Category: Appliance Removal

8-common-mistakes-hiring-junk-removal-service

8 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Junk Removal Service in Maryland, Northern Virginia or Washington DC

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

When it comes to decluttering your Maryland, Northern Virginia or Washington DC home or disposing of unwanted items a professional junk removal service can be a smart and convenient choice. However, not all junk removal companies are created equal, and there are common mistakes home and business owners often make when hiring a junk removal service. Here are the most common ones.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Failure to Research

Don’t pick the first company you come across. Take time to investigate the reputation, credentials, commitment and reviews of potential providers. A reputable company should have a history of satisfied customers and proper licensing and insurance.

Ignoring Recycling Practices

Responsible waste disposal is essential in today’s environmentally-conscious world. Some junk removal companies just dump everything into the landfill. A reputable service will prioritize recycling and donation efforts to minimize environmental impact.

Not Getting an On-Site Estimate

Providing an accurate estimate over the phone can be challenging, as the volume and type of junk can vary greatly. A reputable junk removal company will be willing to send a representative to assess your junk removal needs and provide a fair and transparent quote based on what they see.

Choosing Solely on Price

While cost is an important factor, it should not be the sole determinant. The cheapest option may lead to subpar service or hidden fees.

Not Asking About Liability Insurance

Accidents can happen during junk removal, such as property damage or worker injuries. To avoid potential legal issues and expenses, ensure your junk removal choice carries liability insurance.

  • 123JUNK carries full general liability, workers compensation and auto coverage insurances.

Ignoring Customer Service

Good customer service is a strong indicator of a reliable junk removal company. Don’t disregard clear communication, punctuality and professionalism and a hassle-free experience.

  • Read our blog post on how 123JUNK develops its team.

Overlooking Safety Measures

Safety should always be a priority—both for you and the junk removal team. Ensure the company follows safety protocols and uses protective gear and appropriate equipment.

  • All 123JUNK team members are thoroughly trained and monitored for safety practices.

Not Checking for Proper Licensing

Different areas may have specific regulations and licensing requirements for junk removal services. Confirm your choice has the necessary licenses and permits to operate in your area.

  • 123JUNK is fully licensed to work in Northern Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland. See our service areas.

What Can Happen if You Hire the Wrong Junk Removal Service?

The common mistakes of hiring the wrong junk removal service can lead to a range of undesirable consequences, causing frustration, financial loss and even legal issues. Some of the problems you may incur include:

  • Inadequate or subpar service that can manifest in delays, incomplete removals or a lack of professionalism. You may end up having to hire another service to complete the job, at added time and expense.
  • Hidden fees and costs after a low initial quote to attract customers.
  • Irresponsible disposal practices and disregard of recycling or donation opportunities. This not only harms the environment, it can lead to legal consequences if local waste disposal regulations are violated.
  • Property damage from inexperienced or careless junk removal crews that can include wall scratches, floor dents, or even more significant damage to your home or landscaping. Without their having proper insurance coverage, you may be left to cover repair costs.
  • Safety concerns can pose a risk to you and the junk removal crew.
  • Without the company’s having the necessary permits to operate in your area, or liability insurance, you may be held responsible for any accidents or damages that occur during the junk removal process. This can lead to costly legal battles and liabilities.
  • Poor customer service and a lack of professionalism can make the entire experience frustrating and stressful. Difficult communication, missed appointments and an unresponsive staff can leave you feeling dissatisfied and inconveniences.
  • Incomplete or unsafe removal, especially of hazardous, large or bulky items. This can result in items being left behind or a dangerous situation during the removal process.

Hiring the wrong junk removal service can lead to a host of problems. That’s why it’s important to know the mistakes to avoid. By steering clear of these common missteps, you can ensure you make the right choice when addressing your clutter and waste removal needs.

For Northern Virginia, Maryland or Washington DC Junk Removal, Contact 123JUNK

For the right junk removal company in Maryland, Northern Virginia or the Washington DC metropolitan area, contact 123JUNK at 866-702-9756.

cluttered-kitchen-to-clutter-free

The Health Benefits of a Clutter-Free Home: A Junk Removal Expert’s Insights

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

A clutter-free home is not just visually appealing, it has a significant impact on the overall well-being of your family. The state of our living areas can influence our mental and physical health in various ways, which we’ll look at in this post. And we’ll explore the health benefits of a clutter-free home, with expert tips on how to manage clutter.

Reduced Stress and Anxiety

Did you know that a cluttered living space can contribute to feelings of stress and anxiety? Studies show shown that an untidy home can lead to heightened cortisol levels, a hormone associated with stress. Living in a clutter-free environment can help alleviate these feelings and create a sense of calmness and relaxation.

Expert tip: By decluttering your home, you remove unnecessary visual distractions and create a more organized living space. This allows your mind to focus better and promotes a sense of tranquility.

Improved Mental Clarity

A cluttered home can overwhelm our senses and create mental clutter. When our physical space is disorganized, it can be challenging to concentrate on tasks and maintain mental clarity, while a clutter-free environment fosters a sense of order and helps our minds stay focused and sharp. By decluttering and organizing your living space, you can create an environment that supports mental clarity and productivity.

Expert tip: Start with small steps to avoid becoming overwhelmed, such as sorting and organizing one area at a time.

Enhanced Physical Health

A clutter-free home will positively impact your physical health. A messy living space can harbor dust, allergens, and even pests, which can lead to respiratory issues and allergies. By removing clutter, you create a cleaner and healthier living environment for yourself and your family.

Expert tip: Regularly clear out unnecessary items that accumulate over time, like old furniture, broken appliances, and other items that may serve as breeding grounds for dust mites and allergens. Keeping your living space clean and clutter-free can reduce the risk of allergies and respiratory problems.

Increased Safety

A cluttered home poses safety hazards that can lead to accidents and injuries. Tripping over objects, falling due to cluttered walkways, or having heavy items stacked precariously can all result in harm.

Expert tip: Dispose of broken or damaged items promptly, and organize and store items in a way that minimizes the risk of accidents. By taking proactive measures to maintain a clutter-free home, you can create a safer living space for yourself and your loved ones.

Related: The 10 Commandments of a Clutter-Free Life

123JUNK: Expert Junk Removal in Northern VA, Washington DC and Maryland

123JUNK is your reliable partner in creating a healthy home environment. Their team of professionals understands the importance of a clean and organized home, and are equipped with the knowledge and resources to help you get clutter-free.

We prioritize the health and safety of our clients, employees and the environment, and train our team members in the proper way to lift, carry and load your unwanted items without injury to themselves or your property. We then use our 1-2-3 process of donate-recycle-dispose to sort items that can be delivered to one of our charity partners or taken to the appropriate recycling centers.

Don’t let clutter hold you back from your best and healthy life. With 123JUNK, you can say goodbye to the hassle of decluttering and just enjoy your newly clutter-free home with reduced stress, improved mental clarity and increased safety.

To schedule your junk removal, contact us at 1-800-364-5778 or use our convenient contact form.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

old-appliances

Why Can’t You Throw Out an Old Appliance?

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

When we’re busy, it’s easy to overlook the environmental consequences of our everyday actions, and we often discard items without considering their long-term impact. One such commonly-overlooked area is the disposal of old appliances. When your trusty refrigerator, washer or microwave has finally failed, did you know that you can’t just drop it off at the landfill? So why can’t you throw out an old appliance? Let’s explore the answer and look at some sustainable alternatives for their disposal.

3 Reasons You Can’t Just Throw Out an Old Appliance

  1. Environmental impact. Many appliances contain materials that can be harmful to the environment. Components such as batteries, refrigerants, mercury switches or electronic circuit boards can have hazardous substances that, if they end up in the landfill, can contaminate the soil, water and air.
  2. Resource conservation. Appliances often contain valuable resources like metals, plastics and electronic components that can be recycled and reused. With proper disposal, these material can be extracted and utilized in the manufacturing of new products. This helps reduce the demand for raw materials and conserves resources.
  3. Legal requirements. Many states and regions have laws and regulations governing the disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) and contaminants. These legal requirements are in place to prevent improper disposal and to promote responsible recycling practices. Violations can lead to fines or penalties.

What’s in an Appliance or Electronic Device That Can be Harmful?

The components and chemicals within appliances varies between the types of appliances, and with their age. Some of the most common examples of their hazardous or dangerous materials include:

  • Refrigerants such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) or hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) that can lead to ozone depletion if released into the air.
  • Rechargeable or non-rechargeable batteries that can contain lead, cadmium, mercury or lithium.
  • Cathode ray tubes (CRTs), found in older televisions and computer monitors, which have a high lead concentration. Some may also contain arsenic.
  • Printed circuit boards (PCBs) found in computers, printers or smartphones that can contain lead, mercury, cadmium and brominated flame retardants.
  • Capacitators with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) that include cancer-causing properties.
  • Asbestos, found in some heating systems’ insulation or components.
  • Mercury switches found in thermostats or fluorescent lighting.
  • Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a type of plastic often used in electronic cables, wires and casings.

Related: EPA Report on Responsible Appliance Disposal

4 Great Ways to Get Rid of Your Unwanted Appliances

  1. Your municipality may have a recycling program specially designed for appliances. These programs ensure that your appliances are properly dismantled and their components are recycled or disposed of in an environmentally-friendly manner.
  2. Use manufacturer or retail take-back programs. Look for incentives or discounts when purchasing a new appliance if you return your old one for recycling or proper disposal.
  3. If your old appliance still works, consider donating it to one your local charitable organizations that accepts appliances. This way it can be used by someone else.
  4. Hire a junk removal service. An appliance removal service like 123JUNK trains its crew on the correct methods to remove and recycle your old appliances. And they can pick up and transport them to a local charity if you wish to donate them (you’ll get a receipt for tax deduction).

It’s clear we cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the environmental consequences of throwing out an old appliance. Dumping it in a landfill would be not only wasteful, but would pose risks to our ecosystems and health. By taking a responsible approach, every one of us can make a positive impact. After all, the choices we make today will shape the world we live in now and pass on to our future generations.

Schedule Your Appliance Removal with 123JUNK

123JUNK provides junk hauling services to home and business owners throughout Northern Virginia, Maryland or Washington DC.

When you schedule a pickup appointment for your old appliances and electronics, 123JUNK will arrive at your location and safely and efficiently remove them, ensuring minimal disruptions. We’re committed to environmentally-friendly practices with our 1-2-3 Process of Donate-Recycle-Dispose, and work to maximize the reuse of items we collect. For appliances and electronics in good condition, we’ll drop them off with one of our charity partners. Otherwise, we’ll deliver them to the appropriate recycling center.

You’ll enjoy our transparent pricing and our upfront cost estimate that eliminates surprises. And we guarantee you’ll be pleased with our courteous and professional service.

Contact 123JUNK today at 1-800-364-5778 to schedule your appliance removal.

moving-season-moving-boxes

Moving Season is Here: It’s Time to Clean Up and Clean Out!

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

Springtime represents a rebirth, a return all things new. The excitement builds from the burst of color from the first spring flowers to the smell of the fresh spring air through open windows. Spring also represents a seasonal uptick in the real estate market as families look for new homes and give in to their itch for new opportunities. That’s right…moving season is here.

Moving Season: Staging a Home

If you are looking to sell your home and are working with a Realtor, they are likely to recommend staging your home in order to garner a quicker sale at a higher price. This means clearing out clutter and potentially removing furniture in order to create a more spacious-feeling interior.

Realtors also ask you to remove personal items. Potential buyers need to envision themselves living in the home and don’t need to be distracted by your family photos, awards and travel mementos. A clutter-free environment lets them picture their own furnishings and décor in the space.

You’ll likely want to decorate your new home in a new style, so take this time to donate your old furniture and unused household goods to a local charity rather than having to store or move them. When thinking about your new home, you probably picture it neat, clean and clutter free, so instead of packing up the old cutter, get rid of it! Make a clean start this moving season!

moving-season

Moving Season: Downsizing

When the kids have left the nest and you’re left rattling around in a house that’s too big for you, it may be time to think about downsizing. Discard the kids’ swingset, toys and leftover bedroom furniture to make room for your new lifestyle in a smaller home.

When downsizing, you’ll be living in a smaller, more manageable space, and you don’t want to overcrowd it by taking everything from your larger house with you. Look around and see what you no longer use. Take this opportunity to purchase new furniture that would be better-sized for your new home. Take pictures to create a memory book of childhood items, but don’t keep the items themselves.

Spring Cleaning

You know what else happens in springtime? Spring cleaning! Homeowners can’t wait to open the windows and enjoy outside living again, and the renewal of the seasons often sparks the urge to deep clean the house and yard.

During the months when we’re stuck inside, clutter can build up. And after a while, you don’t even notice it. You’ll be removing items from surfaces and shelves anyway to clean under them, so create several bins marked “donate” or “dispose” and as you remove items, get rid of the ones you don’t use any longer. That way it’s a one-step process and it’s done!

Trim branches and bushes and rake yard debris into one or more piles and let your junk removal company haul it off for you. How easy is that!

Garage and Shed Cleanouts

With spring arriving, you’re going to need to access the lawn equipment and tools again, so set aside a day for a garage and shed cleanout in order to make getting to them easier. Dump those rusted tools and mowers that no longer work, and that sporting equipment left over from sports you used to do. Go through boxes that have been stored there for years to see what you can get rid of. That way you’ll have more usable space for your cars, bicycles and what these spaces were intended for.

Moving Season and Spring Cleanouts are Easy with 123JUNK

123JUNK helps Realtors and homeowners throughout the Washington DC metropolitan region with moving season and spring cleanouts using our 1-2-3 Process of Donate-Recycle-Dispose. We’ll deliver items you want to donate, or divide out perfectly-good items, and deliver them to our local charity partners like A Wider Circle, Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, Passion for Community or the Montgomery County Humane Society. If you’d like, we’ll provide you with a receipt for your donation.

We’ll also look for recyclables like electronics or old appliances and deliver those directly to the appropriate recycling station. We’ll then take what’s left over to the area landfill.

Spring is a time for renewal. New living spaces, spring cleaning, and cleanouts give you a fresh outlook for the warm weather to come.

Contact 123JUNK today to schedule your junk hauling or donation appointment.

9 Ways to Fake a Clean House

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

When talking about your home, do you often describe it as “lived in?” You’re comfortable with the overstuffed couch and the everyday clutter, and you don’t consider it dirty. But when unexpected guests arrive, do you find yourself making excuses like, “Oh, this week was so busy, I didn’t have time to pick up,” or “We don’t normally live like this.” Except that you do! If this sounds like you, you may like this post that includes these 9 ways to fake a clean house!

9 Ways to Fake a Clean House

Clear the Entry

The first rooms your guests step into are their first impression of your home. That’s where you should pay the most attention to living clutter-free. If this is a drop zone, place baskets or assign hooks or cubbies where family members can place their items neatly when they come in. Install cabinets or baskets with lids to hide clutter. Take a moment to sweep this area regularly and you won’t be so embarrassed to open the front door!

Have “Formal Rooms”

In Victorian times, the lady of the house would invite guests into her formal rooms, which were always kept up to standards for visitors. If your home has formal rooms, set up comfortable seating and usher your visitors into these areas and keep family areas private. That way it won’t matter if you are messy in your own areas. Always keep the guest bathroom clean as well.

Use Hiding Places

Remember when you were a kid and your mom asked you if you cleaned your room? You always said “Yes,” even though all you did was stuff everything into your closet and hoped she wouldn’t look there. Or you folded just the top layer of clothing in your drawer to give the illusion of neatness. Use these same tricks as an adult and stuff your clutter into drawers, closets and cabinets. (Even under the couch—temporarily.) Once the doors are closed (if they can close), your rooms look tidy and you feel like you have a clean house!

Set Up Zones

There’s a rule in business of “touch it once.” That means when you pick something up, don’t set it down anywhere—deal with it and place it where it is ultimately supposed to go. You can do this in your own house to give the illusion of neatness. Assign zones where items should be placed when you’re done using them. A toybox to hold toys. A basket to stack magazines and books. A rack to hold unread mail. Collections of items look tidier than having them randomly scattered on furniture, the floor and throughout the room.

Related: 20 Ways to Organize With Baskets

Use Cover-Ups

If your couch is covered with animal fur, or your kids have left stains on the chairs with their juice boxes, guests will have hesitation about sitting on them. Cover up these unsightly spots quickly with throws or furniture covers you keep on hand to quickly toss over these pieces of furniture.

Scoop and Run

When a friend calls and asks if they can drop by, grab the laundry basket and scoop everything that’s out of place into it for a really quick pick-up. Stash the basket in your bedroom out of sight. You can always sort through these things later to put them away where they belong.

Toss It

Is your home filled with papers, junk mail, wrappers, old magazines and other clutter? It may be time to get a big trash bag and toss out these extraneous items. There’s no need to collect things that are obviously junk.

Be Conscientious

Because we’re so busy with work, family and outside interests, we often drop and run, without noticing how clutter is building up. After a while, you don’t even see it. It only comes to light when you see it through a guest’s eyes. Set a habit of being conscientious about not cluttering your home and you’ll feel better about living in a clean house and having friends over.

Call 123JUNK

Do you feel overwhelmed by the amount of clutter in your home? Let 123JUNK help. We’ll gladly remove excess or broken furniture and household items, paper, electronics, appliances, tools, toys and yard equipment—pretty much anything you’d like to get rid of.

With our 1-2-3 Process of of Donate-Recycle-Dispose, we’ll cull out anything we think is perfectly good and donate those items to one of our local charity partners who can use them to support a local family in need. For appliances, metals, paper and electronics, we’ll deliver what can be recycled to the local recycling center for safe disposal. Only then do we take the rest to the area landfill for disposal. It’s our part—and your part—of protecting our environment and our local community.

For Junk Removal in Northern VA, Maryland and Washington DC, Call 123JUNK Today

We know you’re busy, so we try to keep our process simple. Call us to speak to a live operator who can explain our process, give you a price, and set up your pickup appointment. Before we arrive, we’ll give you a courtesy call to let you know we’re on our way. And when we get there, show us what you’d like us to remove. We’ll take a moment to lay down protection on your floors and walls, if needed, and get straight to work. In no time, your home will feel tidy and you won’t have to fake a clean house. What a relief!

To learn more or to set your junk removal appointment, contact 123JUNK at 1-800-364-5778.

minimal-waste-junk-removal

Environmentally-Friendly Minimal Waste Junk Removal

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

In the fast-paced environment of the Washington DC metropolitan region, clutter can easily and quickly accumulate in our homes and offices. But getting rid of that clutter shouldn’t have to come at a cost to the environment. By performing environmentally-friendly minimal waste junk removal, 123JUNK helps home and business owners dispose of their unwanted items in a responsible and sustainable manner.

Minimal waste junk removal is a foundational element of our company’s 1-2-3 Process of Donate-Recycle-Dispose. It is our commitment to prioritizing reuse and recycling to minimize the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, thus reducing the negative impact on the environment. Our team of professionals understands the importance of this and looks for ways on every pickup to divide out items that can be repurposed, donated or recycled.

Minimal Waste Junk Removal

We offer convenient and hassle-free junk removal services to leave you with a clutter-free space. Let us remove your furniture, appliances and electronic waste—or whatever you’d like to clear out. To make the process easier, we’ll provide you with upfront flat-fee pricing. You’ll know the cost of our service before the work ever begins.

123JUNK is fully insured, giving you peace of mind when it comes to the safety of your property. We take great care to protect your home and your belongings during the junk removal process. We’ll even sweep clean the area when we’re finished. This level of professionalism and attention to detail sets 123JUNK apart.

Education on the Importance of Minimal Waste

Our commitment to environmentally-friendly minimal waste junk removal doesn’t stop here. We also raise consciousness about the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling, and provide helpful tips through our blog and programs on how to live a more sustainable lifestyle. We believe that even small changes can have a big impact.

Working Towards Zero Waste

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that many communities across the country are even working towards zero waste, a concept that “goes beyond recycling and composting at the end of a product’s life cycle to encompass the entire life cycle of a product, beginning with product design, and envisioning the use and management of materials in ways that preserve value, minimize environmental impacts, and conserve natural resources.”

We’re getting there. Washington DC’s recycling rate stands at about 30% and around 43% is reported in Virginia, while Maryland reports a recycling rate of 45%. Overall, the EPA finds that the current US household recycling rate lies at 32%.

Minimal Waste Junk Removal from 123JUNK in Maryland, Northern Virginia and Washington DC

If you are looking for an environmentally-friendly solution to your junk removal and hauling needs in Washington DC, Maryland or Northern Virginia, look no further than 123JUNK. With our commitment to reducing waste, protecting the environment and providing convenient and professional services, we’re the clear choice for anyone looking to declutter in a responsible and sustainable manner. Contact 123JUNK at 1-800-364-5778 to schedule your pickup appointment today and enjoy a clutter-free and eco-friendly life!

 

America-Recycles-Day-logo

America Recycles Day

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

Annually, America Recycles Day® takes place on or around November 15th, as part of the government’s “Keep America Beautiful” campaign. Their goal? To educate, motivate and make recycling bigger and better.

“America Recycles Day is the only nationally-recognized day dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States,” states the website. It encourages and educates people on how to be more mindful about what they consume, where and how to properly recycle, and to pledge to recycle more on a daily basis.

According to the EPA, the current rate of recycling has increased to 32%, as compared to 7% in the 1960s.

How did America Recycles Day Begin?

In 1994, two employees of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality suggested the special day to the Nation Recycling Coalition to bring awareness of recycling. It was accepted and the first America Recycles Day was held on November 15, 1994, with 40 states involved.

Benefits of Recycling

It is important that we do our part to help keep our planet healthy. Programs like America Recycles Day and the Great American Cleanup® strive to reduce littering, improve recycling and beautify communities across the United States. The many benefits of recycling include:

  • Less delivered to landfills
  • Conservation of natural resources
  • Decrease in the burning of fossil fuels, leading to a reduction in the emission of greenhouse gasses.

Because fossil fuels are used to create single-use plastic, the process of extracting and creating these plastics emit 12.5 to 1.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gasses. Single-use plastics in landfills also account for 15% of methane emissions. (source: University of Colorado Boulder Environmental Center)

How You Can Recycle Year-Round

The average person can generate about 4.8 pounds of trash each day, while an avid recycler who recycles 75% of their discarded items generates just 1.12 pounds of trash each day. So you can see how recycling makes a difference.

Ways to mindfully recycle include:

  • Recycling at home, school, work or on the go
  • Purchasing products created with recycled content
  • Using re-usable items like grocery bags and water bottles
  • Repurposing items
  • Educating and encouraging friends, family, co-workers and others
  • Sending recyclable items to local recycling centers

123JUNK’s Mission of Recycling

When we started 123JUNK, we incorporated our 1-2-3-step process of Donate-Recycle-Dispose into our mission. It wasn’t that we just wanted to differentiate ourselves from other junk haulers, we had a true passion for helping our environment. We still do.

We encourage people to recycle items in two ways:

  1. Donate. If you have perfectly-good items around your house that you no longer need or want, they don’t belong in the landfill. Others may be able to use them. That’s why we hand-picked charity partners to which we deliver these items to be recycled back into the community. They are always looking for furniture, household goods, working electronics and other items that they can either provide to local families in need or sell in their stores to raise money for their causes. Check out our list of charity partners we work with.
  2. Recycle. There are items that don’t belong in a landfill because they contain metals or hazardous chemicals. That’s why your communities have local recycling centers. When 123JUNK makes a pickup at your location, we look for any items that either cannot be donated or don’t belong in the landfills and cull them out for delivery to the recycling center. Things like electronics (e-waste), refrigerators and air conditioners all can be broken down into their components and their hazardous contents handled properly. Paper, glass, metals and plastics can often also be recycled. Read our blog post on the Dangers of E-Waste.

Contact 123JUNK

On America Recycles Day—or any other day of the year—look to 123JUNK to help you fulfill your recycling goals. We’ll be glad to clear out the junk from your home or office and deliver it to its proper location. It’s our way of helping our community and our environment.

To speak with a representative, get an all-inclusive price and schedule your junk hauling in Northern Virginia, Maryland or Washington DC, contact 123JUNK at 1-800-364-5778 or fill out our online form.

several men moving a large lawn mower onto their moving truck

Help! I have BIG Things to Get Rid Of!

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

We can’t tell you how often we hear this call for help! People have a lot of really big things inside or outside their homes (or offices) that they just don’t know how to get rid of. Luckily, they know enough to call 123JUNK.

Big Furniture

Today’s sofas are bigger and heavier than ever, making them more difficult to move or remove. They can be up to two or three times the size of a regular-sized piece of the same furniture. The bigger pieces can include sectional sofas, sleep sofas, oversized couches, big lounge chairs, stadium seating, chaises, recliners, and leather couches. In other rooms, you might have an oversized dining room table, hutch, or bookcases or other furniture that you’d like to donate in order to make room for the new furniture.

Big Bedroom Furniture

Massive bedframes and dressers have to have someplace to go when you’re redecorating or downsizing. Big bedroom furniture is no problem for our team at 123JUNK.

Big Mattresses

One of the most difficult things to get rid of—believe it or not—is a mattress, especially if it isn’t the greatest condition. There are limitations and restrictions on how to dispose of it, despite the fact that it’s awkward to carry and load.

(See our related post: How to Dispose of a Mattress When You Can’t Remove it Yourself)

Big Appliances

Your old or unused refrigerator, freezer, washer, dryer, stove, oven, water heater, air conditioner, dishwasher or other big appliance may also have restrictions on disposal options due to chemical contaminants like Freon. Plus, they’re heavy!

Big Entertainment Items

Are you tired of playing pool, or has ping-pong gone out of fashion in your home? You’ve been wanting to use that space for a new purpose, but your large entertainment items are in the way. How about the piano that nobody ever plays any longer, that old big-screen TV, or stereo equipment that’s gathering dust. With a quick call to 123JUNK, you can quickly and easily move these items on to new homes.

Exercise Equipment

Do you want to replace that old treadmill with the latest and greatest health equipment? No problem, with 123JUNK. We’ll gladly remove any exercise equipment, including home gyms, barbell and weight sets, weight benches, squat racks, CrossFit setups, cardio equipment, elliptical machines, rowing machines, and more.

Outdoor Fun

What do you do with your big outdoor living things when they’re no longer fun? Call 123JUNK! We’ll send our professional junk hauling team out to remove your hot tub, above-ground pool, grills, outdoor kitchen, playground set, jungle gym, swings, trampoline, fire pit, lawn furniture, statuary and landscaping items.

Lawn Equipment

Downsizing or moving into a condo, or upgrading to newer models? Then you no longer need all that old lawn equipment. We’ll gladly take off your hands your lawn tractor, mower, trimmers, blowers, snow blower, edger, spreader, sprayer, trailer, ladder and put them to good use somewhere else. We’ll even remove the shed, fence and lawn debris!

Related: HGTV’s 6 Tips for Downsizing

Let 123JUNK Do the Heavy Lifting to Get Rid of Big Things Around Your House

Don’t break your back trying to carry out big things. And don’t guilt your friends or neighbors into spending an afternoon loading them onto their pickup. That’s what 123JUNK is here for. Our professional junk haulers are trained in safety protocols when lifting and hauling big things. We don’t want them—or you—to become injured from lifting a heavy object the wrong way.

Our team is also trained in how to protect your home and property when removing big items. We’ll lay down floor covers, protect corners and doorways—whatever we have to do to ensure a clean and efficient removal.

After almost 15 years in business, we’d like to say we’ve seen it all. Yet we’re still surprised when someone contacts us to haul away a big item we haven’t handled before—like a motorcycle from a basement!

If you have big things to get rid of in Maryland, Washington DC or Northern Virginia, give 123JUNK a call at 1-800-364-5778.

living room with a lit fireplace

Designer Secrets for Home Staging

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

Thinking of selling your home? Now is a great time! To get top dollar for your home sale, professionals suggest staging it, either by doing it yourself, or hiring a professional staging company. Here are some of the designer secrets for home staging.

The top selling point for a home is, of course, location, location, location. Next in line though, is “curb appeal.” This is not only the first impression when the potential home buyer drives up, it is also the first impressions they receive inside your home. That’s why physical or virtual home staging is so important for both an unoccupied and a currently occupied home.

Things that home buyers love include:

  • Spotlessly clean; clean above, below and around items
  • Light and bright; sunlit; welcoming light colors
  • Large rooms (or the look of being large)
  • Well maintained; buyers don’t want to have to put a lot of work into their home purchase
  • Fresh and current look and feel

Six Designer Secrets for Home Staging

There are six steps to staging your home, according to Karen Prince, an award-winning New York staging professional and author of Secrets of Home Staging (2021). They include:

Repair

Repair any visible and known defects both inside and outside the home.

  • Pro tip: Get a pre-inspection by a qualified home inspector before listing the home. This proves to buyers that the home is in good repair, and outlines selling points like upgrades.

Update

If you have been in your home a while, it probably needs upgrades. Spend a little on cosmetic updates like color, flooring or hardware changes, or remodel for more drastic effect. Key rooms to update are the kitchen and bathrooms.

  • Pro tip: Take down drapes & valances; remove wallpaper; remove wall-to-wall carpet; paint in light neutrals; update lighting; update tiles; change cabinet hardware.

Depersonalize

You must begin thinking of your home as a product to sell, and make it appealing to a broad audience. This mean removing personal items from both the interior and exterior of your home. Pack them for your move and store them off premises if possible.

  • Pro tip: Emotionally disconnect yourself from the home to enable buyers to visualize their own lives in the house.

Remove and store:

  • Personal photos
  • Items with your name on them like college degrees, trophies, awards, etc.
  • Collections from travels, crafts, hobbies, sports, etc.
  • Religious & political items
  • Decorations – front door and exterior; inspirational sayings; statues; decorative items, etc.

Declutter

Your home stager is looking to create clean, neutral lines throughout your home that make it show better in photographs and in person. This means removing all clutter and extra items from rooms, surfaces, shelves, windows, closets, garages and storage areas that could distract a buyer. Box these items up and store them for your move. And don’t forget the lawn items! The decluttering process will also make it easier to live in the home while it’s up for sale.

  • Pro tip: When decluttering, it’s a great time to get rid of items you no longer need or want to take to your new home. Make several piles designated as keep/donate/dispose. For items you want to keep, box them up. For those to donate or dispose of, contact 123JUNK. We’ll be glad to deliver your donations to area donation center, recycle things like paper and electronics, and dispose of unusable items or trash for you.

Deep Clean

A home that looks and smells clean will offer maximum appeal to a potential buyer. You may not notice the dirt in areas you’ve overlooked, but the buyers will! Hire a professional cleaning company, power wash the exterior and deck, and remove or mask odors.

  • Pro tip: Don’t forget to clean the doors, light switches and fixtures, ceiling fans and vents.

Add Style

A professional home stager may relocate your furniture and belongings to create wow-worthy vignettes and a room’s focal point. Many stagers have storerooms of items they can use to stage an unoccupied home. Stick to a neutral palette, but items of color and whimsy are allowed in order to add contrast; an all-beige room is boring. You’ll also want to make each room look larger, and increase the flow by using fewer items. Another reason to declutter!

  • Pro tip: Establish just one purpose for each room, and try to refer to the room’s original intention. For example, if you’re using a child’s room as a home office, revert it back to a child’s room.

To Stage Your Home Beautifully, Get Rid of Unused Goods and Furniture with 123JUNK

For convenient pick-up in MD, NOVA or DC of all those items to donate and trash when you’re ready to stage your home, call 123JUNK. We’ll divide out the perfectly-good items and donate them to our charity partners. We’ll recycle electronics and materials like paper to the local recycling center. And we’ll take only what’s left to the area landfill. It’s our 1-2-3 commitment to Donate-Recycle-Dispose and to protecting our environment.

We work with designers, home stagers, Realtors and homeowners to help remove items from the home. After all, statistics prove that a beautifully-staged home sells faster and for more money.

Contact 123JUNK today to speak with a live representative. We’ll find out more about your junk hauling needs, give you a one-price all-inclusive quote, and schedule your pick-up date.

four men posing in front of company moving truck

What to Do With Your Unwanted Household Items

Posted on | by Linda Barrett

If you’re like others, you have many items around your home that you just don’t need or use any more. Perhaps you’ve replaced the furniture with newer versions. Or maybe the kids have outgrown their clothes and toys. No matter what the reason, you’re ready to get rid of these items. But…they might be in too good a shape to throw away. That’s when you wonder what to do with your unwanted household items.

123JUNK has the perfect solution.

123JUNK offers a one-stop solution to clearing out your unwanted household items. We started our business and run it successfully with the philosophy of Donate-Recycle-Dispose.

Donate

If your unwanted items are in good or even great shape, or if you desire to donate items, 123JUNK can pick up these items and carry them to one of our local charity partners like A Wider Circle, Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, Passion for Community or the Montgomery County Humane Society. There, your items can be provided to a family in need, or sold in one of the retail outlets to raise money for charitable causes.

You will be provided with a receipt of your donation that you can use for a tax deduction.

Recycle

Sometimes an item isn’t in good enough shape to be repurposed back into the community, however, it may contain materials that can be recycled. It is our goal to keep as many items out of our area landfills as possible. We’ll divide out items like metals, electronics, some plastics, paper, cardboard, clothing, and other recyclables when we load our big red truck and deliver them directly to an area recycling center.

Dispose

Only after the Donate and Recycle options are depleted do we set aside the rest of the collection to deliver to area landfills.

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Talk to Our Representative

If you’re wondering what to do with your unwanted household items, give 123JUNK a call. We don’t use automated answering systems, so you’ll reach one of our client relationship representatives (“meet” them on our blog!). Feel free to ask questions about our processes, our charity partners, our fees, and even our values structure.

Enjoy Convenient Flat Fee Pricing

Speaking of fees, you’ll enjoy 123JUNK’s flat fee pricing. It doesn’t matter how heavy the load is or how long it takes us to load and deliver it. Our rates are set based on how much space the items take on our trucks. And we have some of the the largest trucks in the industry!

Included in your price quote are the fuel costs, labor charges, disposal fees, donation delivery costs, and full damage insurance. We can give an estimate over the phone. (10% discount for curbside pickups!)

Labor Only Services

Don’t forget about 123JUNK’s labor-only services. We’ll be glad to move items around your property while we’re hauling away your unwanted household items.

Wondering What to Do With Your Unwanted Household Items? Call 123JUNK.

If you’re in Northern Virginia, Maryland or Washington DC and are wondering what to do with your unwanted household items, contact 123JUNK. We’re proud of our 1-2-3 Donate-Recycle-Dispose process, and you will be too, knowing you’ve helped the environment and perhaps other families in your own community. Learn more about the 123JUNK story.

123JUNK is the first choice for junk hauling in your neighborhood. And the easiest solution to your junk removal needs. Call us at 1-800-364-5778 to schedule your next pickup.