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DIY vs. Professional Spring Cleanup: Which is Better?

When springtime rolls around, there’s always a lot of cleaning up to do — especially if you live in a state like New Jersey where the winters are cold and frozen. Our residential and commercial landscapes never emerge from the spring thaw looking beautiful, organized and ready to greet the Summer months. In fact, they tend to look haggard. There’s a lot of organic and artificial waste floating around. There are branches, leaves, piles of grass. The runoff from melting snow may have damaged whole sections of the landscape.

In short, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work. But first, it’s necessary to take a closer look at all of the different things that have to be done – and ask ourselves whether we have all of the appropriate tools and skills to perform ineffective springtime cleanup in a reasonable amount of time. And if you answer to that question is no, professional help becomes a real part of the conversation. If money were no object, most of us would probably hire a professional anyway. But is DIY always cheaper, and does it always give you a result that is comparable to professional work?

In order to answer these questions, let’s take a closer look at DIY versus professional residential cleanup operations.

What are you cleaning up?

There are landscaping companies who specialize in restoring and beautifying landscapes after the spring thaw; but people often have many other cleanup projects that don’t specifically involve landscaping. There are basements and attics to clean up. There may be work areas or even renovations that still need to be cleaned up. There may even be an old shed you want to level completely, or clean out and restore.

Many people don’t realize there are actually companies who do this, providing both the container (dumpster) and the labor to make your cleanup jobs easier than you could have imagined.

Do you want to do it yourself?

Some people enjoy springtime cleanup projects, especially if it involves working outside during beautiful springtime weather. But it’s important to be acutely aware of safety concerns during heavy-duty cleanup projects around the house or yard. The time and stress involved are also considerations. If you want to go DIY on your cleanup project, you’ll still probably need a container. Look for a reputable company who delivers and picks up on time, has transparent fee structures, and is knowledgeable about cleanup projects in general.

Which approach is best for my home or business?

Many homeowners and business managers take pride in performing springtime cleanup themselves. Some people appreciate the physical activity and enjoy working outside. They’re all kinds of personal reasons for wanting to go the DIY route; and depending on your tools and skills, you might even be able to achieve a very good result. But for the huge number of people who would rather put springtime cleanup in the hands of a capable professional, it’s important to look for a reputable and experienced professional who offers fair rates and clear fee structures. That’s when you know you’re really going to get a good result.