Are you buying a house in the Metro Detroit area with plans to gut the interior and renovate it completely? Alternatively, is your business moving from one Detroit location to the next? Either way, it’s a good idea to rent a dumpster for any junk you may need to dispose of along the way—be it construction debris or pieces of furniture you don’t want to bother moving to your new location. This blog will walk you through the basics of how to rent a dumpster in Metro Detroit, whether your project involves a renovation, a move, or a good old-fashioned spring cleanout.

Step 1: Figure out What You Need

Before you rent your dumpster—and before you even start researching potential dumpster rental companies—you should try to figure out what you need. Dumpsters come in different sizes and designs, and some companies even rent out different types of bins depending on what kind of junk you have. Knowing upfront what you need will help you avoid confusion, stress, or overspending later in the process.

Here are a few fundamental questions you should try to answer:

• How big is your project? A full-house renovation is going to produce more junk than a one-floor renovation. A cleanout of the entire house will create more waste than a basement cleanout. Moving out of an office or retail space your business has occupied for 20 years is going to produce more junk than moving from a space you’ve only been in for a year. Try to figure out the basic scope of your project, because knowing that information will help you out when you need to choose a dumpster size. Determining the general scope of your project will also give you a better idea of how long you might need the dumpster rental to last.

• Where are you going to put the dumpster? A rental dumpster won’t do you much good if you can’t get it anywhere near your home or office. Ideally, you’ll be able to clear a spot in the driveway, parking lot, or street that is conveniently accessible from your building. You want to limit the number of steps you need to take to get your refuse into the bin—especially when it comes to larger, more cumbersome items such as couches or mattresses. If you have a space in mind, measure it to figure out what kind of dumpster dimensions it could accommodate.

• What kind of junk are you dealing with? Ideally, you will be able to find a dumpster rental company in Detroit that lets you deposit anything in your bin—be it construction debris, furniture, old clothing, or what have you. Some companies, though, have limitations. They may designate containers for certain types of waste—e.g. construction debris or yard waste—and then prohibit you from throwing any other items in those dumpsters. They might even ban specific items entirely, such as appliances or electronic waste. Before you start researching dumpster rental companies, ask yourself what kind of waste you are planning on putting in the dumpster. That way, you can steer clear of companies with restrictions that would cause problems for your project.

Answering these questions right now will help guide your research, inform the questions you ask potential dumpster rental companies, and decide which business is best equipped to serve your needs.

Step 2: Researching the Providers

Every big city has a least a few companies that offer dumpsters for rent. Detroit is no exception. If you do a Google search, you will find that you have a healthy number of different businesses from which to choose. Browse their websites, read about their services, and take notes. If you can find any customer reviews on each company, read those too. The more you can learn, the easier time you will have narrowing down the field and selecting one or two finalists.

Here are a few details you should keep an eye out for as you do your homework on how to rent a dumpster:

• Location: Where is the dumpster rental company? This point might not seem like it matters much if the business in question serves the Metro Detroit area. However, some companies might be in the city itself, while others might be commuting from outside of town. Dumpster rental companies generally charge you a delivery fee, which will vary depending on how far the delivery driver needs to travel to drop off or pick up your bin. Longer distances mean higher delivery fees, so it’s usually in your best interest to choose a dumpster rental company close to where you live or work.

• Sizing Options: Dumpster companies vary in how they handle sizing. Some offer five or six different bin sizes, while others skew toward a one-size-fits-all model. Unless you have a lot of experience renting dumpsters, you will likely find that it’s not always easy to decide if you need a 10-cubic yard model or a 20-cubic yard bin. Choosing the one-size-fits-all business will free you from having to pick a size—and might even save you the money you would have wasted by choosing a bin that was too big.

• Pricing and Fees: Of course, you will want to compare pricing and fee structures from one rental company to the next. Again, the price you pay will likely vary, depending on your location and the size of dumpster you choose (if there are various sizing options). However, each company should at least be willing to give you a basic estimate on pricing. Reading customer reviews, meanwhile, will help you figure out if you are dealing with a company with a habit of hitting customers with hidden fees or unfair extra charges. For the best deal, look for a dumpster rental company that will only charge you for how much dumpster space you use. If you rent a 12-cubic yard bin and end up having only six cubic yards of junk, you want a company that will charge you a lower rate than you’d pay for a full dumpster.

• Recycling and Sustainability: Perhaps your business has a green initiative, or maybe you just like doing your part to protect the environment. Either way, it’s definitely worth noting that some dumpster rental businesses are greener than others. Some companies will even sort through your bins to pull out items that can be recycled, repurposed, or reused. This kind of service saves you the trouble of having to do the sorting yourself but also makes sure that recyclables or potentially dangerous items (such as electronic waste) aren’t going to the landfill.

• Customer Service: How focused on customer service does each dumpster rental company seem? You want a business that is going to give you a courtesy call before your dumpster gets dropped off and again before it gets picked up. You want a company that is willing to answer any questions you might have, that is happy to share pricing information, and that is always easy to reach if you need assistance or guidance. To get an idea of a company’s customer service, just call their business number and see what kind of response you get to your inquiries.

Step 3: Make the Choice!

Once you’ve done your homework, it’s not so hard to know how to rent a dumpster. Going through the questions and bullet points laid out above should help you narrow down your field and pick the right dumpster rental company for the job. From there, it’s time to pick up the phone, arrange a dumpster drop off, and get to work on your big project. Good luck with the next steps!

In addition to our self-service dumpster rental offerings, we also offer a service where we handle the junk removal for you. If you are interested in either of these services and want to learn more, you can always give us a call at 1-888-888-JUNK. You can also book a rental via our homepage.