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Haulers

Estate cleanout in Chatham, MA

The open door of a gray-shingled Chatham house with boxes, a rolled rug and lamps stacked on the porch for a cleanout

What the town offers a family clearing a house

Chatham's pages describe a self-haul system. Stickers are sold to Chatham residents or property owners for $150 on the first vehicle, and summer residents who own property can buy any regular resident sticker. The pages do not say how a sticker works for an estate whose title has not passed; call the Permits Office at 508-945-5180.

A cleanout produces bags first. Without a sticker, the fee sheet lists $5 for one to three bags and a higher fee for more. A house of closets is a lot of bags, which is why a sticker or a flat-price haul is the usual choice. Clothing, linens, shoes and towels have a free textile bin, and damaged items are accepted.

Where each kind of item goes

Books, CDs and records go in the book bin. Metal items and appliances go to the metal pile (drain fluids, remove doors). The sheet charges $50 for each mattress or box spring, $30 for each sofa or sofa bed and $15 for each upholstered chair. Lumber, bricks, drywall and upholstered furniture are on the "inquire at gate" line.

Usable household goods can go to the Swap Shop, which requires a regular or recycling-only sticker and refuses electronics, cribs, car seats, mattresses, upholstered items, rugs and small appliances. The Gift Shop list also names bedding, air conditioners and broken items. Anything that is not clean and working is a trip to the gate.

Paint goes in the paint shed (listed May to November). Leftover chemicals wait for the county Saturdays in Harwich, free for residents, which the county card places in May to October.

What we take, and the donation option

JUNKRUN clears rooms, closets, attics, basements and garages in one visit: a quarter trailer $209, a half $319, three-quarters $409, a full trailer $519, with a $159 minimum. A seasonal house with furniture throughout is usually a half to a full trailer; send photos. We carry down stairs, with no stair fee and no travel fee.

Habitat Cape Cod's ReStores in Yarmouth and Falmouth list furniture, appliances, lighting and art in excellent condition and offer free pickups. Call 508-394-6400 and keep the sellable pieces apart before the rest is hauled.

Estate cleanout checklist for a Chatham house

  • Call the Permits Office (508-945-5180) about a sticker for the house's vehicles before the first station trip.
  • Set aside pieces for Habitat's free pickup: 508-394-6400.
  • Bag clothing and linens for the textile bin; damaged items are accepted.
  • Pull books, CDs and records for the book bin.
  • List mattresses, box springs and sofas: they carry station fees of $50 and $30 each.
  • Put paint aside for the paint shed (listed May to November) and chemicals for the county Saturdays.
  • Book a flat-price haul for everything else, and the station for what it takes.

Local resources in Chatham

Donation, reuse and recycling options near the pickup. We are not affiliated with these; confirm hours and what they accept before you go.

Quick answers

Can I use the Chatham Swap Shop for an estate cleanout?

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Only with a regular or recycling-only sticker, and only for clean, usable items. It refuses mattresses, upholstered items and rugs.

Do I need a sticker for a second home in Chatham?

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The town says owners of second homes can buy regular resident stickers. Call 508-945-5180 about estates.

Where do old clothes go in Chatham?

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The Transfer Station has textile bins; the town says damaged items are accepted if clean and dry.

How much is a house cleanout with JUNKRUN?

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Flat prices by the trailer: a quarter $209, a half $319, three-quarters $409, a full $519, with no travel fee.

Sources

Rules, fees and hours change, so confirm with Chatham before you go.

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