it yourself, then hiring a junk removal company could be for you.
Choosing the best option between a dumpster and junk removal company
Now that you have a good understanding of the processes, costs and when someone would choose what, you can now identify which is best for you. We suggest considering four different areas to help you make your decision.
Availability/Manpower
Do you have the availability, manpower and ability to do the job? Some projects are tough and labour intensive while others are easy. Sometimes you have help a lot of willing hands and other times you don’t.
Time
How fast do you need the project to be completed? Is it something you want done in a day or is it better to stretch the project out for a longer period of time?
The size of the job
How big is the project and how many items will need to be removed? Do you have enough to fill a dumpster or is it best to have someone haul away the few items you have?
Cost
All other considerations being made, which choice is more financially feasible?
So, which is the best option? That really depends on your personal situation. Is convenience important or would you rather do the job yourself? Do you have plenty of time and help for the job or does it need to be handed off to someone else? Is the job manageable enough for you or would it be smarter for a professional to assist?
Considering these questions will help you choose the best choice for your cleanout project.