Month: October 2016

The Gold Standards of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company are often viewed as the pinnacle of customer service, throughout many industries. They include:

• Warm and sincere greeting and fond farewell
• Response to the expressed and unexpressed wishes and needs
• Memorable and personal experiences
• Immediate resolution of customer problems
• Continual quest to improve the experience
• An environment of teamwork
• Opportunities to grow and learn
• Professional appearance, language and behavior
• Principles of trust, honesty, respect, integrity and commitment
• Embracing diversity

123JUNK is Redefining the Junk Removal Industry Standards

From the inception of 123JUNK, we decided that were going to be the very best in our industry. We’ve researched the standards of companies like the Ritz-Carlton, Disney, The Royal Caribbean and other renowned customer-centric service organizations. What we’ve learned from them has helped influence our own values, goals and mission.

Hauling junk is definitely a blue-collar business, but who says it has to operate at less than Gold Standards? We’re out to redefine our industry and set the standards for everyone else to follow. This translates into a superior experience for 123JUNK customers who can expect nothing else but top-notch customer service, from the first conversation to the final pickup. And it is why our company is growing so quickly. The word is spreading!

Put Our Standards to the Test

If you don’t believe us, try us for yourself. We’ll be glad to haul away your no-longer-used items like furniture or refrigerators, office furniture or yard debris, leaving you with a cleaner space and a satisfied client experience. If you’re located in Northern Virginia, Maryland or Washington DC, call us today to find out why were more than just a Junk Removal Service. 

With reality television shows like “Hoarders” and “Hoarding: Buried Alive,” people are becoming aware of not only the existence of hoarders, but the process of clearing out their overstuffed homes. The shows are helpful because they bring to light the fact that hoarding is a serious risk to health and property.

Even though it may seem as if you can simply go into the home and remove the clutter, it is not that easy. This is a problem that goes far beyond the label of “Pack Rat;” the problem generally stems from what is known as a “hoarding disorder.”

Defined by the Mayo Clinic, hoarding disorder is a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them, regardless of their actual value. A person with this disorder experiences distress at the thought of getting rid of the items. It may be a disorder on its own, or can be combined with other disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), or depression.

When clearing out a hoarding situation, empathy and compassion are required. Sometimes, a professional counselor is involved, or family members step in to help. At other times, the home must be cleared to avoid legal actions or eviction. We have worked with city and county officials in this capacity as well.

Most items hoarded have little or no monetary value and include excessive clutter, books, food, newspapers, craft items, homewares, trash, files and papers, or even animals. It accumulates until is no longer possible to live in the home or use it in a normal capacity.

123JUNK Treats Hoarders with the Dignity They Deserve

The team at 123JUNK is trained to work with hoarding situations and will provide courteous and considerate service to avoid any shame or embarrassment. You and your loved ones will be treated with dignity as we work together to remedy the problem. We can also assist by providing the names of professional organizers we have worked with.

If you need help or know of someone who may be at risk in their home in Northern Virginia, Washington D.C. or Maryland, call 123JUNK. We will sort the treasures from the junk, recycle them back into the community through our charity partners, and dispose of the rest.

Since we started in 2008, one of the questions that seems to be asked on a weekly basis is, “What makes you guys different?”  I then proceed to deliver a well-rehearsed speech that lists the differentiators which I believe give us a competitive advantage. It wasn’t until recently, however, that I remembered what is perhaps the single most important factor in our success. What is it?

WE MAKE TONS OF MISTAKES!!!! We are a mistake making machine. We covet the opportunities that mistakes provide for us. Why would I admit that and why would I commit it to text to be published on our website’s blog?

Here’s why. The consequences of making a mistake are often harsh and difficult. They create a mental scar that isn’t easily forgotten. Sometimes, they provide lessons that become entrenched in your subconsious in such a way that you won’t repeat it in the future, even if you’re not fully aware of the reason why. But usually, the lessons learned from a mistake provide a “why” behind the rules and processes that govern your business.

In my opinion, the strongest businesses are the ones that have had the experience of doing things wrong first. When we started, we were stubborn. There were companies that existed in our space that had a track record of success. Rather than emulate them, we put our blinders on. We tried to do everything our own way. We failed a lot and we grew slower as a result. But hard lesssons are the ones that shape a business. I genuinely belive that we would not be as bull-headed about our values and processes today if not for the path we chose. 

I’ll leave you with a quote a heard at a business conference:

How do you realize success? 

Make good decisons.

How do you make good decisions?

Through experience.

How do you gain experience?

From bad decisions.