The short answer
A relocation cleanout clears everything that is not worth moving, on a fixed deadline. Price it by item for a few large pieces, such as $126 for a sofa, $143 for a queen mattress set and $108 for a motorized sit-stand desk, or by truck fill for a full apartment or garage, such as $431 for a half truck. Book it for the evening of moving day or the morning after. Same-day pickup is usually possible when you book by 4 PM.
Why relocations are the signature South Bay job
Silicon Valley's economy runs on movement. Google in Mountain View, Apple in Cupertino, Nvidia, Intel and Applied Materials in Santa Clara, Cisco in San José, Netflix in Los Gatos and Tesla in Fremont all bring people in and send people out.
Transfers, new jobs, layoffs, visa timelines and changes in office policy all trigger moves, and they do not follow the calendar. A relocation can come with a few weeks' notice or a few days'.
Housing costs make it sharper. A move out of the Bay Area often means shipping belongings across the country, and shipping is priced by weight and volume. A particleboard bookcase or a worn sofa can cost more to move than to replace. Relocating households tend to leave a lot behind, and they have to clear it before the lease ends or the house closes.
Movers do not take junk
Professional movers, including employer-paid relocation services, move what you are keeping. They generally do not haul away what you are not.
That leaves a gap. On moving day, the truck leaves with your boxes, and the apartment still has the old couch, the mattress you did not want to ship, a desk, a TV stand and a pile of bags. Your landlord's inspection is tomorrow.
Plan for the gap before moving day. Walk through each room and tag what is going with the movers and what is staying for the cleanout. Give the movers a clear list. Then book the cleanout for the evening of moving day, since crews work until midnight, or first thing the next morning.
If your move date changes, which happens often with relocations, same-day booking by 4 PM gives you flexibility.
The home office problem
Remote and hybrid work left a lot of South Bay homes with a full office in the spare room: monitors, a sit-stand desk, an office chair, a printer and a box of cables.
| Item | Flat price |
|---|---|
| Desk (Sit / Stand - Motorized) | $108 |
| Desk (L-Shaped / Corner) | $134 |
| Office Chair | $61 |
| Computer Monitor | $58 |
| Desktop Computer / Tower | $62 |
| Printer (Home / Inkjet) | $58 |
| Box of Electronics | $77 |
A typical home office of a sit-stand desk, a chair, two monitors and a box of cables is $108 + $61 + $58 + $58 + $77 = $362.
Wipe or remove drives first, and return any company-owned equipment to your employer. Electronics are universal waste in California and cannot go in household trash.
Apartments, garages and storage units
Relocations rarely involve one space. A family leaving the South Bay might have a rented house with a full garage in Cambrian, a storage unit in Santa Clara and a few things at a downtown office.
Book each location separately, and each gets its own flat price. Typical numbers:
- One-bedroom apartment in North San José: often a 3/8 truck at $338 or a half truck at $431.
- Packed two-car garage: often a full truck at $732.
- Full 10 by 10 storage unit: $587.
Managed apartment buildings usually require a certificate of insurance and an elevator reservation. JunkRabbit emails the COI within one hour of booking. Reserve the elevator for the movers and the cleanout back to back if the building allows.
A sample relocation timeline
- Three weeks out: decide what is moving. Measure the new home. List anything valuable for sale.
- Two weeks out: book the movers. Ask your building about elevator and COI rules.
- One week out: get a cleanout price from photos and book it for the evening of moving day or the next morning.
- Moving day: movers load what is going. The cleanout clears the rest.
- Final day: clean, photograph the empty unit and hand back the keys.
Keep the photos you took for the quote. They double as a record of what was left and when it was cleared, which helps if a landlord later questions the condition of the unit. The price is set before booking, so nothing has to be negotiated on site.
Booking a relocation cleanout
Photograph each room as it will look after the movers leave, or tag what is staying behind. Get your total on the instant quote page. It is shown before you book and only changes if you approve a change.
Crews work seven days a week from 8am to midnight in two-hour windows, and booking by 4 PM usually means same-day pickup. There is no stairs fee and no same-day surcharge.
Vetted, insured local haulers carry everything out from any floor. We try to donate usable items when local charities accept them, which matters when you are leaving behind furniture that still has years of use. We recycle whatever we can.
Frequently asked questions
Do movers take furniture I am not keeping?
Generally no. Movers transport what you are keeping. Book a cleanout for the evening of moving day or the next morning to clear the rest.
How much does a relocation cleanout cost?
A sofa, a queen set and a sit-stand desk are $126 + $143 + $108 = $377. A one-bedroom apartment is often $338 or $431, and a packed two-car garage often $732.
Can I get a price before the movers come?
Yes. Photograph each room and tag what is staying behind. The flat price is set from those photos before you book, and it only changes if you approve.
Do you take home office equipment?
Yes. A sit-stand desk is $108, an office chair $61 and a monitor $58. Wipe drives and return company equipment first.
Can you come the same day if my move date changes?
Usually, if you book by 4 PM. Crews work until midnight, seven days a week.