An empty shed is easier to assess and safer to dismantle. Sort the contents first, keep hazardous products separate, and show the structure from the roof to the foundation.
Empty by destination
Make four groups: keep, ordinary removal, household hazardous waste, and items that need separate confirmation. Do not hide loose cans or batteries inside boxes of ordinary debris.
Seattle’s hazardous-waste program accepts many pool and spa supplies, pesticides, oil-based paint, and household chemicals. Check the current accepted-items list before traveling.
Check every connection
Look for electrical service, exterior lights, water lines, irrigation, anchors, and shelving fastened through the walls. Have active utilities disconnected by the appropriate qualified person.
Photograph the panel or line only from a safe position. Do not open electrical equipment or test an unknown circuit as part of cleanup.
Photograph six useful views
Capture the front, back, both sides, roof, and foundation. Add one wide photo showing the full route to the street. Include a tape measure at the narrowest gate when scale is hard to judge.
Mention soft floors, leaning walls, rot, or roof damage. Those details change where workers can stand and how panels can be controlled.
Decide what happens at ground level
State whether the scope stops after the structure is removed or also includes skids, anchors, pavers, or a slab. Concrete is dense and should never be assumed to be part of ordinary shed debris.
Leave replacement landscaping and construction to a separate plan unless they are explicitly included.
Next step
Use the service page to review scope and the estimate checklist to organize photos, dimensions, and access details.