To clean out an apartment after a tenant moves out, clear everything the tenant left first, then inspect, repair, clean and photograph the empty unit. Clearing is the slow, heavy part that holds up every other trade. It is also the step our rental property cleanout crew in Commerce City takes off your hands, with same-day service available.
How much work follows depends on what stayed behind: a few bags and a couch, a furnished unit, or rooms packed with trash. Colorado law shapes the order too. You need to know the unit is truly surrendered, and you have to back up any deposit deductions in writing.
Below is the order of work for a turnover in Derby, one of the city's established areas, or in Reunion, with the state rules at each step and what Junk Master charges.
What a Commerce City Landlord Should Do First Once the Keys Come Back
The first thing a Commerce City landlord should do once the keys come back is confirm the tenant has actually given up the unit. Then walk through it with a camera before a single item moves.
Take dated photos and short videos of every room, including closets, the inside of the oven and fridge, under the sinks, the patio and any storage space. List what the tenant left: furniture, mattresses, appliances that are not yours, bags, boxes and loose trash. Note visible damage as well, such as holes in drywall or stained carpet.
The routine is the same for a small unit in Rose Hill or a rental in Irondale, the area settled in 1889 and named after a foundry. Once your photos are saved, book the cleanout so the crew can start while you line up cleaners and repairs.
How to Tell a Commerce City Tenant Has Really Given Up the Apartment
A Commerce City tenant has really given up the apartment when the evidence would lead a reasonable person to believe they surrendered it for good. Under C.R.S. 38-12-510, that evidence includes the return of keys, substantial removal of the tenant's personal property, notice from the tenant, or an extended absence with rent unpaid.
The same statute treats willfully shutting off utilities, or removing doors, windows or locks other than as required for repair or maintenance, as unlawful removal of a tenant. Neither is a lawful shortcut to a faster turnover anywhere in Adams County.
The Right Order of Work to Clear a Vacated Commerce City Apartment
The right order of work to clear a vacated Commerce City apartment runs from the heaviest job to the finest one. Cleaners and painters cannot work around a couch and a dozen trash bags, so the unit has to be empty first.
- Photograph and list every room and every item left behind.
- Clear the unit: furniture, mattresses, appliances, bags and loose trash from every room, closet, patio and storage area.
- Inspect the bare unit for damage to walls, doors, fixtures, cabinets and flooring.
- Repair and paint: patch drywall, fix doors and hardware, then paint.
- Deep clean from the top down: fans and light fixtures, then cabinets, counters, appliances and bathrooms.
- Finish the floors last, so dust from earlier steps does not land on clean carpet.
- Take final dated photos of the unit ready to rent.
If you have several trades booked back to back for a unit in Derby or near Highway 2, finishing step 2 in one visit keeps that schedule intact.
How a Move-Out Walk-Through Helps With the Deposit
A move-out walk-through helps with the deposit because it puts the condition of the unit on record while the tenant can still see it. Colorado's HB25-1249, which took effect January 1, 2026, lets a landlord or tenant request a walk-through inspection, if reasonable and practicable, before the lease ends or the unit is surrendered. It takes place at a mutually convenient time after the tenant has had a chance to remove furniture.
The bill also has the landlord provide relevant documentation for the reasons behind any deduction after the tenant asks in writing. Your dated photos, the item list and the cleanout invoice can be part of that documentation.
How a Commerce City Landlord Should Handle Belongings the Tenant Left Behind
A Commerce City landlord should handle belongings the tenant left behind by following Colorado's rules first and clearing second.
Under C.R.S. 38-20-102, a landlord's lien for unpaid rent does not cover pets, small kitchen appliances, cooking utensils, beds, bedding, necessary clothing, personal records or personal effects. After the tenant leaves, the landlord must give the tenant and household reasonable access to remove property the lien does not cover.
These are state rules, so they apply the same way to a unit in Thornton, Northglenn or Green Valley Ranch as to one in Commerce City. If you are unsure whether an item may be removed, get legal advice first and keep a record of your contact with the tenant.
Then tell our crew exactly what goes and what stays. We remove what you point to and leave the rest in place.
How Long a Commerce City Apartment Cleanout Takes and What It Costs
A Commerce City apartment cleanout takes as long as the volume and the carry require, and the price depends on how much of our truck the items fill. Customers often mention in reviews that the crew came the same day or the next day.
Our truck holds 15 cubic yards, about four regular pickup truckloads when full. Prices are all-inclusive: labor, loading from anywhere on the property, dump fees and cleanup of the work area. The only extra is the local government recycling fee on computers and TVs, which is passed through.
| Load size | About the same as | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum charge | the smallest jobs | $85 |
| 1/8 load | half a pickup load | $150 |
| 1/4 load | one pickup load | $250 |
| 1/3 load | one and a third pickup loads | $300 |
| 1/2 load | two pickup loads | $350 |
| 2/3 load | a little over two and a half pickup loads | $400 |
| 3/4 load | three pickup loads | $450 |
| Full load | four pickup loads | $550 |
If the tenant left a few bags and one chair, then send us a photo for a price near the low end of the table.
If the unit still has beds, a couch and a table, then book our crew, since heavy furniture and stair carries are where turnovers stall.
If the rooms are packed with trash, then call early so we can plan the load around your repair dates.
If a new tenant moves in soon, then ask for same-day service. If you cannot be on site, leave us access and stay reachable by phone.
The city sits on I-76, I-270 and E-470, and we serve landlords across the metro, including Aurora and Denver. For an address outside our area, any added drive charge is stated before you book.
Handling Leftover Paint and Chemicals Found in a Commerce City Unit
Leftover paint and chemicals found in a Commerce City unit need separate handling, because our crew does not take paint, chemicals, solvents, oil or gasoline. Set those containers aside so the crew can clear everything else. For Denver rentals, Denver's Household Hazardous Waste program says hazardous household items should never go in the trash or down drains, and lists an At-Your-Door collection program.
Cleanout Costs a Commerce City Landlord Can List Against the Deposit
A Commerce City landlord who keeps part of a deposit for cleanout costs has to list the exact reasons in writing. Under C.R.S. 38-12-103, a landlord who withholds any part of the deposit must give the tenant a written statement listing the exact reasons and pay the balance. The statute sets a short deadline after the lease ends or the unit is surrendered, which a lease can lengthen only up to a cap. A landlord who misses it loses the right to withhold any of the deposit.
That is why the cleanout paperwork belongs in one file: the dated move-out photos, the list of items left behind, the walk-through notes, our invoice showing the load size and price, and the final photos.
The statute is state law, so the same rules cover a unit in Aurora, Denver or anywhere else in Colorado. If you are unsure whether a specific charge qualifies, ask a Colorado attorney before you send the statement.
Why Hire Junk Master to Clear a Vacated Commerce City Apartment
Hiring Junk Master to clear a vacated Commerce City apartment turns the heaviest step of the turnover into one appointment. Every day a unit sits empty costs you rent.
- The crew does all the work: lifting, carrying from any floor, loading, hauling and disposal.
- One price covers it: load-size pricing from $85, with labor, dump fees and cleanup included.
- Free, on-site estimates, and a photo helps us confirm the price by phone.
- Same-day service available, and you do not need to meet us if we have access and can reach you by phone.
- Licensed and insured, with Solid Waste Hauler Business Licenses for Commerce City and the City of Denver.
- A satisfaction guarantee: if we miss something, we come back.
We have served the area since October 2021 and hold 5.0 stars on Google from more than 250 reviews, where customers mention fair, upfront pricing and a respectful crew. A unit off Brighton Boulevard or East 52nd Avenue, an apartment in Reunion or a rental in Green Valley Ranch gets the same crew and the same price table, paid by card or cash.
The Bottom Line
To clean out an apartment after a tenant moves out, confirm the unit is surrendered, photograph it, clear everything left behind, then repair, paint, deep clean and finish the floors. Follow Colorado's rules on the tenant's belongings and keep your photos and invoice for the deposit statement.
Clearing sets the pace for the whole turnover. Junk Master handles it with all-inclusive load pricing, a crew that does the lifting and same-day service when you need it. Call (720) 999-0466 for a free estimate.