The short answer
Two-family up-and-down houses make up 14.5% of the City of Cleveland's homes, and more than one in five in Old Brooklyn, Clark–Fulton and Slavic Village. Moving out of the upper unit means narrow stairs, a shared entrance and a neighbor below. City bulk week takes only three items, in the first full week of the month. A JunkRabbit pickup has no stairs fee: sofa $126, queen set $143, dresser $126, or a 1/2 truck for most of a furnished unit at $431.
What makes an upper unit hard
Cleveland doubles were built for families, not for sectionals.
- Enclosed stairs. The upper unit's stairs are often walled in on both sides, with a landing and a turn. A sofa has to tip on end to make it.
- Rear or side entrances. Many upper units come in through a back door or a side door off the driveway, which means a long carry to the street.
- Shared space. The stairwell, the side door and sometimes the basement are shared with the downstairs household.
- Attic rooms. Some upper units include a finished attic with even steeper stairs.
- Narrow driveways. Often shared, sometimes with a detached garage at the back.
Where the doubles are
Doubles appear all over the older city and the inner ring. The shares are highest in:
- Slavic Village (44105): 23.6% of homes in two-unit buildings, the highest in the area.
- Old Brooklyn and Clark–Fulton (44109): 21.4%.
- Detroit–Shoreway (44102): 19.1%.
- Buckeye–Shaker (44120): 17.8%.
- Lakewood (44107): 16.8%.
If you rent in one of these areas, there is a good chance you are moving out of a double.
Prices for a typical upper unit
| Item | Flat price |
|---|---|
| Sofa / Couch | $126 |
| Loveseat | $119 |
| Mattress + Box Spring Set | $143 |
| Bed Frame (Standard / Metal) | $68 |
| Dresser (Standard) | $126 |
| Dining Table (2-4 Seat) | $103 |
| Dining Chair | $45 |
| Window AC Unit (Small) | $87 |
| Moving Box | $31 |
A typical leave-behind list:
- Sofa + queen set + frame: $126 + $143 + $68 = $337.
- Small dining set of table and two chairs: $103 + $45 + $45 = $193.
- Sofa + dresser + window AC: $126 + $126 + $87 = $339.
For most of a furnished unit, a truck tier is simpler: 3/8 truck $338, 1/2 truck $431, 3/4 truck $587.
Three upper-unit move-outs, priced
Clark–Fulton, a one-bedroom upstairs
The tenant is taking clothes, the TV and the kitchen boxes. Left behind: a sofa, a queen set, a metal frame, a dresser and two window AC units. $126 + $143 + $68 + $126 + $87 + $87 = $637. That's above a 3/4 truck at $587, and those pieces don't fill one, so a load like this usually prices better as a tier. The photos decide it.
Detroit–Shoreway, a light leave-behind
A loveseat and a small dining set of table and two chairs, carried down the side stair: $119 + $103 + $45 + $45 = $312.
Slavic Village, upper unit with a finished attic
Two bedrooms, a living room and an attic room full of boxes. Typically a 3/4 truck at $587; if the attic is packed to the eaves, a full truck at $732.
Measure before moving day
- Measure the stair width at its narrowest point, usually the landing or the bottom door.
- Measure the sofa's depth and height, not just its length. A sofa goes down an enclosed stair on end, so depth is what has to clear the turn.
- Check the ceiling at the landing. Old doubles often have a low header right where the stair turns.
- Take the legs off anything that has screw-in legs. It buys an inch or two.
- Send the numbers with your photos. If a piece truly won't make the turn, the oversize, disassembly or cut-apart sofa price of $185 is shown before you book, not on the day.
Why bulk week rarely works for this
The City collects bulk in the first full week of each month, up to three items per home. A furnished upper unit holds far more than three bulky pieces, and your lease probably does not end in the first full week. If you are unsure how the count applies to a two-unit house, ask the City before you set anything out.
Mattresses and cloth furniture also have to be wrapped in plastic before they go out, and wrapping a sofa at the top of an enclosed stair is close to impossible.
In Lakewood, upholstered items must be wrapped and sealed, and improper set-outs carry a minimum $100 fee.
Being a good neighbor on moving day
- Tell the downstairs household when the crew is coming and roughly how long it will take.
- Keep the shared stairwell and side door clear of their things and yours.
- Ask about the driveway so a car is not blocking the path.
- Bag any mattress with bed bugs in the room before it goes down a shared stair, and tell us when you book.
Booking it
Take photos of what is going and one of the stairs. Upload them to the instant quote, or pick items from the list. Pick a 2-hour window, any day 8am to midnight; book by 4 PM for same-day. The crew carries everything down, with no stairs fee. In winter, salt the back steps before the window. From mid-November to the lake freeze-up, lake-effect snow can bury the narrow side walk between houses, so clear it the night before.
Landlords clearing upper units between tenants: see landlord turnover cleanouts.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an extra charge for the upstairs of a double?
No. There is no stairs fee on any floor.
What if the sofa won't fit down the stairs?
An oversize sofa that needs disassembly or cutting apart is $185, shown before you book.
Do both units share the bulk week allowance?
City bulk collection is up to three items per home. Check with the City how that applies to your two-unit address.
How much is clearing most of a furnished upper unit?
Often a 1/2 truck at $431, or a 3/4 truck at $587 for a fuller unit.
Can you come on my move-out day?
Yes, when available. Same-day pickup is available when you book by 4 PM.
Do I need to be home for the pickup?
Someone needs to let the crew in and show what's going. That can be you, the landlord, or the downstairs neighbor if you've arranged it with them.