Current service: Portland–Vancouver through JunkPDX. Seattle and Boise booking is closed. Check market status.
Choose a structure people can follow
Organize the inventory by room or collection area rather than by memory. Use the same area names in your photographs and messages. A crew should be able to distinguish the basement storage room from the garage without guessing which set of boxes you meant.
Give repeat items a count and identify larger pieces individually. “Two bookcases and one desk” is more actionable than “office stuff.” For loose material, describe the containers and visible extent without pretending an unmeasured pile has a precise truck-space quantity.
Record contents and condition of the scope
Note whether drawers, cabinets, storage tubs, and shelving are empty. Contents affect both the amount being hauled and the work required. If someone else will empty an item before the appointment, record that as a pending task rather than an accomplished fact.
Flag known unusually heavy items and dense material for review. Separate ordinary hauling from tasks that would involve utility disconnection, attached structures, or regulated materials. An inventory is a disclosure tool; listing a task does not establish that the provider can accept it.
Define keep, remove, and undecided
Create three clear groups: approved for removal, staying, and awaiting a decision. The undecided group should not silently enter the removal scope. Assign one person to resolve it before the final onsite walkthrough whenever possible, particularly when family members share the space.
Use labels or a marked inventory to support the conversation, but verify the plan aloud onsite. Labels can fall off or point ambiguously at neighboring items. For illustration, a chair marked for removal beside a desk marked to stay should appear as two separate entries.
Add access details where they belong
Connect access notes to the affected items. If only the basement freezer requires stairs, say so instead of attaching a general “stairs” note to everything. Record building requirements, narrow routes, and the distance to loading access without promising that a route will work.
Identify belongings that are not yours to authorize for removal. Shared storage, rental property, and multi-party cleanouts often require a clear decision-maker. Resolve authority and project approvals before the visit rather than asking the crew to settle ownership questions during loading.
Keep one current version
Date the inventory and update it when sorting changes the job. Share the current version with the person meeting the crew. A detailed but obsolete list can be less helpful than a short accurate one, especially if photographs show items already donated or removed.
PNW reviews the ZIP, address, and scope before confirming availability in its currently active Portland–Vancouver service area through JunkPDX. Final pricing is approved onsite before loading. Use the inventory to compare the reviewed scope with the work actually presented that day.
KEEP THIS WITH YOUR PROJECT NOTES
Before you take the next step
- List each collection area by a clear name.
- Count repeated furniture and appliance items.
- Mark filled containers and uncertain contents.
- Separate remove, keep, and undecided belongings.
- Give the onsite contact the latest version.
Save a text checklist with space for the address, timing and approval contact. Downloading does not submit or book a pickup.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Details worth settling early
Do I need an exact count of every small object?
Usually a practical description of grouped ordinary loose material is more useful. Count distinct large items and disclose uncertain contents, dense loads, and anything needing separate review.
Can the crew decide what should go?
You or your authorized contact need to define the removal scope. The crew can review the work, but should not have to infer ownership or make household sorting decisions.
What happens when my inventory changes?
Send the revised list before the visit when possible. Review any remaining differences onsite and approve the final scope and price before items are loaded.