To rent a dumpster or to hire a full-service junk removal team, that is the question. When it comes to cleaning out a home or office—whether for a move, a renovation, or a long-overdue decluttering project—these are typically your two options. Both choices have their pros and cons.

 If you can find cheap dumpster rentals, you are going to save money and will have a little more control over the timeline and execution of your project. The downside is that dumpster rentals require DIY junk removal, which may be inconvenient. Full-service junk removal, meanwhile, will always cost more but takes the dirty work and heavy lifting out of your hands.

When to Choose Full-Service Junk Removal

There are a few situations in which full-service junk removal is unquestionably the better option of the two. If you have several cumbersome items and no one to help you lug them out to a dumpster, hiring a team of junk removal specialists is probably a must. Even if you have one or two helpers, recruiting experts who are trained to move big, cumbersome items—such as furniture or appliances—might be a good idea. Especially if you are moving, you don’t want to put a massive hole in the drywall because you and a buddy made a mistake while moving a couch.

When to Choose Cheap Dumpster Rentals

But what about cheap dumpster rentals? When is it better to take matters into your own hands and haul junk out of your home or office yourself, rather than hiring professionals to do the job? Below, we have listed a few scenarios where DIY junk removal will likely win the day.

• You mostly are getting rid of smaller items: If furniture and appliances present the most compelling argument to hire full-service junk removal professionals, then smaller items present an equally compelling argument for dumpster rentals. Maybe you have been cleaning out your basement and stuffing everything into plastic garbage bags, or perhaps your largest item is something like an armchair. If it’s easy for you to lift and carry the trash on your own, then you really don’t need a trained team to help you. Just put a dumpster in your driveway and fill it at your own pace.
  

• You are renovating: Junk removal services work best with self-contained items that two guys can lift and take out of your home or office. Renovations rarely fit this mold. When you are ripping out drywall, carpet, tile or hardwood flooring, or other construction debris, it makes the most sense to have an on-site bin where you can deposit everything. In most renovations, the convenience factor of having a dumpster right there far outweighs the benefits of full-service junk removal. If you hire a general contractor to help you with your renovation, there is a good chance they will want to put a dumpster in your driveway for easy junk removal.
  

• You are on a tight budget: As we already mentioned, full-service junk removal is always going to cost more than a DIY project. You’re not only paying for the bin you fill, but you are also paying for two guys to fill it for you. With cheap dumpster rentals, it’s a lot easier to keep your cleanout project on a tight budget. Since the average person probably isn’t aiming to spend much money on annual spring cleaning—and since moving and renovation costs can add up quickly anyway—it stands to reason that the money-saving nature of DIY dumpster rentals is a big part of their appeal.
  

• You aren’t very organized: Full-service junk removal works best if you already have a pretty firm plan in place. You want to know precisely which items you are going to have the removal team haul away, right down to the last chair or garbage bag. That way, the removal specialists can just come in, follow your instructions, and get all the unwanted stuff out of your house in an hour or two. You’d be forgiven for not being organized enough for this kind of cleanout. If you are cleaning out your basement or garage, there might be things in there that you didn’t even remember you owned. As such, you might be making things up as you go along, deciding on the fly what to keep and what to ditch. A dumpster rental will always work better for this kind of spontaneous cleanout—especially if the company offers to sort your junk for you.

• This isn’t your first rodeo: Ultimately, a lot of the dumpster rental versus junk removal debate comes down to comfort and experience. Who knows? Maybe you used to be a professional mover and know exactly how to maneuver bulky items without damaging walls or flooring. Alternatively, perhaps you have done a few cleanouts on your own before—or with the help of friends and family—and just feel comfortable handling things without professional assistance. Either way, if you think you can execute a DIY junk removal project without a hitch, then go for it. Both options are there for a reason!

Finding the Right Service

Most companies that offer cheap dumpster rentals also offer full-service junk removal—and vice versa. As such, you should have a relatively easy time comparing services and pricing, which can make your decision a little easier. You should be able to get price quotes for both a dumpster rental and a removal team, to help you weigh your options. Once you know ballpark prices, you can weigh the perks of a junk removal service (namely, having someone else do the work for you) against the added costs.

If you are thinking about a dumpster rental, do consider a few of the complicating factors that can make this option a little more of a challenge.

Some companies that offer cheap dumpster rentals, for instance, also make you choose a bin size for your service. Estimating how much space you are going to use—especially if you haven’t started cleaning or organizing yet—can be extremely difficult. Often, rental companies will bill you a flat fee for the dumpster you rent, which means you can end up paying for space you don’t use if you choose a bin that is too big. One perk of junk removal services is that you don’t have to choose a bin size.

Also, consider sorting. Some dumpster rental companies are more restrictive about the items you can or cannot put in their bins. For example, some renters don’t let you deposit electronic waste in their dumpsters. Others have restrictions on appliances, mattresses, and other items. In some cases, you might have to rent specific dumpsters for specific types of waste, just as construction debris. These restrictions and sorting requirements complicate the rental option and might push you toward hiring junk removal specialists.

For all these reasons, it’s essential that you do your homework. It is possible to find companies that offer cheap dumpster rentals with minimal restrictions and one-size-fits-all services. However, you won’t know the subtle differences between various dumpster rental companies unless you do some research. Browsing company websites, reading online reviews, asking for recommendations from friends or colleagues, or calling different businesses to inquire about their services are all tactics you can use to get information. With persistence and a little bit of luck, you should be able to find the perfect cheap dumpster rental service to suit your budget, your preferences, and your overall situation.

As you compare dumpster rental costs, though, try to find companies that will give you concrete estimates or quotes. Services that are cagey about price quotes will often try to hit you with unexpected fees after the fact. Reading online customer reviews should also help you spot—and avoid—these dumpster rental companies Call us for more information at (888) 888-JUNK.