A well-landscaped home can be worth 5.5-13% or more than a comparable home without landscaping.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe benefits of maintaining a beautiful yard are numerous: It improves curb appeal, increases property value, allows the homeowner to showcase their home's character, and gives homeowners a chance to add their individual style to their home's exterior.
\r\n
When it comes to keeping your yard looking its best, a well-maintained lawn and clean-kept, impactful landscaping goes a long way.
\r\n\r\nBut keeping it looking clean and eye-catching (in a good way) can feel like a full-time job in some cases.
\r\n\r\nWe've compiled our three biggest tips for keeping your yard looking neat and beautiful all year round.
\r\n\r\n![\"tips](\"/static/fda6a0b8022105e4fcac98b0ff040b5e/tips-to-clean-yard-infographic.png\")
\r\nThe first and main step to keeping your yard clean all year round is having a system in place to manage it properly.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWithout a designated way to manage the inevitable debris your yard produces, it will be extremely difficult to maintain a clean yard.
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Most yard debris, like grass clippings, weeds, plant trimmings, and twigs, can be composted.
\r\n\r\nComposting your yard's green waste is a great way to manage a vast majority of your yard's debris, and it's easy to create a compost system that works for you.
\r\n\r\nThere are a wide range of ready-to-use options, like Subpods, GEOBINS, tumblers, and more.
\r\n\r\nIt's also easy to construct your own compost system using palettes or simple lidded trash bins.
\r\n\r\nIf you don't want to compost your green waste, you also can likely bag it up and haul it to the nearest yard refuse center.
\r\n\r\nHaving yard waste bags on hand will make it easy to toss green waste as needed and keep it contained.
\r\n\r\nHowever, be sure you don't let your yard waste bags accumulate too much, or they will start to take over your valuable garage or shed space, and will add to the cluttered look and feel or your yard/property.
\r\n\r\nWe recommend surveying your yard on a weekly basis and doing the following to keep your yard looking its best:
\r\n\r\nA clean, beautiful yard can easily be sullied by unsightly decor and old, stained or chipping furniture.
\r\n\r\nSo the next step is to get rid of any yard decor or outdoor furniture that is negatively impacting the appearance of your property and replace it.
\r\n\r\nYou can often refresh and completely transform outdoor furniture by thoroughly washing and sanitizing any fabrics, and adding a fresh coat of paint or stain to any wood or rusting areas, but this isn't always the case.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nRenting a dumpster or hiring a junk removal company are two great options for getting rid of old furniture you can't sell or get rid of for free.
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If you have seven cubic yards or more of furniture, decor, or general junk to get rid of, renting a temporary roll-off dumpster may be your most cost-effective option.
\r\n\r\nA 10 yard roll-off is typically large enough for a basic yard cleanup project, while 20 yard roll-off dumpsters are a great size option for larger residential or light commercial yard waste disposal projects.
\r\n\r\nIf you don't have the time or ability to clean up all that debris yourself, a junk removal company can be a great resource.
\r\n\r\nReach out to local companies to have them come out to your property to provide a quote for your yard cleanup project, and if you like the price they quote you, they'll usually begin the work right away.
\r\n\r\nHometown makes it easy to find local junk removal companies or local dumpster rental companies, whichever you prefer.
\r\n\r\nYou can browse the companies in your area, read customer reviews, and request multiple quotes to be sure you get great customer service at the best price.
\r\n\r\nFind out more:
\r\n\r\nSimilarly to upgrading your outdoor furniture, if you have a fence, deck, or concrete on your property that is showing its age, you may want to consider repairing or replacing it.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nBroken fence panels, deck boards, and cracking concrete can negatively impact your home's value by $1,000 or more in some cases.
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A beautiful fence has many benefits, especially for those with younger children, dog owners, homes with pools or hot tubs, or those simply looking for more privacy or a clearly-defined yard space.
\r\n\r\nSimilarly, a clean, well-maintained deck makes it easy for you to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends, brings a dynamic look and feel to your yard, and appeals to a wide range of homeowners.
\r\n\r\nAnd if you have a driveway, sidewalk, pathways, steps, or foundation that has obvious cracks, heaving, settling, or other negative symptoms, it might be time to remove the concrete and replace it.
\r\n\r\nIf you have an old fence, deck, pool, concrete, or shed/barn that's worse for wear and ready to be removed, Hometown can help you find fence and deck removal companies, concrete removal contractors, pool removal contractors, shed/barn removal companies, and more to help your property look its best.
\r\n\r\nKeep reading:
\r\n\r\nA well-landscaped home can be worth 5.5-13% or more than a comparable home without landscaping. Learn our 3 biggest tips for keeping your yard looking neat and beautiful all year round.
\r\n","changed":"2023-01-19T17:22:29+00:00"},"populars":[{"id":"ca48a791-3cd3-55a7-b1bc-a4ff19cdbe4e","title":"How to Negotiate the Best Junk Removal Price","url":"/blog/negotiate-best-junk-removal-price","image":{"path":"/static/336e75b45712e904432eb0082f634ec9/militarydiscount.png","alt":"man looking at laptop while on the phone "},"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"}],"content":"There are several different factors that affect the cost of junk removal services, with the most impactful being the cost of living in your area, what type of items you need removed, how much space your items take up in the company's truck or trailer, as well as any other special circumstances that would require extra care and time to complete the job.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nJunk removal services are incredibly helpful when you're in the middle of a stressful move, trying to get a rental unit ready for the next tenant, or have a loved one's estate to clear out.
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At Hometown, we understand how important it is to get these services at a price that is competitive and affordable, so we've compiled some tips to help you negotiate the best junk removal price.
\r\n\r\n![\"How](\"/static/e7e3fe1341ee097b784a87c575e46678/negotiate-junk-removal-price-info1.png\")
\r\nJunk removal companies that only serve one general area tend to have more availability and less wait times than their larger competitors that service the entire state or region.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nLocal services also tend to give all of their customers equal priority while larger chains tend to cater to large contractors who are their bread and butter.
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It's not uncommon to speak with the owner of the company when you contact locally-owned junk removal companies, and if you're speaking directly with the boss, you will likely have more negotiating power versus speaking with one of many employees at a call center.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nLike we mentioned, the cost of junk removal services are based on many different factors that vary from one job to the next.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe amount of time it takes a junk removal crew to complete your job plays a significant role in the final price you will pay, which is why offering contactless pickup could work in your favor.
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Setting your items set at the end of your driveway or on your porch creates a faster, easier removal process compared to having the junk removal crew come in and out of your house, up and down flights of stairs, while removing different items from different areas of the property.
\r\n\r\nNot all junk removal companies will give you a discount for doing this, but offering to do this in exchange for a small discount isn't unheard of and can be appreciated by busy companies.
\r\n\r\nLearn more:
\r\n\r\nWhile there is always a need for junk removal services year round, some months/season tend to be busier than others.
\r\n\r\nIf you live in climate with all four seasons, waiting until the colder months when there are less home projects and yard work could make your waste hauling services cheaper.
\r\n\r\nWarmer climates tend to have their slow season throughout the summer months during their peak temperatures.
\r\n\r\nKnowing when the slow season is in your are could give you more negotiating power if your project isn't on a strict schedule.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nIf applicable, military, veteran, student, and senior discounts are all common small discount programs that are often honored by smaller, locally-owned companies.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nIt's also not unusual for companies to run promotions across different platforms online, so doing a quick Google search for promo codes or simply asking the junk removal company you speak with if they have any current promotions is never a bad idea.
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As the saying goes, \"You'll never know unless you ask.\"
\r\n\r\nKeep reading:
\r\n\r\nGetting multiple quotes from different junk removal companies will not only help you understand what a competitive price is in your area, but you can use one company's quote as leverage when speaking with their competitors.
\r\n\r\nSome companies may price-match, while others may explain why their price is a more legitimate price for the market.
\r\n\r\nGetting a good price is important, but making sure that you only hire licensed and insured junk removal companies is worth a little more up front in order to protect yourself from any legal headaches down the road.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWhen you're ready to find local junk removal companies in your area, Hometown can help.
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By providing your zip code and answer a few short questions about your project, you'll be shown a list of qualified junk removal companies in your area.
\r\n\r\nWe make it fast and simple to request free quotes from multiple junk removal or dumpster rental companies at once, all at no cost to you.
\r\n\r\nWe only publish verified reviews from legitimate customers to help you make the most informed decision, so you never have to worry about inaccurate reviews being left by competitors or the companies themselves.
\r\n\r\nKeep reading:
\r\n\r\nThe cost of junk removal services are based on a wide range of different factors. Read about different strategies that can help you negotiate the best junk removal price near you.
\r\n","changed":"2022-06-17T18:24:10+00:00"},{"id":"763a7153-f534-558d-8f7f-b672148e4ed6","title":"Why You Should Rent from a Licensed and Insured Dumpster Rental Company","url":"/blog/licensed-and-insured-dumpster-companies","image":{"path":"/static/7235ef3fb54211e31ca36ad84c1cad3e/liability-insurance.png","alt":"Person scanning the details of an insurance policy"},"tags":[{"id":"02a42cee-60f9-5dfd-858c-22ec36b1ce1e","name":"Dumpster Rental","slug":"Dumpster-Rental"}],"content":"Renting a dumpster is a cost and time efficient way to manage large amounts of trash, debris, and recyclables, but not ensuring that the company you rent from is licensed and insured can result in a world of headaches.
\r\n\r\nLearn about the importance of hiring a licensed, bonded, and insured dumpster rental company and the potential risks and dangers of hiring services that fail to meet this criteria.
\r\n\r\n![\"Risks](\"/static/ab7c63e830b18f78be9bde1c8a78ce2f/unlicensed-dumpster-rental-infographic.png\")
\r\nOne of the biggest risks involved with renting a roll-off container or trailer dumpster from an uninsured company is the lack of protection if an accident occurs.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nEven the most experienced companies with the highest quality dumpsters can sometimes make mistakes, which is why it's so important to make sure that they have insurance to protect themselves and you.
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Whether it be damage to the property or the injury of a hired professional, an insured dumpster company will have the coverage needed to pay for the cost of remediation.
\r\n\r\nAn uninsured company, however, leaves you open to financial risk, as you would be responsible for paying damages. A person injured on your property could also have legal grounds to sue you for damages.
\r\n\r\nIt may seem unfair, but this is why we always recommend hiring qualified and insured dumpster rental services.
\r\n\r\nA \"company\" or individual who is willing to operate a business illegally may not have the best intentions to begin with.
\r\n\r\nIn addition to safety and legal risks, theft and other damage is a potential risk from people who aren't registered as a licensed company in the area they're offering services.
\r\n\r\nIt's much easier for people to get away with theft and other damages if there is no paper trail that could lead the authorities to them, leaving you responsible to deal with the aftermath.
\r\n\r\nDon't fall for the lure of cheaper prices if it comes with the cost of these potentially very expensive risks.
\r\n\r\nLearn more:
\r\n\r\nHometown makes it easy to find dumpster rental companies in your area that are licensed and insured.
\r\n\r\nWe personally verify every company and every review that is left on our site, so you never have to worry about inaccurate reviews or unlicensed companies when you explore our web pages.
\r\n\r\nFinding reputable dumpster rental companies is easy:
\r\n\r\nRead about each company, see a list of container sizes and styles they offer, and access their phone number so you can contact them to get a quote whenever you're ready.
\r\n\r\nKeep reading:
\r\n\r\nNot ensuring that the company you rent a dumpster from is licensed and insured can result in a world of headaches. Read about the importance of hiring a licensed, bonded, and insured waste disposal company and the potential risks and dangers of hiring services that fail to meet this criteria.
\r\n","changed":"2022-05-24T14:56:33+00:00"},{"id":"8d997552-725d-51ac-9625-af4a17600461","title":"6 Tips for Making Moving Out After a Divorce Less Stressful","url":"/blog/6-tips-for-making-moving-out-after-a-divorce-less-stressful","image":{"path":"/static/0ca18b5e98c0a928ab5a8864a79a5013/moving-divorce.jpg","alt":"Distressed couple surrounded by moving boxes"},"tags":[{"id":"61ca817b-0498-5abf-bbe7-cdf5935242bc","name":"Junk Removal","slug":"Junk-Removal"},{"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":"Whether you're happy or sad about your divorce, you're almost definitely stressed.
\r\n\r\nUnless necessary for your safety, packing up and leaving in a rush might sound like an attractive idea but could end up causing more headaches down the line.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHaving a proper plan in place is a crucial step in moving out after a divorce to make the stress of the transition as minimal as possible.
\r\n
In this article, we'll go over our top 6 tips for making moving out after a divorce less stressful.
\r\n\r\n![\"6](\"/static/055031e41e49c7e962b5c81931aefd73/6-tips-moving-divorce-info.jpg\")
\r\nIf you're going through a divorce, hopefully you've already hired a divorce attorney, regardless of how civil you and your former spouse intend on being.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nConsulting your lawyer before moving out so that they can inform the decisions you make during the process is the best thing you can do before making any rash decisions.
\r\n
It's a natural compulsion to want to move out as soon as the divorce paperwork has been filed, but as any good divorce attorney will tell you, moving out prematurely has the potential to negatively impact your financial assets and the custody of your children (if applicable) in certain states more than others.
\r\n\r\nTypically, the home is the largest asset a married couple has in their name. While it seems safe to assume that having your name on the deed and/or mortgage implies that this asset will be split evenly and there is no financial danger in leaving the home before the divorce is finalized; this is not always the case.
\r\n\r\nIf the person moving out of the home is the one who makes more money, they could be liable for still paying bills related to the home in addition to any new bills they acquire in their new residence.
\r\n\r\nThis alone can cause financial strain if you aren't adequately prepared.
\r\n\r\nWhen it comes to custody of the children, leaving the home prior to a custody agreement being established could end up hurting your rights in the future.
\r\n\r\nLeaving the home that the children live in makes it easier for the parent left in the home to gain more than 50/50 custody, and trying to get more time with your children could result in even more costly legal fees.
\r\n\r\nPrior to moving out, you should take inventory of all your personal and marital belongings.
\r\n\r\nWhen there are items in question, discuss it with your ex spouse.
\r\n\r\nIf the two of you don't agree, reference the court's decision on ownership if that has already taken place.
\r\n\r\nOtherwise, make note of these items and provide the list to your legal council so that it can be negotiated in court.
\r\n\r\nAfter it has been clearly established what belongs to you and what you can take from the home without contest, start separating your belongings.
\r\n\r\nGo through each room of the home and start packing your items so that you don't forget them and leave them in your spouse's possession.
\r\n\r\nThe idea is to make sure you get as much as possible—if not everything—in one go, so that it isn't necessary to make multiple visits back to the home after you move to grab X, Y, or Z.
\r\n\r\nRemoving all items at once is a helpful step in moving on.
\r\n\r\nMoving, whether it be for divorce or other reasons, can certainly be costly.
\r\n\r\nMany people still think you have to go to home improvement stores to buy packing boxes, which can add up.
\r\n\r\nCheck Facebook Marketplace to see if anyone is giving away their moving boxes.
\r\n\r\nMost people would rather let the next person to use their boxes rather than having to break down each box and recycle them.
\r\n\r\nHaving your friends and family help you move out after a divorce not only helps with the physical demands of moving, but it helps keep the mood light.
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nDivorce is a time in life when people rely heavily on their loved ones for advice, support, and companionship.
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Don't deny your friends' and families' help out of fear that it might make them feel awkward or uncomfortable.
\r\n\r\nMore often than not, they are eager to help and support you and allowing them to do so can even be a form of emotional support for them during this transition as well.
\r\n\r\nWhen you don't have friends or family to help, or if you're simply exhausted and don't have the time or desire to do the moving yourself, hiring help can be well worth the cost.
\r\n\r\nIf you're the only person moving out and your ex spouse is staying in the home, hiring movers to transport your belongings and furniture can make your move significantly easier and less time consuming.
\r\n\r\nIn the instance that you and your ex spouse are both moving out and selling the home, renting a dumpster is a great way to purge and get rid of old belongings that neither of you want to haul to your new home.
\r\n\r\nTemporary dumpster rentals are very affordable, especially if you and your ex split the cost.
\r\n\r\nYou could also ask neighbors if they would like to share costs so that they can get rid of unwanted items as well.
\r\n\r\nIf you have a lot to get rid of but not enough to justify renting a dumpster, hiring a junk removal company to haul away your unwanted items is a great solution.
\r\n\r\nHauling your junk to a donation center or to the dump yourself is an extra task during an already stressful and busy time. Junk removal companies can quickly come and clear your home of unwanted items so that you can focus on moving the stuff you do want to keep.
\r\n\r\nUnsure whether or not dumpster rental or junk removal services are in your budget? Get free quotes with Hometown!
\r\n\r\nWe publish locally-owned disposal services throughout the U.S. and make it easy for you to locate local providers that service your zip code.
\r\n\r\nCompare and contrast the different service providers you speak with to choose the best company for your project.
\r\n\r\nLearn more:
\r\n\r\nWhether you're happy or sad about your divorce, you're almost definitely stressed. Unless necessary for your safety, packing up and leaving in a rush might sound like an attractive idea but could end up causing more headaches down the line. Read our top 6 tips for making moving out after a divorce less stressful.
\r\n","changed":"2022-12-13T14:21:45+00:00"}],"code":"dumpster","env":{"domain":"https://www.hometowndumpsterrental.com","site":"dumpster","service":"https://api.bookable.com","build":"blogPages"}}}, "staticQueryHashes": []}