Congratulations – after years of saving money, you’re finally able to treat yourself to that basement renovation project you’ve always wanted to undertake. From a custom-designed game room to your own private workout center, your new basement will soon become the envy of all your friends and neighbors. There’s just one problem: Your basement is loaded with junk, and until you get rid of your unwanted belongings, your renovation project can’t get off the ground.
If this type of situation reminds you of your own home, then now is as good a time as any to tackle the problem of having too much junk. Rather than suffer amidst the stacks and piles of useless items in your home, why not contact a junk removal company to come by and rid you of it once and for all?
Of course, if you’ve never hired a junk removal company before, then you may be uncertain as to what to expect. Stephen Shropshier is the operations manager at Haul That Matters, a junk removal company in Columbia, South Carolina, and according to him, anyone who’s unfamiliar with the junk removal process should ask the following questions before hiring a company to get rid of his junk:
Exactly which types of items will you take?
Whether your house is loaded with unwanted furniture or random cardboard boxes whose contents are a mystery to you, you should make sure that the items you want gone are ones that your junk removal company is willing and able to take. According to Shropshier, pretty much every junk removal company has a policy stating that it will not transport items that are flammable; so if you’re looking to have that propane tank removed from your property, then you may need to come up with a different solution. For all non-combustible items, Shropshier’s philosophy is that as long as they will fit in his trailer, he’ll be happy to haul them away.
How much will it cost to get rid of my junk?
Although junk removal services are reasonably affordable, it’s natural for you to want to know how much money you should expect to spend on the process. According to Shropshier, the cost of removing your junk will mostly depend on exactly how much you have. Typically, Shropshier charges by the load, but he will also offer discounts for multiple loads. To get a good sense of what you’ll have to spend on junk removal, call up a local company and ask for an estimate.
How should I prepare for junk removal?
In order to ensure that the junk removal process goes smoothly, it’s a good idea to ask questions about what you’ll need to do to prepare. Shropshier’s customers are usually pleasantly surprised to learn that they aren’t required to do very much when it comes to gearing up for junk removal. However, your specific instructions for preparation will depend on your situation and the items you’re looking to eliminate from your property.
What happens if you damage my home during the job?
The typical junk removal job tends to involve hauling away items that are heavy, cumbersome, or a combination of both. While a good junk removal company will always do its best to protect your property throughout the process, from time to time, accidents do happen. For this reason, it’s a good idea to ask your junk removal company if it has the proper licenses and insurance in place. As long as your junk removal company has insurance, you won’t have to worry about covering the cost of property damage in the event of an unexpected mishap. Of course, this isn’t the only reason to ask your junk removal company if it carries insurance. If a company employee ends up getting injured on your property over the course of a job, then you could end up being held financially liable in the event that the company isn’t properly insured. Before you agree to any type of service, make certain that your company has insurance, and confirm that it actually covers these types of scenarios.
What if I want to donate some of my unwanted belongings to charity?
Just because certain items in your household are of no use to you doesn’t mean that those who are less fortunate won’t appreciate them. If some of the belongings you’re looking to get rid of are in reasonably decent shape, then it never hurts to ask your junk removal company about the possibility of facilitating a donation. A good junk removal company will usually be happy to accommodate this type of request.
Now that you know what to ask before hiring a junk removal company, it’s time to stop procrastinating. Make the call, and bring yourself one step closer to a junk-free home.
