two men moving a couch with three men seated on it

A First-Hand Look into 123JUNK Experiences

Working in the waste management industry is full of surprises—some more memorable than others. And while at first glance, a junk removal company may seem similar to the usual garbage collection and disposal workers that visit your neighborhood once a week, we have a much more thoughtful process. 

123JUNK is Washington DC’s leading junk removal company that is on a mission to donate, recycle, and properly dispose of unwanted, gently used items. While implementing this 1-2-3 process, our team of experts have encountered a variety of unique experiences while out in the field. Take a look at their personal experiences below!

The House with 10,000 Records

On my first day, I was on the trucks with Timmy, and we had finished up all of our appointments, but another team’s job took longer than expected and they were going to miss the window for their last appointment. So we get assigned to the house with 10,000 records. The job was far away, but we still went to make sure the customer’s expectations were met. 

It was an exhausting, awesome, and eye-opening experience. The client was even fine with us taking some records, but most of them were donated to a local record store. I also got a better grasp of the team mentality at 123JUNK. It really showed that no matter how your day has gone this company and its team has a mentality of always helping and going the extra mile.

– JJ Pedder, Customer Success Representative

Clearing Out A Legendary Boxer’s Home

My most memorable moment so far is probably when I got to go to the legendary boxer Sugar Ray Leonard’s old house. We were just clearing out some old furniture and kids’ toys when I got to see his boxing room. It had a giant, full wall mirror, a punching bag, a speed bag, and an autographed poster. I was definitely starstruck. 

– TJ Spencer, Customer Success Representative

A Successful Hot Tub Takedown

One of our client representative managers was asked by a client if we could take apart a hot tub attached to an above-ground pool. Take a standard hot tub, and then put another one next to it, and another one next to that. It was essentially all one big piece. When we got there around 11 o’clock in the morning, we were working there for most of the day, having multiple people working saws to cut it up. It’s one of the more memorable success projects that we have had. 

– Paul Atherton, Fleet Dispatch Manager

Local Junk Removal in Washington DC

Join Our Junk Removal Team in Washington DC!

As a locally-owned and operated junk removal company in the Northern VA, MD, and DC area, we are proud to help our community grow through proper waste management support and partnerships with local businesses and charities. Our passionate junk removal team continues to work hard for our customers, keeping them satisfied with the highest quality of service possible. If the above stories piqued your interest, consider learning more about joining our team! Contact our junk removal team today at (800) 362-5778 or fill out our form to schedule a service.

Stefani Arnold from Belfort Furniture

Meet Our Partner – Stefani Arnold, Design Manager at Belfort Furniture

Helping our community stay comfortable and making the decluttering process easier is a top priority for our team. We have been partnering with a locally owned and family-operated business, Belfort Furniture. Our team has been hauling away unwanted furniture from their customers’ homes and making way for new furniture from Belfort. We are delighted to introduce to you their Design Manager, Stefani Arnold. Let’s learn more about Stefani and Belfort Furniture below!

hauling away furniture at Virginia home

Can you tell us about yourself and your role at Belfort Furniture?

I’ve been at Belfort Furniture for a little over 20 years now. I started as a part-time sales person, beginning with consultations at clients’ homes 19 years ago. I loved doing in-home design and, after a couple of years, I became a full-time senior designer. I took referrals from the sales team and furnished client’s homes. And about 10 years ago, I got promoted to Department Manager of the Design Department.

How did you end up partnering with 123JUNK?

They actually approached us a couple of times. When I met them, I thought we would be a perfect match. Oftentimes when clients are deciding on furniture they say, “I have to go home and think about it. I have to figure out how to get rid of my used furniture.” Then I tell them to call 123JUNK and they will take care of it!

Over the years, I used to tell clients that they could donate their old furniture to Salvation Army or local thrift stores, but a lot of those places are very picky and won’t take your items. Everyone really loves having 123JUNK donate or dispose of their unwanted items so our team at Belfort Furniture can bring in the new furniture.

Can you tell us about a memorable moment with 123JUNK?

I’ve actually hired them once and was blown away with the team that came to my house. They were very professional and clean-cut. And I honestly didn’t expect to see such clean-cut guys coming to take my old junk out of my house.

It was really surprising and, not to mention, impressive seeing them come in with their uniforms ready to haul away my furniture. It also made me feel better recommending a company that I’ve personally used.

furniture hauling at Northern Virginia home

What are your favorite aspects of working in the furniture and home design industry and connecting with people in the way that you do?

It’s really rewarding to create an environment where a person can return home and fully relax and enjoy their living spaces. And the best part is that every day is a new scene. Every time I meet a new client, it’s a whole new chapter and a whole new story.

I’m also fortunate to work with a really great team of talented individuals. I speak for everyone at Belfort Furniture when I say we work for a truly great company. They are very generous, charitable, and they care about their employees. That’s why there are so many people, including me, who have been here for over 10 years. We all joke about how we’re growing old together!

In the past, I’ve worked for corporations where you’re just a number. But here, the owner knows you and knows your kids’ names. We know him and his wife very well. And they also own Stone Tower Winery in Leesburg, Virginia.

New Virginia Home Furniture from Belfort Furniture

Do you have any quick home design or home improvement advice for people attempting to update their living spaces?

One of my favorite mottos is the more fabrics and textures in a room, the better. Without them, your room designs seem boring. Also, don’t forget about window treatments. And if you’re going furniture shopping, always bring the measurements of your room. On a regular basis, we find ourselves trying to help clients figure out the measurements of their rooms because they don’t know. It can be done if they do a good job describing what they have, but it’s never really exact dimensions.

We also have our in-home design service where we will come and measure a customer’s space. We also offer presentations where everything is spec’d out for them, fabrics, wood pieces, mugs, accessories and more. 

Due to COVID-19, there’s a shortage in select fabrics, and upholstery is taking up to six months to be delivered. We’re lucky at Belfort Furniture because we have a wide range of stock in our inventory that we can deliver immediately. You just can’t customize it as quickly these days, but you can still shop our in-stock inventory!

How can people reach out to you or learn more about Belfort Furniture?

Customers can go to our website or call us to request a design appointment. When COVID-19 happened, we also began offering virtual appointments as well. Shop our in-stock furniture or contact the Belfort Furniture team today!

Junk Removal Washington DC

Professional Junk Removal vs. Dumpsters

With the new year underway, seize the moment and knock out a task that you’ve been putting off. It’s time to empty that attic, basement, or storage unit that you promised to clean months ago. However, this task presents a conundrum: what will you do with all the junk in that space? Where can it go? 

Don’t let clutter stop you. Reach out to 123JUNK for professional junk removal services! Since its inception, our company has sought to help people dispose of their unwanted goods responsibly. As a DMV business, we donate used goods to charities around the Washington, DC, region. We also recycle appropriate materials to avoid landfill waste. Whether it’s furniture, appliances, or other junk, we take away whatever you want us to. Plus, we offer professional cleanout services for any size property. 

Below, we describe the differences – and benefits – of junk removal service against traditional dumpster rentals: 

Junk Removal Opposed to Dumpster Rental

These days, junk removal and dumpster rental are the primary options for disposing of home goods. In both cases, an outside company hauls away the trash. But they differ in how they reach that end: one requires no labor on your part while the other requires a great deal of it. 

When you hire a junk removal company like 123JUNK, its crew handles the heavy lifting. They bring a truck, and the employee team removes all the items (with a few exceptions) in a given space. Benefits of professional junk removal include speed, efficiency, and peace of mind. 

Dumpster rental requires that you handle the work. After the rental company drops off their dumpster (in the street or your driveway), you must load it with your unwanted items. After a set time, the company hauls off the dumpster with the junk you’ve loaded in it. 

Drawbacks of Dumpsters

Certain situations call for dumpster rental. For instance, contractors and companies use them at worksites for disposal. They make sense in such a scenario, as construction teams need a means of clearing junk during their work. 

But if you want to declutter your home or office, renting a dumpster is a hassle. First, it requires intense labor from you. Also, if no one can help, you may not be able to move large items that must go. And the limited timeframe may not give you enough time to complete your cleanout. 

What’s more, dumpsters come with a hefty price tag. You need a city permit to keep the dumpster in the street. Plus, many rental companies set weight limits and dumping fees, so extra costs pile up. But junk removal avoids these problems, replacing them with benefits. 

Benefits of 123JUNK’s Services

Of all junk removal services, why call 123JUNK? First, as a proud DMV business, we want to do our part in the community. This goal influences all aspects of our business: our 1-2-3 disposal process, our variety of options, and our outstanding customer service. 

Also, we remove junk from residential and commercial spaces including offices, storage units, warehouses, garages, sheds, and more. Plus, our complete service comes at one flat price. Rather than charging by weight or volume, we prorate our charges based on the space your junk covers in our trucks.

If you’re interested in our services but unsure whether to commit, feel free to contact us for a free estimate. We are happy to describe our process and services to you with a one-on-one consultation. 

Responsible Junk Removal Now Available Throughout Washington, DC

You could struggle to unload an attic or basement’s worth of junk alone, or a professional team could handle it for you. Reach out to 123JUNK for full-service junk removal and hauling services. We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on our services, and our outstanding team lives up to its great reputation. Let your used goods go to families in need throughout Washington, DC. Call us today at 1 (800) 364-5778 or fill out our online form.

Green Movement

Growth of the Green Movement in America

Did you know that the Washington D.C. metropolitan area is the third greenest area in the United States? It’s a fact that we at 123JUNK are extremely proud of…we like to think we’re doing our part to make it so.

While things in our community have drastically improved, they are still are far from ideal. We live in a consumer society where people are continually purchasing new products and throwing away old ones, and that junk and waste disposal can pose a serious threat to the environment and human health.

The History of the Green Movement

While the Green Movement has European roots, it probably wouldn’t be as strong as it is today without the U.S. influence. Medieval Europeans realized that some sustainable practices were important for the prosperity and well-being of people. However, it wasn’t until after America was colonized that humans started valuing nature in itself, and not just because it was useful to people.

This celebration of nature didn’t last long, though. As the Industrial Revolution rose, people focused on its benefits and began neglecting the impact to our world. At the same time the Industrial Revolution took its toll on human health (not to mention pollution of big cities), environmentalism was born. One of the first and most important measures America took to preserve nature was establishing Yellowstone National Park in 1872 as a place where the exploitation of nature was strictly forbidden.

Not much changed at the beginning of the 20th century, with events like the Great Depression and World Wars I and II overshadowing any conservation efforts. Following World War II, however, more and more people began to understand the negative effects post-war industrialization had on the environment. Something had to be done.

The 1960s were a turning point for the Green Movement, with nationwide conservation efforts ultimately resulting in establishing Earth Day to celebrate our planet and help keep it healthy and beautiful. The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970.

In the years following this important milestone, environmental consciousness continued to rise among governmental bodies, companies, institutions and individuals. In recent years, the Green Movement solidified itself as one of the most significant movements of our time, with science and research leading the way to a new, more eco-friendly era.

123JUNK is Making a Difference in Your Community

123JUNK is dedicated to doing our part by recycling and repurposing as much junk as possible to keep it out of the landfills and by raising awareness about the importance of safe and responsible waste disposal. We try to be as eco-friendly as possible with the thinking that together we all can make our world a better place.

If you are located in Maryland, Washington, D.C. or Northern Virginia and have junk you’d like us to haul off, schedule your appointment today.

patio installation

The Best Home Repairs to Make in The Summer

The amount of construction debris 123JUNK has hauled away this summer is a good indicator that lots of people use the warmer months to make home repairs, remodel or install a new outdoor living space. Here are some of the best projects to tackle this summer.

Repair the Roof

Use the summer months to replace shingles, broken or missing tiles, or the entire roof. Leaks, sagging gutters and chimney cracks should also be repaired this time of year.

Replace Siding

Your siding is designed to protect and insulate your home as well as provide an aesthetic beauty. Make sure it is free of insects and in good shape after summer thunder and hailstorms and use the summer months to replace or upgrade it.

Remove Rotted Woodwork

Repair or replace rotted woodwork around window sills and sashes.

Haul Away Yard Debris

Ensure your home’s safety by removing dead or damaged trees. Haul away broke limbs and other storm debris.

Add Insulation

Lower your cooling and heating costs with insulation in the attic or between the siding and your walls.

Clean Out the Shed

Most people’s outdoor buildings could use a good cleaning. Empty the entire shed, sweep it out, and only replace the items that you really use. Call 123JUNK to haul away the rest.

Remove Outdated Play Items

If you have an old swingset, rotting picnic table or an above-ground pool you never use, remove them. Your yard will look better and you’ll have more room for the things you do like and use.

Add a Deck

Summer is the perfect time to add that deck our outdoor patio you’ve always wanted. Screen in a porch or add a gazebo.

Replace a Driveway

If your old driveway is cracked, damaged or unsightly, replace it with a new one in paving, stone or concrete.

When you’re cleaning up after construction projects in Virginia, Maryland or DC, there’s no need for you to go to the dump. If you have debris, large objects, or downed branches, call 123JUNK. Our uniformed professionals will be glad to clear away these items and haul them off in our big red trucks for you.

client-testimonial

You Make Us Blush!

At 123JUNK, we’re all about providing the best service we can. We consider it a normal part of doing business, not something special we provide for our favorite clients. That’s why we are always humbled when a customer sends us a glowing review. It’s enough to make us blush!

We make it a point to share our reviews and testimonials with our entire staff because we work as a team. Whether one person made a difference or we all did, we all celebrate our successes. And we want to share the reviews with you.

Here are some of 123JUNK’s latest testimonials:

“Joe and Chris did an awesome job. They removed an old standing basketball hoop—and it wasn’t easy. They both had perfect attitudes and worked hard. They shook my hand upon leaving and thanked me. They were a breath of fresh air.” — Dale M., Herndon, VA

“The two gentlemen who helped us were great! They were extremely polite, and genuinely cared about their job. They asked questions when necessary about which items were being donated.” — Michelle P., Chantilly, VA

“I had a large quantity of furniture that I couldn’t move on my own. Also, I wanted to the furniture to go to someone who could use it because I am moving into a smaller apartment and won’t have the space. 123JUNK’s haulers were quick and efficient. They handled the furniture around tight corners and we cautious about damaging any of the walls.” – Amanda H., Ashburn, VA

“I chose 123JUNK because of their good reputation. We enjoyed extremely courteous employees, very efficient follow-up, and an overall clean appearance of their vehicles.” –Mike W., Centreville, VA

For professional junk removal, junk hauling and labor-only services in Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C., call 123JUNK today. We can promise you a good experience too.

Tax-cut

Your Junk Could Be Tax Deductible

Although allowances may vary from state to state, charitable contributions are one way to reduce your tax debt, and with tax time upon us, we want you to take advantage of every tax deduction you can.

123JUNK removes many items from our customers’ homes and businesses that are primarily reusable because they are in good condition. These can include household items, furniture, clothing, or even business equipment. You simply have no use or room for the items any longer.

What is Junk to You is a Treasure to Someone Else

In keeping with the 123JUNK philosophy of Donate-Recycle-Dispose, we donate these perfectly-good items to our charitable partners, like Habitat for Humanity or the Pender ReGift Thrift Store so they can reissue them back into the community for people who need or want them.

123JUNK Gives You a Donation Receipt for Your Taxes

But the good news doesn’t end there. When we drop your items off, 123JUNK obtains a receipt for these goods, which we then mail to you so you can take the deduction on your tax returns. (If the contribution value is higher than $250, you must support your deduction with a receipt and a description and estimated value of items donated.)

The IRS has rules that must be followed for your donation to qualify. For example, the donation must be made to a qualified organization (like a church, non-profit or charity) and it cannot be more than a certain percentage of your adjusted gross income, depending on what type of property it is. Your tax professional can help you with the details.

Please note that 123JUNK is not qualified to offer either legal or tax advice. Please consult a professional if you need assistance. But do give us a call to help clear the clutter from your home or business. Our professionals are ready to haul!

Core-Value-Setting-Expectations

123JUNK Offers More Than You’d Expect

Come into the 123JUNK offices and the first thing that catches your eye is our Core Values. They are printed, framed, and mounted prominently so that we all remember just what we’re here for.

Just having them posted creates an expectation within our company culture of how we will do business. Not how we should, but more strongly, how we will operate the business and treat our customers.

We Raise the Bar

In our philosophy, the measure of good customer service is EXCEEDING expectations, not just meeting them. This means communicating clearly and over-delivering on what customers expect.

Every one of our customers has a pre-determined “bar” that has been set by some service company or experience they’ve had in the past. They have an idea of “what to expect” before they hire us.

Our goal is to exceed that expectation.

We’re Different, Starting with our Touch Points

The 123JUNK staff is trained to ask a lot of questions on the initial telephone conversation. This way, we can provide an accurate estimate to ensure that the price we give once we arrive on the site aligns with the ballpark estimate the client was given by our appointment scheduler. We don’t want surprises any more than you do, so we make the effort up front to set the expectation correctly.

Most people don’t expect professionalism from a junk removal company. That’s why we like to shake things up and be different. Following the initial conversation, our clients receive a:

  • Confirmation email
  • Reminder call the afternoon before the appointment
  • Call 30 minutes prior to arrival
  • Post-appointment follow-up call (day of the appointment)
  • Handwritten thank you note after the appointment

If you think about it, when is the last time you were given this kind of consideration by a service company?

Creating Expectations is a Core Value

We believe in treating our customers the same way we’d like to be treated ourselves. That’s why we took the time to create our list of core values, and live by them each and every day.

Core-Values-Culture-Of-Excellence

Culture of Excellence

At 123JUNK, we spend a lot of time working hard and getting dirty. It’s the nature of our business, and, quite frankly, we wouldn’t want it any other way. But just because we may get some dirt under our fingernails while we’re servicing our clients across the region, doesn’t mean we hold ourselves to a lower standard when it comes to presentation.

You will always recognize a 123JUNK crew by the fact that they all wear the unmistakable red collared shirts, black pants, and footwear that is up to the task at hand. Our trucks, the largest in the industry, are a beacon of junk-removal hope when you see our 560 cubic-foot truck beds rolling down your street and safely backing up to your property.

Speaking of our truck beds, we take such pride in how our trucks look, and how our company presents itself out in the field, that we recently took delivery of a freshly painted truck and immediately sent it back because it didn’t live up to our Culture of Excellence. If we won’t send a truck with a mediocre paint job to a client’s home, imagine how high we set the bar for the team performing the service.

As a client of 123JUNK, you will come to understand that the Culture of Excellence is a company-wide mission. We take great pride in providing an experience far superior to what any other company can offer, and we hope to exceed expectations on each and every job we perform from the first phone call, to the removal itself, all the way down to the post-appointment follow-up experience.

Have you experienced the 123JUNK Culture of Excellence firsthand? Share your experience on FacebookGoogle+ (Virginia)Google+ (Maryland), and Yelp!

Loading-Habitat-ReStore-Leesburg

Giving to our community: A spotlight on a few of our charity partners

February is the month for love, and at 123JUNK, we have to say that we love our community. Not only for what it gives us, but for what we can do for it. While we are known for hauling away junk and unwanted items, many people don’t know or understand what happens to those items after they leave the home.

Every week, 123JUNK delivers 2-3 TRUCKLOADS of donated items to our charity partners, who then resell the items to raise money for their organizations or causes. These items include furniture, household items, dishes, clothing, books and more.

This activity falls directly in line with our three-pronged philosophy of donate, recycle and dispose, which we love!

Two main charitable organizations we work with include:

• Pender ReGift Thrift Store in Chantilly, VA
Loudoun Habitat ReStore in Leesburg, VA

“People can rest assured that their “not junk” items are not being thrown away,” said Maryann Weber, director at Pender ReGift. “This not only has the environmental impact of saving our planet, it also helps the poor.”

“In a way, I feel like Robin Hood, taking the items the ‘rich’ have donated and making them available for the poor,” she continued. “If someone is sent to us from the government, nonprofit or religious referrals, they get to pick out what they need for free. We’ve set up complete households and given clothing and household goods, and 123JUNK is our regular supplier of items.” A series of special storage facilities are set up where 123JUNK loads items for Pender and other charities to pick up weekly.

Community is a Core Value

Community is one of the Core Values at 123JUNK, and other ways we love our community is by donating our time and services. We provide ongoing gratis haul away service and silent auction donations, and conduct food drives in order to give back to the community.

If you have items to donate, please give 123JUNK a call.