Your 4-Step Plan for Hiring Garage Help
If tackling a full garage cleanout and organization project felt easy, you would have done it by now. The reality is that cleaning, removing clutter, and installing storage are demanding tasks, making professional help a worthwhile investment.
Understanding the different types of services is key to hiring the right pros for your project. A downsizing company focuses on selling your valuable items. A garage cleanout or “junk removal” service hauls unwanted items to recycling centers or the landfill.
Finally, a garage organization service helps you plan, purchase, and install solutions like cabinets, shelves, and slatwall. They are also the experts who will organize the items you decide to keep, creating a functional and orderly space.
While very few companies offer dedicated garage cleaning to wipe away layers of dust and grime, there are clever ways to find people for that job, too. We’ve broken down the complete garage project into four distinct steps to help you plan and hire the right team at the right time.
This is your path to a fully rebooted garage:
Step 1: Clean the dirt and grime from the garage and its contents.
Step 2: Clean out the clutter by sorting, donating, selling, or disposing of unwanted items.
Step 3: Install new storage solutions like cabinets, shelving, and overhead racks.
Step 4: Organize your remaining belongings within the new system.
Step 1: Hire a Pro to Deep Clean Your Garage
Finding a professional service for garage cleaning—the act of removing dirt, not items—can be surprisingly tricky. Searching online for “garage cleaning services” will almost always lead to “garage cleanout services,” which are entirely different.
These cleanout companies excel at removing your stuff, but they won’t wipe the soot and bug dust off your belongings. Even major cleanup companies like Servpro don’t typically list “garage” as a specific area on their residential cleaning services page.
To get your garage truly clean, you need to think creatively. When contacting potential services, be crystal clear that you need deep cleaning, dusting, and wiping—not item removal.
Consider reaching out to a local home or office cleaning service. They already have the equipment and experience for deep cleaning jobs. A janitorial service is another excellent option, as they are accustomed to heavy-duty cleaning tasks.
You can also explore Craigslist and Facebook for “services offered,” but always exercise caution and thoroughly vet any provider you find through these platforms.
Step 2: Find the Right Service to Clean Out Your Garage
Yes, you can absolutely hire someone to clean out your garage, and you have several options depending on your needs. The biggest obstacle to a tidy garage is often the sheer volume of clutter, so decluttering is the fastest path to real organization.
Getting rid of items you no longer need or want dramatically reduces the amount of storage you’ll have to buy and install later. If the decision-making process feels overwhelming, a professional organizer can act as your coach, guiding you on what to keep and what to let go.
If you have valuable items you’d like to sell, a downsizing company can manage the sale for you, often taking a percentage of the proceeds. For everything else that needs to go, a garage cleanout (or junk removal) company will efficiently haul it all away.
Hiring a professional organizer can be especially helpful if you feel stuck. As Angi points out, they bring a structured, non-emotional perspective to the decluttering process.
What to Expect from a Garage Cleanout Company
Garage cleanout companies, more commonly known as junk removal services, specialize in hauling away your unwanted items. These services typically charge by the volume of items taken, not by the hour, and will transport your things to recycling facilities and the local landfill.
The traditional model is simple: you point at the items you want gone, and they make them disappear. Many companies stick to this core “haul away” service, but some offer more assistance.
For example, 1-800-Got-Junk offers a dedicated garage cleanout service where you can opt for a partial or complete removal. To make the process smoother, you can pre-sort your items into “keep” and “go” piles. They provide an on-site quote, and if you agree, they load the truck and haul it all away the same day.
For even more robust service, College Hunks Hauling Junk provides sorting services and will even drop off donatable items at a local charity for you. You can pre-sort your items, point them out to the team, or let them handle the sorting for you with your final approval.
How Professional Organizers Assist with Garage Cleanouts
If the thought of sorting through years of accumulated belongings feels paralyzing, a professional organizer is your greatest ally. Their primary role is to provide expert guidance and hands-on help with the decision-making process for every single item: does it stay or does it go?
As the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals (NAPO) explains, their job is to help clients achieve their goals by creating customized, sustainable systems. They bring structure, coaching, and an objective eye to what can be an emotional task.
Some professional organizers offer full-service garage cleanouts, either with their own hauling capacity or through a partnership with a junk removal company. They will work with you to meticulously sort items into “keep,” “donate,” “sell,” and “trash” piles.
A great example is Neat Method, a luxury organizing service available across North America. Their mission is to “make the space you have functional for the life you live.” A Neat Method consultant will create a custom plan, help you make decisions, and then arrange for all unwanted items to be hauled away to the appropriate destinations.
Can a Downsizing Company Help Sell My Garage Clutter?
If you suspect your garage holds items of value, a downsizing or estate sale company can be a fantastic resource. These companies specialize in helping individuals, often seniors moving from a large family home to a smaller one, sell their belongings efficiently.
While they traditionally manage sales for an entire house, some may be willing to run a sale focused solely on the contents of your garage. It never hurts to ask, as a local company might have the flexibility to take on a garage-only project.
The service typically involves appraising your items, running the sale (either online or in-person), and taking a percentage of the final proceeds. To better understand the process, you can learn more about how downsizing cleanout services work before making calls.
A well-known company in this space is Caring Transitions. While they focus on senior relocations, their services include appraising belongings, running estate sales, and handling the removal of any unsold items. They can help you clear out the entire garage or simply sell specific items you designate.
Step 3: Hire an Expert for Garage Storage Installation
Once your garage is clean and decluttered, the next step is to create a robust storage system. Both professional organizers and specialized garage organization companies can manage the planning, purchasing, and installation of your new setup.
Your new system can include a variety of elements, such as industrial-strength cabinets, versatile slatwall panels, heavy-duty shelving, overhead ceiling racks, and dedicated workbenches.
It’s important to note that not all companies offer all services. You will need to verify what each company provides. The key tasks to inquire about are planning the layout, acquiring the products, and installing the storage system.
What Storage Solutions Do Garage Organizers Offer?
Specialized garage organization companies are a one-stop-shop for completely overhauling your storage. They typically represent one or more specific brands of garage storage systems, providing a seamless experience from design to installation.
These companies act as authorized dealers and installers for product lines designed specifically for the rigors of a garage environment. Their experts will help you design a custom layout that perfectly fits your space and storage needs.
For instance, Gorgeous Garage is an installer for the Monkey Bars storage system. They help you plan your space, sell you the guaranteed products, and handle the complete installation. Their systems include shelving that can hold 1,000 pounds per 4-foot section, along with a full suite of slatwall hooks, baskets, and accessories.
California Closets is another well-known company that offers its own line of high-end garage storage products. They provide a full-service experience, designing a custom plan with their in-house cabinets and workbenches and then managing the entire installation in your garage.
How Professional Organizers Help You Choose Storage
Hiring a professional organizer for your storage needs offers a different, more flexible approach compared to a specialized installation company. Instead of selling a specific brand, most organizers act as your personal project manager and shopping consultant.
Their expertise lies in assessing your belongings and designing a space that functions perfectly for you, regardless of the product brand. They are more likely to help you shop for garage storage from a variety of sources to find the ideal pieces for your budget and goals.
A professional organizer will measure your space, inventory your items, and then help you source the right products for your needs. This could mean a mix of solutions from different retailers to achieve the perfect combination of function and style.
Because their services are highly customized, their involvement can vary. Some may simply provide a detailed shopping list and layout plan, while others will manage the entire acquisition and coordinate with installers on your behalf.
Step 4: Hire a Professional to Organize Your Items
With your garage clean and your new storage system installed, the final, crucial step is the organization itself. This is where the vision of a perfectly ordered garage becomes a reality. A garage organization service will meticulously place every item you’ve kept into its new home.
This is not just about putting things on shelves; it’s about creating logical zones and systems that are easy to use and maintain. An organizer will ensure your most frequently used tools are easily accessible, seasonal items are stored efficiently, and hazardous materials are kept safely.
Professionals excel at maximizing every inch of your new setup. They will hang your bicycles securely, hoist kayaks up to the ceiling on pulley systems, and neatly arrange supplies in labeled bins inside your new cabinets.
By hiring a pro for this final stage, you ensure that the investment you’ve made in cleaning and storage pays off with a truly functional, long-lasting organizational system. It’s the finishing touch that turns a cluttered space into a streamlined extension of your home.
Where Can I Find Garage Organization Professionals?
Finding the right local professionals can be streamlined by using service brokers. Websites like Angi and Thumbtack connect you with a network of local and national companies vying for your business. You simply enter your location and project details to receive a list of qualified pros.
On Angi (formerly Angie’s List), you can search for “Garage Organizers – Install” to find help with storage systems or “Consultant – Professional Home or Office Organizer” for sorting and organizing help.
HomeAdvisor, an Angi company, offers similar categories. Use “Install Garage Organizers” for storage installation and “Find a Home Organizer Consultant” for organizational services.
On Thumbtack, use the “Garage Cleaning Services” category and then specify either “Cleaning and Organization” or “Removal of Junk and Clutter” to find the right pro.
Don’t overlook big-box retailers. Both Home Depot and Lowe’s offer installation services for the many brands of garage storage they sell. They hire local contractors to help you plan, purchase, and install everything, with the agreement managed directly by the retail giant.
How Much Does Garage Cleaning and Organizing Cost?
The cost of a garage cleanout depends primarily on the volume of items being removed and your geographic location. For a few small items, a local service might charge less than $100. However, a complete cleanout of a two-car garage typically costs between $400 and $700.
As Fire Dawg Junk Removal explains, their prices are based on how much space your junk occupies in their truck. According to HomeAdvisor, a full truckload can easily exceed $500, so it’s always wise to get an on-site quote before committing.
The cost to organize a garage has a much wider range, as it depends on the scope of the project. If you only need labor for organizing, it could start around $250 for a few hours. However, a comprehensive project that includes new storage is significantly more.
According to HomeAdvisor, the national average to organize a garage is over $2,000, with projects spanning from $800 to more than $6,000. For example, a full system from a company like Gorgeous Garage can average between $1,800 and $2,400 but can go much higher depending on the components chosen. The final price tag hinges on the level of service, from pure organizing labor to a complete design and installation of a high-end storage system.
