Updated September 2, 2021
Hiring a junk removal service is helpful for estate cleanouts, tenant cleanouts, spring cleaning, appliance removal, furniture removal, yard debris removal, and so many other projects.
If you're trying to decide if hiring a junk removal service is right for you, our article will provide tips and alternatives so that your project goes as smoothly as possible.
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Junk Removal Tips
Employing junk removal services is a fairly simple and straightforward process.
With that being said, keeping these tips in mind will help ensure you're getting the best, most affordable services in your area.
Recycle Your Items
In many parts of the country, it is cheaper to dump items at a recycling center than it is to dump items at a landfill, usually due to local "green" initiatives.
These cheaper disposal fees are oftentimes passed onto you when hiring a junk removal company.
Donate Your Items
In circumstances where you are having gently used household items or clothing that can be donated to a local donation center, like Goodwill or The Salvation Army, your removal fees may cost you even less.
Some junk removal companies will even provide you with tax deduction paperwork provided by the donation center on your behalf, saving you even more money come tax season.
Set Your Items At the Road
If you prefer to not have workers in your home to remove your items, setting out your unwanted items to the road can not only make your junk removal service contactless, but it could save you money, too.
Junk removal pricing depends on a number of factors, one of them being labor time.
Being able to quickly pull up to your driveway and load all of your unwanted items at once rather than take several trips in and out of your home can usually be beneficial when negotiating the price of your particular junk removal job.
Read more:
- Junk Removal 101: A Guide to Junk Removal Services
- Questions to Ask Junk Removal Companies Before Hiring
- Signs of Quality Junk Removal Services
Wait Until the Slow Season
There is always a need for junk removal services year-round, but the warmer months—when more people are tackling household cleaning, renovation, and yard work projects—tend to be the busiest times for hiring junk removal services.
If your project isn't time-sensitive, waiting until the colder winter months may be a strategy for getting a cheaper price, depending on your location.
Shop Around For Pricing and Availability
The most effective way to get the best price for your project is to get multiple junk removal quotes from providers in your area.
We recommend getting at least three different quotes to ensure that you're not only getting the best price but the best customer service as well.
It's important when calling around for quotes to be as detailed as possible so that the companies you speak with can provide you with the most accurate estimate possible.
Hometown's website makes it quick and easy to find reputable junk removal companies near you.
You can request free quotes from as many junk removal providers as you like until you find the perfect fit for you and your project.
Check Online Reviews
Checking out a company's reviews online can help you when debating which service to go with.
Sometimes going with the cheapest service you can find comes with a different cost, like dealing with unprofessionalism or the company being unreliable.
Make sure to do as much research on each company you consider before making a final decision.
The more reviews you can find, the more reliable those reviews tend to be.
Schedule Your Pickup For One Trip
If you have an ongoing, large project, like an estate or foreclosure cleanout, wait until you've gone through everything and know exactly what you need removed before hiring removal services.
If you hire a junk removal company to come clean out a garage only to realize you need the shed or basement cleaned out weeks later, you might be spending more by spacing out your removal projects and requiring multiple trips.
Spend time during the planning process to make sure that you're utilizing your time and resources as efficiently as possible before moving forward.
Learn more:
- Junk Removal Minimum Fees
- Hiring a Junk Removal Service for Tenant Cleanups
- What Junk Removal Companies Will and Won't Take
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Junk Removal Alternatives
If hiring a junk removal service is out of your budget, there are other ways to get rid of your unwanted items.
Rent a Dumpster
Dumpsters are great for large clean-up or construction projects and can be a more cost-effective way to get rid of bulk amounts of trash.
If you have the physical capacity to do the heavy lifting yourself, having a temporary roll-off container placed in your driveway during the duration of your project will allow you to get rid of more material for your money.
Hometown makes it easy to locate dumpster rental companies in your area that provide free quotes.
You can read real, verified reviews and request estimates from as many companies as you'd like.
Schedule Bulk Trash Pickup
Depending on where you live, your local municipal trash service may offer bulk trash pickups.
Areas that offer bulk trash pickup typically require you to schedule these services ahead of time while other areas only offer it on select dates throughout the year.
Contact your local waste service to find out if this service is available in your area.
Haul Items to the Landfill Yourself
Depending on how much waste you have and how far you live from a landfill, hauling junk to the local dump yourself might be cheaper than hiring a junk removal company or renting a dumpster.
It's important to consider gas prices and your local tipping fees when deciding whether or not hauling your own garbage is an efficient solution or not.
If you live 30 minutes from the nearest dump and your accumulated junk will require you to make multiple trips, the price you end up paying to do all the work yourself might not be worth it.
Contact your local landfill for more information on their tipping fees.
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