Most mowers have a mulching capability if you remove the bag and put the little cover on the side. I will rake about 1/2 of the leaves and mulch the rest. Too many mulched leaves will hurt the grass.
People are slobs. So all those previous people let their little kids play out in a filthy yard with old rusty tools and toys buried in like 10 inches of moldy wet leaves. Disgusting.
Yep slobs that's my old lady's sister n brother n law summed up lol. I know it's mean to say lol but it true. They was here supposed to help her dad who is in poor health but just trashed the house inside n out.