![\"Average](\"/static/63c1d4882a9cbe8905746ab8fcc78ba9/average-junk-removal-costs.png\")
Downsizing in older age is a great way to lessen the burden of independent living.
\r\n\r\nHaving a home full of stuff can result in unhealthy clutter, unnecessary storage, and can increase the likelihood of a dangerous fall.
\r\n\r\nWhen you're ready to help your elderly relative clear their home full of stuff and downsize, these tips can help make the process go as quickly and smoothly as possible.
\r\n\r\n![\"Helping](\"/static/8adcd959f77d4cf469e9ca6f77ffd7fa/helping-elderly-parent-info_1.png\")
\r\nWhether your loved one is excited or hesitant about the thought of downsizing, parting ways with things they've held onto for a lifetime can be very stressful.
\r\n\r\nIt's important to consider the emotions that your parent might go through before you begin this process so that you can be prepared for roadblocks and know how to handle them.
\r\n\r\nMake sure you have a thorough discussion this with them before you begin going through all their items so that it's easy to remind them of why you're both doing this in the first place.
\r\n\r\nPoint out the many benefits of downsizing in old age, like:
\r\n\r\nBeing mentally prepared to encourage your parent to push through their emotions (and doing so patiently) is an important aspect to downsizing that has nothing to do with the physical labor most people think of when they start preparing for this type of project.
\r\n\r\nSitting down with your parent and creating a plan of attack before you dive in will help you be as efficient as possible.
\r\n\r\nGo through every room in the home and rank them based off the amount of clutter and junk they have and how much will need to be tossed or donated.
\r\n\r\nGive each room a rating of 1-5, with 1 being the least cluttered to 5 being the most.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHaving a list of every room in the house with a visual of how much work each room will require will help you know where to start and help you stay on track.
\r\n
Take a look at the types of items that are taking up space in your parent's home and the condition they are in.
\r\n\r\nPlan on separating the stuff you'll be getting rid of into different piles so that the disposal aspect of this project is simple and straight-forward.
\r\n\r\nWe recommend creating a pile of items that can be donated and a pile of items that need to be thrown away or recycled.
\r\n\r\nLearn more:
\r\n\r\nIf you can, try to avoid doing all the labor yourself.
\r\n\r\nDownsizing your parent's home is a huge project and one that will likely take days, if not weeks, to complete.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAssuming that you're a working person with a family or demanding life of your own, it will be easy to become overwhelmed by this project if you try to go at it alone.
\r\n
Because of the sensitive nature of this process, it's important to keep your cool and remain patient and understanding with your parent if there are parts of the decluttering and downsizing project that are difficult for them.
\r\n\r\nBeing emotionally available for them during this time will be next to impossible if you're also responsible for all of the manual labor and logistics of cleaning out their home.
\r\n\r\nAny family members or friends that are willing to help you physically pack up rooms or keep your parent busy during this process is help that you should seek out or happily accept if it is offered.
\r\n\r\nIf you are unable to create a small team of helpers on your own, consider hiring professional help.
\r\n\r\nJunk removal companies are especially helpful when you would like to get the home cleanout done as quickly as possible.
\r\n\r\nThey can pack up each room for you while you help direct and guide them, or they come and remove the items you want to get rid of after you've gone through all the rooms and separated them yourself.
\r\n\r\nEven if you plan on having an estate sale or garage sale of sorts to unload some of the stuff taking up space in your parent's home, there will still likely be a lot of stuff that needs to be tossed or donated.
\r\n\r\nWe mentioned that junk removal services are a great way to get rid of items that are no longer wanted, but did you know that they can donate items on your behalf, too?
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nJunk removal companies are notorious for separating items and donating/recycling whenever possible.
\r\n
Most junk removal services are environmentally conscious and make their services more attractive by their ethical disposal practices.
\r\n\r\nAnother disposal option if you have mass amounts of stuff to throw away is to rent a temporary dumpster.
\r\n\r\nHaving a roll-off container or trailer dumpster placed in your parent's driveway right outside your parent's home provides a great way to manage garbage and debris so that it isn't piling up around the house as you're sorting through it.
\r\n\r\nIf you've never rented a dumpster a dumpster before, it's probably a lot less complicated than it sounds, especially when you use Hometown.
\r\n\r\nHometown publishes locally-owned, licensed, insured, and reputable junk removal and dumpster rental companies throughout the U.S. and connects them to customers in their area that are looking for ways to get rid of large amounts of junk, garbage, recyclables, debris, and more.
\r\n\r\nOur site is easy to use and provides a single quote-request form to fill out that can be sent to multiple service providers in your area so that you don't have to keep answering the same questions over and over when you're looking for dumpster rental or junk removal quotes.
\r\n\r\nCompare services in your area and make a decision based on pricing, customer service, and availability - all in one convenient place!
\r\n\r\nWhen you're ready to help your elderly parents clear out their home and downsize, these tips can help the process go as quickly as possible.
\r\n","changed":"2023-02-23T01:13:24+00:00"},"populars":[{"id":"255390de-c9ee-55ab-bcb6-4827ff8c80d2","title":"What to Look for in Junk Removal Reviews Before Hiring","url":"/blog/what-to-look-for-in-junk-removal-reviews","image":{"path":"/static/e9ba45a2f53599c938b5b51cfd1e4e97/reviews1-1.jpg","alt":"Person scrolling the internet to read company reviews"},"tags":[{"id":"61ca817b-0498-5abf-bbe7-cdf5935242bc","name":"Junk Removal","slug":"Junk-Removal"},{"id":"5928a41a-3ef0-577b-a694-0bb6cb93c693","name":"Hiring for Junk Removal","slug":"Hiring-for-Junk-Removal"}],"content":"\r\n\r\n\r\nWhen you need junk removed from your property quickly and safely, it's important to make sure you're hiring a company that is reputable and capable of delivering high-quality results on time and for a fair price.
\r\n
It's common to hyper focus on pricing when hiring any service provider—and junk removal services are no different—but professionalism and reliability are just as important as pricing.
\r\n\r\nOne of the best ways to research a company is to read reviews from real customers who have worked with the company and can shine an honest light on the type of service you can expect from them. There are several things to look for when reading junk removal reviews that can help you determine who the best company for your job is, and we'll go over them all in this quick guide.
\r\n\r\nThere are many motivations behind someone leaving a fake review, negative or positive, which is why it's important to make sure that the reviews you check out are verified and from real customers.
\r\n\r\nYou don't want a company's competition, loving mother, or the company themselves influencing your purchasing decisions, which is why it's best to only consider reviews from customers who have actually hired the company you're considering.
\r\n\r\nThe best way to ensure you're reading verified reviews from real junk removal customers is to read the reviews on Hometown. Our site personally verifies every review that is submitted before publishing it, good or bad. Our only motivation behind accepting company reviews is to help inform future customers like you, so you never have to wonder if the gleaming 5-star review or scathing 1-star review is left by the owner's wife or scorned enemy.
\r\n\r\nWhen visiting other sites to read reviews about a junk removal company, look for an indication that those reviews are real before giving them too much weight in your consideration. For example, do they use overly flowery marketing language? Do they speak in absolutes and extremes? Are they super vague about their experience? These are all potential signs of a fake review that you should make note of.
\r\n\r\nSome websites, like Google, allow the owner of the company to respond to reviews, which can be worthwhile to read as well.
\r\n\r\nWhile this doesn't happen on Hometown due to our review verification process, it's not uncommon for reviews to be left for a product, service, or company that either don't match the product/service description or were out of the company's control. There are plenty of instances where a quick look at a company's 1- to 2-star reviews reveals they are actually completely irrelevant to the service they're reviewing.
\r\n\r\nFor example, you may see a \"negative\" review for a company in which the entire review actually compliments the company and their employees on all their hard work, but the author of the review only gave them 2 stars because of circumstances that are irrelevant to the service or were out of the company's control.
\r\n\r\nHere are some examples:
\r\n\r\n\"ABC Junk Removal's service was great, but there was construction on 8th street so they got stuck in traffic and arrived 30 minutes later than expected. That's the only reason I'm leaving 2 stars, but the actual company and service was great!\"
\r\n\r\n\"123 Junk Be Gone was friendly, professional, and worked quickly to remove our junk. They had to reschedule our pick-up due to severe weather, but other than that, the service was excellent.\"
\r\n\r\nAs you can see, though these may technically not be 4- or 5-star reviews, the actual customer service and workmanship that these companies provided was 5 stars, so be sure you take all aspects of the reviews you read into consideration.
\r\n\r\nUnless you have a considerably large project, junk removal services should be completed quickly. So, when reading junk removal reviews, look for mention of how fast or efficient their service was. The timeliness of the actual service is important as well as the timeliness of their customer service and how quickly they respond to your quote request or any questions you have.
\r\n\r\nAre they available to chat when they're contacted, or at least able to get back to you in a reasonably punctual manner? Are emails and questions answered in a timely fashion so that you aren't left waiting on a response for days? Any mention of junk removal crews charging by the hour for large projects who are slow-moving and seemingly unmotivated is an immediate red flag.
\r\n\r\nMost junk removal jobs are priced on the amount of junk you have, and most junk removal companies train their crew to be as time-efficient as possible at each job site so that they can quickly move on to the next job and make as much money as possible each day. Being fast and efficient not only benefits you as a customer, but it should be the business strategy of a successful junk removal company, too.
\r\n\r\nYou should expect a certain level of professionalism from any company you do business with, regardless of the type of service they offer, and it's not unusual for those leaving reviews to touch on this subject.
\r\n\r\nIf you notice more than one person mentioning a lack of professionalism from the company in question, they could end up being a headache to deal with for you as well.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nRespectful, punctual, and helpful communication should be the standard for any company you spend your hard earned money on.
\r\n
Reviews that mention how professional, friendly, and eager to help their customers a company is should be given higher standing as you consider all your local options.
\r\n\r\nThe junk removal industry is large and it can be overwhelming and take up a significant amount of time to find companies in your area that are competitively priced, have a good reputation among their customers, have availability when you need it, and are locally-owned and operated.
\r\n
\r\nFinding these quality companies for your removal needs has been made simple with Hometown. Our easy-to-use search engine allows you to enter your zip code and find reputable services in your area that are licensed, insured, and locally-owned! You can read verified reviews from customers who have hired them and make the most informed decision based on the experiences of their customers and the price they quote you.
\r\n
\r\nOur quote request form allows you to get multiple quotes from up to 3 qualified companies in your area so that you don't have to keep answering the same questions about your project details every time you want a company to quote your junk removal job. We do all the legwork for you free of charge, so you can focus on more important matters.
Learn about things to look for when reading junk removal reviews to help you determine who the best company for your project is.
\r\n","changed":"2023-03-24T13:54:33+00:00"},{"id":"ccb2b7ce-c243-593a-878a-594dee66605d","title":"How Long Can You Have a Dumpster in Your Driveway?","url":"/blog/how-long-can-you-have-a-dumpster-in-your-driveway","image":{"path":"/static/28cfc1cff1b6f570fffa9231963eec14/dumpster-driveway.png","alt":"dumpster being dropped off in driveway"},"tags":[{"id":"02a42cee-60f9-5dfd-858c-22ec36b1ce1e","name":"Dumpster Rental","slug":"Dumpster-Rental"}],"content":"One of the most common questions when renting a residential dumpster is regarding the rental duration.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nA standard dumpster rental period is seven days, although some dumpster companies offer shorter or longer rental periods. Most rental providers are willing to accommodate your schedule as best they can whether it’s short term or long term.
\r\n
Dumpster rental period is an important topic to address, and in this guide, we'll also discuss other key aspects of dumpster placement worth considering.
\r\n\r\n![\"Circling](\"/static/7e7f2b7661ed51460b61a5c0ab45c6e2/dumpster-schedule.jpg\")
\r\nA seven-day rental period is far and away the most common rental duration.
\r\n\r\nSome rental providers specialize in short-term rentals of one to three days, while others offer rentals as long as 30 days or even longer.
\r\n\r\nA good dumpster rental company will work within the timeline of your project to accommodate the needs of the cleanup.
\r\n\r\nFor quick cleanups, such as a shed cleanout, this may be a one-day rental.
\r\n\r\nOther jobs, such as a disposing of interior renovation debris, may require that the dumpster remain onsite for a week or longer.
\r\n\r\nThere is no reason to have the dumpster remain in the driveway for longer than it needs to be, which is why it’s important to be accurate in describing your project with the rental provider to ensure the optimal rental period is determined before the container is dropped off.
\r\n\r\nWe suggest getting several quotes before booking the dumpster. Don’t base your decision on price alone, as the reputation of a company and how accommodating they can be to your project are key factors in finding the right company.
\r\n![\"HOA](\"/static/ffa8accdc52890fcf9a762efbda72f5a/hoa-document.jpg\")
\r\nSome customers may be subject to local rules or regulations when it comes to how long a dumpster is allowed to remain on their property. (These rules are separate from a dumpster rental company's terms and services policy.)
\r\n\r\nA common example of this would be a Homeowner’s Association (HOA) rule stating that roll-off dumpsters are only allowed on a property for more than a certain number of days, must remain out of public view, or other rules.
\r\n\r\nIf you are part of an HOA, check the rules regarding dumpster rental placement and duration prior to renting one.
\r\n\r\nIt’s also advisable to check with the public works department (or equivalent department) of your city to make sure all dumpster rental regulations are followed. Your dumpster rental company is a great source of information in this regard.
\r\n\r\nWhen placing a dumpster in your driveway, it’s not required to get a dumpster permit.
\r\n\r\nA dumpster permit is required when the container is placed in the public right of way, such as the side of a city street or across a sidewalk.
\r\n\r\nIn this case, the dumpster rental period will be dictated by the permit, so be sure to coordinate drop-off and pick-up of the container with your dumpster rental company to avoid any fees or penalties from the city.
\r\n\r\nLearn more: The Process of Obtaining a Dumpster Rental Permit
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"Boards](\"/static/92e4801f307fbef0e046cc920e6118b1/boards-under-dumpster_0.jpg\")
\r\nWhile uncommon, a roll-off container can damage a driveway if proper care is ignored.
\r\n\r\nThe first form of prevention is driveway protection, which is usually accomplished by placing boards under the feet of the dumpster, providing softer contact with the concrete or asphalt driveway.
\r\n\r\nThe second form of prevention is minimizing the amount of time a dumpster sits on a driveway when temperatures are extreme.
\r\n\r\nFor example, in extreme heat, the weight of a dumpster can cause indentations on a driveway, especially if it is placed there for an extended period of time.
\r\n\r\nAsphalt can soften in extreme heat, and heavy items, such as a loaded roll-off dumpster, can leave impressions or even cracks by the time it’s picked up.
\r\n\r\nConsider placing your dumpster in the yard or other area and keep the rental period as short as possible if you have an asphalt driveway.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"Blue](\"/static/8c2d205b5a1b48f2e85e23e16c3b935d/blue-dumpster-pickup.jpg\")
\r\nSometimes you can rent a dumpster for a shorter duration and save on costs.
\r\n\r\nSince dumpster rental companies make money by moving dumpsters from customer to customer, it can be advantageous to them to keep the rental duration short.
\r\n\r\nDuring the busy dumpster rental months (Spring to Fall), rental companies can experience a shortage of containers. Keeping dumpster rental periods short helps to control this issue.
\r\n\r\nOf course, if you need a dumpster for a longer duration, a reputable dumpster provider will accommodate your request.
\r\n\r\nConsider requesting a shorter term dumpster rental from your dumpster rental provider to see if that scores you a slight discount on the rental rate.
\r\n\r\nFor example, a 10 yard dumpster may cost $350 for a seven-day rental; ask the rental company if you could shorten the rental duration to three days.
\r\n\r\nAgain, if it’s during the busy dumpster season and the rental company is short on containers, they may offer a slight discount for the shorter rental period. The other benefit is that the dumpster is in your driveway for a shorter period of time.
\r\n\r\nHometown makes it easy to find local dumpster rental companies.
\r\n
\r\nBrowse dumpster rental companies by zip code, read customer reviews for each company, and request quotes from multiple dumpster rental providers to ensure you pay a fair price for great services.
Find out more:
\r\n\r\nThe most common dumpster rental period is seven days, but this can vary by dumpster rental company. This is not the only consideration when placing a dumpster on a driveway. Read on to get the details.
\r\n","changed":"2022-07-01T03:23:25+00:00"},{"id":"5993b73f-ce46-5e64-983d-cdeba7f94f16","title":"The Best Way to Clean Out a Rental Unit","url":"/blog/the-best-way-to-clean-out-a-rental-unit","image":{"path":"/static/6a1dd932af62782b15cd5c6c581ddc40/Rental-unit-cleanout-intro.jpg","alt":"Pile of junk outside apartment complex"},"tags":[{"id":"61ca817b-0498-5abf-bbe7-cdf5935242bc","name":"Junk Removal","slug":"Junk-Removal"},{"id":"58c950b5-f4ae-5829-8cae-bf1a2ddaac1c","name":"Junk Removal Costs","slug":"Junk-Removal-Costs"},{"id":"02a42cee-60f9-5dfd-858c-22ec36b1ce1e","name":"Dumpster Rental","slug":"Dumpster-Rental"},{"id":"68ebf442-93d0-56cf-9891-e7a9d9bf7874","name":"Estate Cleanout","slug":"Estate-Cleanout"}],"content":"When it’s time to clean out an apartment or other rental unit, the quickest and easiest method is to hire a junk removal service. We’ll briefly touch on other methods but the best overall option is to use the services of a junk removal company.
\r\n\r\nGet three or more junk removal quotes before booking the appointment. This helps ensure you’re getting the best deal. It also helps weed out junk removal companies that cannot meet your project timeline.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nWhile many junk removal companies offer “prices as low as $99” and similar phrasing, a junk removal rental unit cleanout is a much bigger job that will cost more than the minimum price.
\r\n\r\nThe exact cost of a rental unit cleanout project will vary based on:
\r\n\r\nTotal costs can vary widely from about $500 on the lower end to $1,500+ for large and complex cleanups requiring a full day or longer to complete.\r\n\r\n
Check with multiple junk removal companies to get the best rates.
\r\n\r\nThe costs can vary several hundred dollars between junk removal companies, so doing your due diligence can really payoff for projects like this.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"Large](\"/static/c38f3d43b31c3f4c0588ab828dea8118/fast-junk-removal.jpg\")
\r\nA key benefit of having a junk removal company handle the cleanout is the speed and efficiency in which they complete the job; they are professionals, and it’s what they do every day.
\r\n\r\nA good junk removal company can complete an average size rental unit cleanout in as little as a half-day, or about 3-4 hours.\r\n\r\n
The key is to choose a junk removal company with a positive reputation of providing great service.
\r\n\r\nYou can read online reviews and get recommendations via word of mouth to be sure you’re choosing a reputable junk removal service.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n![\"dumpster](\"/static/6a342f6fe334d8a68cf0a5fb80909a6e/dumpster-rental-for-rental-unit.jpg\")
\r\nIf DIY is your preference, you can rent a dumpster to accommodate the cleanout.
\r\n\r\nA 10 yard dumpster or 20 yard dumpster is adequate for most rental unit cleanups.
\r\n\r\nLarger dumpsters may be required for rental units and/or those containing a lot of waste and junk, including bulky furniture and other items.
\r\n\r\nThe national average cost of a 10 yard dumpster is $350, and the average cost for a 20 yard dumpsters is $450.
\r\n\r\nThe actual cost of your rental may be lower or higher depending on where you live.
\r\n\r\nThere are many benefits to renting a dumpster for rental unit cleanouts:
\r\n\r\nHometown makes it easy to find reputable dumpster rental companies near you.
\r\n
\r\nBrowse dumpster rental companies based on your zip code, read customer reviews for each company, and request quotes from multiple dumpster rental providers to ensure you pay a fair price for great services.
![\"man](\"/static/de2152e0b57d58aca0ef248d0f15c1ee/Loading-a-van.jpg\")
\r\nHiring a junk removal service or renting a dumpster are not the only options available for rental unit cleanout projects.
\r\n\r\nWhile there is more work involved compared to the aforementioned options, clearing out and hauling away all your stuff from the rental unit yourself is always an option.
\r\n\r\nThis cleanout method requires more time and sweat to get the job done, but it can work. You’ll probably need a trailer, van, and/or pickup truck to do the hauling.
\r\n\r\nThe downside is that you will need to handle the cleanout, the loading, and the disposal.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWhen you hire a junk removal service, you don’t have to do any of the dirty work or heavy lifting yourself. Renting a dumpster requires loading your dumpster yourself.
\r\n
The thing to keep in mind is that a large project like this will take a lot of time to “DIY it” unless you have the experience and all the right tools, equipment, and manpower to attack it. It’s easy to underestimate the overall scale of the project.
\r\n\r\nIt’s also important to compare the cost of dumpster rental to hauling it yourself.
\r\n\r\nInitially, hiring a junk removal service comes with a bit of sticker shock but when weighing the benefits described previously, it softens the blow.
\r\n\r\nOn the flip side, doing the project yourself will likely take longer, require far more effort, and all for not that much (if any) cost savings.
\r\n\r\nDon’t forget to consider landfill dump fees, and the cost of fuel required to haul the load from the rental unit. If several trips are required, overall costs can add up quickly.
\r\n\r\nIt still may be a cheaper option, but be sure to consider the time and effort involved before deciding on your plan of action.
\r\n\r\nFind out more:
\r\n\r\nHiring a junk removal company to handle a rental unit cleanout is the fastest and most cost-efficient option. We'll discuss this and other rental unit cleanout options.
\r\n","changed":"2022-05-16T12:27:19+00:00"}],"code":"dumpster","env":{"domain":"https://www.hometowndumpsterrental.com","site":"dumpster","service":"https://api.bookable.com","build":"blogPages"}}}, "staticQueryHashes": []}