Build a room-by-room removal list
Start with the office areas involved: reception, individual offices, shared workstations, meeting rooms and supply storage. Count the main pieces in each area, then mark them to keep, relocate or request for removal. An office closing completely needs a different inventory from one replacing only a few desks.
| Office area | Details for the request |
|---|---|
| Workstations | Desk and chair counts, workstation panels, and whether any pieces are attached or connected. |
| Meeting and reception rooms | Table dimensions, seating counts and photos of large or awkward pieces. |
| Filing and supply storage | Cabinet and shelving counts, remaining contents, and who will sort them. |
| Office equipment | Item types, ownership, and any equipment requiring a separate collection arrangement. |
Share photos of the items and the rooms they occupy. If you need a quote before staff finish packing, explain which quantities are final and which may change. Ask when the provider needs an updated list.
Check access with the building manager
Before choosing a removal time, get the building’s requirements from the person who manages access. Include them in the request so a provider can assess the actual work window and route. A street-level office with a nearby loading area and an upstairs suite with a reserved elevator need different planning.
- Entry: Give the suite, floor, access contact and any sign-in requirements.
- Loading: Identify the permitted vehicle location and the route from the office.
- Elevators and stairs: Note reservations, opening dimensions or restrictions supplied by management.
- Timing: Confirm permitted work hours and any lease handover deadline.
- Building requirements: Ask whether management needs advance documents or protection for shared areas.
Pass these requirements to the provider before booking. Have them confirm they can meet the conditions, including any requested insurance documentation, instead of assuming a referral establishes building approval.
Resolve ownership, records and equipment first
Appoint someone at the business to approve the removal list. Identify leased equipment, landlord-owned fixtures and belongings that are moving to another office. Clearly label the pieces that must stay, and make sure the approval contact will be reachable during collection.
Have your records and IT contacts decide how documents, computers and other devices will be handled before the cleanout. Keep items awaiting that decision off the removal list. A general pickup request does not confirm document destruction, data erasure or a certified electronics service; arrange and verify any specialist requirements separately.
State whether cabinets will be empty and loose supplies boxed. If you need a provider to sort contents or dismantle workstations, describe that work explicitly and ask whether they offer it. Do not treat wall fixtures, cabling or other building alterations as ordinary loose-item pickup.
Agree on the final scope and handover
Give the independent provider your inventory, photos, access information and preferred completion date. Ask for a scope that identifies the approved items, any agreed dismantling, carrying and loading work, and what condition the cleared area should be left in. If your lease specifies a handover condition, share it before accepting a quote.
Ask which changes could affect the price or schedule, such as additional workstations, filled cabinets or a shorter loading window. Confirm how changes will be approved and who will walk through the space at the end. The provider’s accepted scope should be clear enough for your office contact and building manager to understand.
If the project also produces flooring, drywall or other renovation leftovers, describe those separately using the construction debris checklist. This page focuses on clearing office contents; it does not establish availability for industrial equipment, warehouse clearing or renovation work.
Common questions
Can I request an office cleanout outside business hours?
Include your preferred hours and the building’s permitted work window. The independent provider must confirm availability and any scheduling conditions before you book.
Does office cleanout include taking apart cubicles?
Describe the workstation system, connections and what must be removed. Dismantling is a separate capability to confirm with the provider; it is not automatically included in a referral request.
Can computers and confidential documents go with the office contents?
Have your business’s records and IT contacts decide on the appropriate handling first. Confirm any specialist service directly, and keep those materials separate from the approved general removal list until arrangements are settled.
Guidance reviewed September 12, 2026. Confirm current collection rules and job details directly with the relevant service provider.