What to Do Before the Demo Crew Shows Up — A Homeowner's Checklist
You've hired a demolition contractor. The excavator is scheduled for Thursday. And now you're realizing you have no idea what you're supposed to do between now and then.
The good news is that your to-do list is shorter than you think. The demo crew handles most of the heavy lifting — that's literally what you hired them for. But there are a handful of things that are your responsibility to coordinate before equipment shows up, and getting them done in the right order saves everyone time and prevents the kind of last-minute scrambles that delay jobs and occasionally cost money.
Here's the complete checklist.
One — Confirm Utility Disconnections
This is the single most important pre-demolition task and the one that most often causes delays. Every utility connection to the structure being demolished needs to be disconnected and confirmed before the excavator makes contact with the building.
Electric service needs to be disconnected and the meter pulled by the utility provider — Arkansas Electric Cooperative, Entergy Arkansas, or whichever utility serves your property. This is not something you can disconnect yourself by flipping the breaker. The service needs to be physically disconnected at the meter base by the utility company. Call them, explain you're demolishing the structure, and schedule the disconnection. This can take a few days to a week depending on the utility's schedule.
Gas service, if present, needs to be disconnected and capped by the gas company. Same process — call, schedule, confirm.
Water and sewer connections need to be properly capped or abandoned. Your local municipality or utility district handles this and requirements vary. In most NWA cities, the water service needs to be cut and capped at the main rather than just at the meter. Your demolition contractor can often advise on the specific requirement for your jurisdiction.
If Outbound Demo is handling your project, we verify utility disconnection status before mobilizing equipment. But confirming this on your end in advance — and having documentation if required for the permit — moves the timeline forward.
Two — Remove Anything You're Keeping
Walk through the structure and remove every item you want to keep before the demo crew arrives. This sounds obvious, but it's surprising how often something gets left behind. The old door hardware you were going to reuse. The copper plumbing that has salvage value. The antique light fixtures from the 1940s farmhouse that are irreplaceable.
Once the excavator starts, it doesn't stop to let you run in and grab one more thing. The structure comes down, the material mixes together, and at that point it's all debris. Whatever you want to salvage needs to be out before day one.
Three — Document Everything for Insurance
If there's any existing insurance on the structure, document the condition thoroughly before demolition begins. Photos and video of the structure from all angles, the interior if accessible, the foundation, and any relevant site conditions. This isn't usually required but it protects you if any insurance question arises after the fact.
If you're planning to rebuild on the lot, check with your insurance agent about whether you need to notify them of the demolition and what coverage implications exist during the period when the structure is gone and the new build isn't yet insured.
Four — Talk to Your Neighbors
You're not legally required to notify neighbors about a demolition in most NWA jurisdictions, but it's the right thing to do and it prevents unpleasant surprises. Demolition generates noise, dust, and truck traffic. A heads-up the week before — especially to immediately adjacent neighbors — gives them the chance to plan around it and demonstrates the kind of consideration that keeps relationships intact.
If the structure being demolished is close to a property line, a quick conversation about what to expect and roughly how long the work will take is worth having.
Five — Clear Vehicle and Equipment Access
The route from the street to the structure needs to be clear for an excavator and the roll-off trucks that will be hauling debris. Vehicles parked in the driveway, equipment or materials staged in the path, gates that need codes or keys to open — all of it needs to be addressed before the crew arrives.
If there are trees, landscaping, or fencing that affects equipment access, discuss this with your demo contractor in advance. Access constraints affect how the job is sequenced and sometimes what equipment gets used. Surprises on the day of mobilization cost time and occasionally cost money.
Six — Secure Pets and Plan for the Day
This one sounds minor but matters. Demolition is loud, disruptive, and involves heavy machinery moving in and out of your property. If you have dogs or other outdoor pets, they need to be secured inside or off-property for the duration of the work. The noise and activity are stressful for animals and the access requirements create safety concerns.
If you're going to be on-site during demolition, stay well clear of the work area. The operating radius of an excavator is not a safe space for spectators, regardless of how interesting it looks.
The One Thing That Trips Up Most Homeowners
Utility disconnection timing. Every other item on this list can be handled in a day or two with minimal coordination. Utility disconnection requires scheduling with the utility company, which operates on their own timeline. In NWA markets right now, that can mean a week or more depending on the utility and their current workload.
If you've scheduled demolition for two weeks from now and you haven't called the utility company yet — call today. The permit for your demolition may require documentation of disconnection before it's issued, which means the permit timeline is also dependent on utility scheduling. Getting this started immediately is the most important thing you can do after signing the demolition contract.
Outbound Demo handles permitting and can advise on utility coordination requirements specific to your jurisdiction. If you're working with us, we'll walk you through the specific sequence for your project.
Call or text 479-335-5579 or visit CallOutbound.com.
