Moving Cleanouts
Moving in or out of Mobile, AL? Zoiris hauls away the furniture and stuff you're not taking, before the movers arrive or after the truck pulls away.
Quick answer
Do I have to be at the storage facility when you empty my unit?
It depends on your facility's rules, so tell us how access will work before we schedule. Many renters meet the crew at the unit, open it, and point out what stays. If you cannot be there, check with the facility office about what they require to let someone else in, and let us know what you have arranged.
What a storage unit cleanout includes
Storage units are packed tight and floor to ceiling, so the work is mostly careful unloading:
- Unpacking the unit from front to back and loading everything we are taking straight onto the truck.
- Leaving behind the items you are keeping, stacked and accessible, if you are only downsizing the unit.
- Working with drive-up units as well as interior units reached by hallways, carts, or a freight elevator.
- Pulling out anything we spot that we cannot accept, like a gas can or paint, and setting it aside for you.
- Separating usable and recyclable items from what goes to disposal, where practical options exist.
What usually comes out of storage units
Storage units tend to hold furniture from a previous home plus a lot of boxes. Common items:
| Item | Status | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Couches & sofas | Accepted | Includes sectionals and sleeper sofas. Tell us about tight stairways or doorways. |
| Dressers, cabinets & bookcases | Accepted | Please empty drawers before pickup. |
| Tables & chairs | Accepted | Dining sets, coffee tables, patio sets. |
| Mattresses & box springs | Accepted | Any size. Let us know about bed bugs in advance so we can plan handling. |
| Boxes, bags & general clutter | Accepted | Bagged or boxed household items. Do not include food waste or liquids. |
| Clothing, linens & textiles | Accepted | Bag them so they are easy to carry. |
| Exercise equipment | Call to confirm | Treadmills, ellipticals, and weight machines are heavy — tell us the model and where it sits. |
| Refrigerators & freezers | Call to confirm | These contain refrigerant, so we confirm handling before scheduling. Empty and defrost first. |
Why people empty storage units
Usually the stored items were meant to sit there for a few months and stayed for years. Other common situations are finishing a move and realizing the unit holds things you will never use, moving to a smaller unit to cut costs, and taking over a unit that belonged to a parent or relative.
Small businesses also use storage units for old inventory, files, and furniture. Those can be cleared the same way. If you need files removed, empty them out of the cabinets first, because we do not provide document shredding.
How a storage unit cleanout works
-
Unit and facility details
Send a pickup request with the unit size, how full it is, whether it is drive-up or interior, and the facility's access hours. A photo of the open unit tells us more than any description.
-
Line up access
We confirm an estimate and a pickup window within the facility's access hours. You arrange the gate code and key, and either plan to meet us or confirm with the facility what it needs for us to enter.
-
Empty and hand back
The crew unloads and hauls away everything you have released. You check the unit, lock it or clear it out with the office, and stop paying for space you do not need.
What affects the cost of a storage unit cleanout
We quote each unit individually. The factors that matter most:
- Unit size, from a 5×5 locker to a 10×30 drive-up
- How densely the unit is packed — a full 10×10 can hold more than a half-empty 10×20
- Drive-up access compared with interior or upper-floor units that need carts or an elevator
- Whether we are taking everything or sorting around items you are keeping
- Heavy pieces, or items that need a call to confirm
How to prepare your storage unit
- Confirm the facility's access hours and gate code, and ask whether a truck can drive up to your unit.
- Have the key or lock combination ready. If there are any lock or account problems, sort them out with the facility office first.
- If you have not opened the boxes in a while, go through them for photos, documents, and valuables before the cleanout. We can wait while you check a few, but a full sort takes time.
- Note your next billing or move-out date. If you are trying to clear the unit before it, tell us that date up front.
- Look for gas cans, propane cylinders, paint, and chemicals, and take them out if you can. We cannot load them.
Storage unit considerations
Storage jobs come with a few rules that are worth knowing ahead of time:
- We need the renter's go-ahead. Tell us whose name the unit is in and how access is being authorized.
- Units up for auction, or that you do not have a clear right to empty, are not something we can clear. Settle that with the facility first.
- Fuel, propane, paint, and chemicals found in the unit are not accepted, and stay with you.
- Items damaged by water, mold, or pests should be mentioned when you call so we can plan handling.
Where this service is available
We empty storage units at facilities within the City of Mobile. If your facility is just outside the city, call and ask before booking.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take some things and leave the rest in the unit?
Yes. Partial cleanouts are common when people move to a smaller unit. Point out what stays, and we will restack it neatly so you can still get to it.
I don't really know what's in the unit anymore. Is that okay?
That is normal for storage. Meet us at the unit, and we can bring things out so you can make quick keep-or-go decisions. Anything we cannot accept gets set aside for you to handle.
My unit is on an upper floor inside the building. Can you still empty it?
Yes. Interior and upper-floor units take more carrying, using carts and elevators, which we factor into the estimate. Tell us the unit location when you book.
I took over a relative's storage unit. Can you help?
Yes. Make sure the unit has been transferred to you, or that you are otherwise authorized to access it, before we schedule. If the belongings are part of an estate, our estate cleanouts page may help too.
Do you move items from storage to my house?
No. We remove and haul away items you no longer want. For things you are keeping, plan to move them yourself or with a moving company.