Junk Removal Estimate in Boise: What the Walkthrough Covers

Most of the junk removal estimates we do around Boise take about ten minutes. Someone walks us out to the side yard, lifts the corner of a blue tarp and says, "Honestly, I have no idea what this is going to cost."

That's what the estimate is for. You shouldn't have to guess, and you definitely shouldn't find out after the truck is loaded.

Here's what actually happens when we show up, what we're looking at, and how to make sure the number you hear is the number you pay.

What a junk removal estimate actually is

It's an in-person look at your stuff by the people who'll be hauling it. We size up the pile and give you a firm price before anything gets touched.

It's free, and you're not on the hook for anything. If you hear the number and decide to borrow a trailer and haul it to the Ada County landfill yourself, that's fine. Yes, we'd love the job. But we'd rather you decide knowing what you're dealing with.

We price by volume, which just means how much of the truck your stuff fills. So most of the walkthrough is us picturing your pile stacked in the back.

That's harder than it sounds. A couch, a recliner and a dozen boxes take up a lot more room than you'd guess. A pile of branches can look huge in the yard and pack down to almost nothing.

What we look at during the walkthrough

Volume is the big one. A few other things matter too, and it helps to know what they are so nothing catches you off guard.

Where the stuff is. A basement down a narrow staircase in an old North End house is a different job than a garage on the Bench with the door already open. Stairs and tight hallways mostly change how long it takes and how many of us show up.

What it's made of. Dirt, concrete chunks, roofing shingles and tile are heavy for their size. A load of that can hit the truck's weight limit before it fills the space, so we'll point it out and tell you how it changes the price.

What we can't take. Paint, fuel, chemicals and propane tanks have to go somewhere else. We'd rather mention them on the walkthrough than leave a can of old stain sitting in your garage after we drive off.

What might not be junk. A solid dresser or a working washer can usually be donated. If something looks like it's got some life left in it, we'll tell you. A lot of what we haul gets donated or recycled instead of buried.

Can you get a junk removal estimate over the phone?

Sometimes. If it's one thing, like a fridge or a mattress, a couple of photos texted over are usually enough to give you a solid idea.

For anything bigger, we want to see it. Photos flatten everything. A garage that looks half full in a picture is often packed to the rafters behind that first row of boxes.

Here's the part people don't expect. The estimate is often the same visit as the job. Say you're in Meridian off Ten Mile and we've got room in the truck that day. We quote it, you say yes, and we load it right then. Most junk removal jobs take less than an hour.

Tip: Before we get there, pull everything that's going into one spot, or put a strip of painter's tape on the big pieces. Then tell us what's staying. The quote is only as accurate as the pile, and grandma's dresser sitting next to a broken one is an easy mix-up to avoid.

How to keep the price from changing

A firm price should mean firm. The only time our number moves is when the pile does.

Find another mattress in the guest room on pickup day? That's more truck space, and we'll tell you the new total before we load it. Decide to keep the treadmill after all, and the price goes down.

So what should make you nervous, with us or anyone else in the Treasure Valley? A phone quote that "starts at" some number when nobody's looked at the stuff. A price that only shows up once everything's in the truck. And watch for fuel, labor or disposal fees tacked on at the end.

The easiest fix is to just ask: "Is this the total?" The answer should be yes, no asterisk.

When to call for your estimate

If you're up against a deadline, like a house going on the market in Nampa or a move-out date in Eagle, get the estimate a week or two ahead. Spring and early summer book up fast once everyone in the valley starts cleaning out garages.

No deadline? Call whenever. Winter's usually quieter, and a garage in Kuna or Star doesn't care that it's 25 degrees out.

If you're in a pinch, same-day service happens more often than you'd think. It mostly depends on where the trucks already are that day.

The bottom line

A good junk removal estimate is free, done in person, and ends with one price you can say yes or no to. You should know the total before anything leaves your property.

If there's a pile you've been wondering about, give us a call at (208) 593-2877. We'll come take a look, tell you what it'll cost, and you can decide from there.