Garbage Removal companies
A reputable and reliable junk removal company should be a full-service organization that can handle a single item such as a couch or refrigerator or the removal of an entire property or estate. Companies can range from a guy with a truck to a franchised behemoth, and are not all created equal.
The following seven items can help in your decision making process when it’s time to hire a junk removal service.
1. Quick removal.
The junk removal industry considers the amount of time from customer contact to actual removal as one of the yard sticks of a good service provider. This is a service business and usually by the time a customer picks up the phone, the pile of debris is ready to go. The good ones can coordinate a pick-up with 24 to 48 hours of your call.
2. Every item goes.
A good service provider will not turn away from any type of junk. They are responsive to customer requirements and will work with you to remove and dispose of your junk properly — in whatever forms, shapes or sizes they come.
If you ask what they take, the answer should be something like, “It’s easier to tell you what we don’t take.” Things on the “don’t take” list should be hazardous materials such bleach, oil and fertilizer.
3. Adequate resources.
The junk removal service company should have the necessary tools, equipment and vehicles for the job. Removal and disposal relies on such resources to actually get the job done.
Can they do any size of job, from removing an old couch to an entire house or multiple locations? They need to have the contacts to be able to drop a dumpster for the larger jobs or be nimble enough to get through the small city streets.
4. Certifiable skills.
A good junk removal company has trained and experienced crew to capably handle the customer’s removal needs and provide quality work. Training a crew starts with a commitment to customer service and continues with how to carefully remove the items and not make more of a mess.
5. Competitive price.
The pricing format should be simple for the customer to understand. It is based on volume or the amount of space filled up in the truck. Some companies’ price is based on the hour and weight of the debris. This is confusing and open-ended for the consumer.
6. Proper disposal.
The company needs to have an established system of junk disposal. They should dispose hazardous and non-hazardous junk in a responsible manner, with a mind for environmental protection.
They should also have relationships with recycling centers and other facilities to ensure the reuse and recycle of the junk removed. At a minimum, over half of the junk removed should able to be diverted from a landfill. The company should be able to tell you what happens to all your stuff.
7. Clean-up.
A good, professional junk remover will cleanup and sweep the areas that the junk is removed from and leave the space ready for the customer to reuse.
About this Angie’s List Expert: Lu Annatone is the president of The Junk Removers, Inc., providing junk removal services in Boston. Starting in 2006, The Junk Removers specialize in the removal of junk and debris, appliance recycling, estate and property clean outs, construction removal and furniture disposal.
