Hiring a skip seems like the obvious option for a clearance job – but it’s not always the right one. Here’s an honest comparison to help you decide.
If you’re clearing out a house, garage or office in Leeds, you’ve probably considered two options: hire a skip, or book a waste clearance van. Both get the job done, but they suit different situations – and understanding the difference can save you time, money and a fair bit of hassle.
When a skip makes sense
Let’s be upfront: skips are the right call for some jobs. If you’re doing a renovation and generating large volumes of heavy rubble, concrete or construction waste over several days or weeks, a skip parked outside makes a lot of sense. You can fill it at your own pace and the skip company collects when you’re done.
For that kind of job, we’d point you towards a reputable skip hire company like Jeff Skinner Skip Hire Ltd in Leeds rather than try to fit the wrong service to your needs.
When a clearance van is the better option
For most household, office and garage clearances though, a van is the more practical choice – and here’s why.
No parking permission needed. Placing a skip on a public road requires a permit from the council, which costs money and takes time to arrange. A clearance van parks up, loads up and leaves – no paperwork, no waiting.
We do the lifting. With a skip, you’re doing all the carrying yourself. With Yorkshire Van Man, our team handles everything from the moment we arrive – up the stairs, through the corridors, and into the van. If you’ve got a back problem or you’re clearing a property on behalf of someone else, this alone makes the decision straightforward.
More space than you’d think. Our Luton vans hold up to 20 cubic metres of waste – that’s nearly double the capacity of a standard skip. For most household clearances, we can get everything in a single visit.
Faster from start to finish. Skip hire involves delivery, filling over several days, and collection. A clearance van turns up, gets loaded and is gone – often within a couple of hours. If you’re working to a deadline, like an end-of-tenancy date or a probate clearance, speed matters.
Responsible disposal included. As licensed waste carriers, we sort and dispose of everything we collect at a licensed recycling facility. You don’t have to think about where it goes – that’s our job. Waste Carriers Licence No. CBDU327322.
The cost question
Skip hire can look cheaper at first glance, but the total cost adds up quickly – permit fees, potential overfill charges, and the cost of your own time loading it. A clearance van quotes you a price for the whole job, including labour and disposal. For most clearances, when you factor everything in, the difference is smaller than people expect.
Not sure which is right for your job?
Give us a call and describe what you’ve got. We’ll tell you honestly whether a clearance van is the right fit – and if a skip is actually the better option for your situation, we’ll say so.
Based in Leeds and covering the whole of Yorkshire – get in touch with Yorkshire Van Man for a no-obligation waste clearance quote.