Are you a collector or hoarder?  Everybody has a friend or family member who loves to keep old things around.  Whether it be a pile of old newspapers, outdated magazines, wine bottles or a box of receipts, we all sometimes have the inclination to save 'stuff.'

While many of us see this as a harmless activity, there is a serious clinical disorder called 'compulsive hoarding' that makes it an obsession for people to hold on to a large amount of junk, despite the effect it may have on their lifestyle.

Although Compulsive Hoarding often is said to be a more specific classification of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), it has been recognized by mental health professionals as a seriously detrimental way of life that can result in  unsanitary living conditions, safety hazards, accident prone conditions and a variety of other harmful side effects on an individual.

Depending on how extreme the hoarder, the items an individual keeps around can run the gambit, from common items like books to physically dangerous things like hazardous waste and garbage.  Although keeping too many books around the house may not seem like a harmful thing, the actual practice of hoarding the books is what can potentially harm an individual's lifestyle, including preventing them from forming meaningful social relationships or even forgoing basic needs like eating and bathing.

This doesn't mean everyone needs to start throwing out those old stamp, coin, and baseball card collections that they spent so long acquiring.  Humans are naturally possessive creatures, and it is perfectly normal to place value on a collection that has monetary or sentimental value. 

However, there are things that many of us 'collect' simply because we don't have the time or energy to get rid of them.  Whether this be an outdated magazine collection or a closet of old clothes, some of this stuff simply takes up room in our homes that could be used much more effectively. Getting rid of this unuseful material not only frees up room in your home, but also clears the mind in a variety of ways.

Just as people with serious cases of compulsive hoarding need professional help, people with the more common case of an inability to get rid of old junk could use some external help as well.  Junk-King is your affordable, professional and efficient junk removal service that can get rid of that clutter you've been eying for years, but just never got around to throwing out.  We're here to help you reclaim your kingdom from Junk.

 

Starting a junk removal franchise with Junk King is an exciting and lucrative opportunity for budding entrepreneurs around the globe.  Junk Removal is an expanding business sector as consumers look for reliable services to remove unwanted clutter from their home or business.

Junk King also recycles up to 60% of the junk they haul, which ties in nicely with the expanding green business sector.  For those who are thinking about getting into the Junk Removal business, I’d like to provide an example of a typical day in the life of a Junk King Franchisee:

1. Say hello to Dan.  Dan recently bought a Junk King Franchise and has been doing great business around his city. This is the story of a typical day in the Junk Removal business for Dan.
   

   

2. Dan starts off his workday by collaborating with his drivers:  providing them with schedules, routes, and quotas for the day.  The drivers then hop in their trucks and head out towards their booked junk removal appointments.

   

3. Dan’s morning work doesn’t stop there.  He heads back to his office where he’s scheduled a presentation for a local business that may be interested in Junk King’s services.

   

4. Meanwhile, a nearby homeowner calls with a request for Junk King’s junk hauling services.  This call is received at the Junk King Customer Call Center where a booking specialist inputs the details of the appointment into Junk King’s network – JunkKingNetware.  JunkKingNetware automatically sends the appointment request to Dan and his drivers.

   

5. Dan can instantly access JunkKingNetware from a computer and see all the booked appointments as well as the location of all of his trucks.  Dan’s drivers can also access the appointments en-route from their mobile phones.

   

6. One of Dan’s drivers picks up the new appointment information and heads over to the appropriate address.  The homeowner is glad to see the Junk King team give her an up  front estimate on how much the process will cost (based on how much room in the truck her stuff takes up).  She decides to move forward with the job and the team efficiently hauls away all of her unwanted clutter.

   

7. Within 1-2 days, a representative from Junk King’s Customer Call Center rings the homeowner to find out if her junk removal needs were satisfied.

   

8. Dan ends his day at the office, fulfilled after a job well done and making sure all loose ends are tied up.  He calls Junk King’s central office support with any questions that came up during the day so that he can do an even better job tomorrow.

For more information on becoming a Junk King franchisee, check out the junk removal franchise section of our website.

 

 

Junk-King is proud to announce two new junk removal franchise openings:  Sacramento and New York, Nassau County.  Our New York franchise opening marks the first of many on the east coast.  With Junk-King's emphasis on affordable prices, efficient service, customer satisfaction and eco-friendly hauling, these new businesses are sure to thrive in their locations.

If anyone is interested in taking the opportunity to open a Junk-King franchise in their own geographic location, feel free to check out the franchise section of our website to find out more.

 

Do you sometimes find it difficult to recycle?  When you face the choice of just throwing something out or recycling it, it's almost always easier to throw things away in a conventional manner.  We've all been in that situation: holding an empty can or bottle without a recycling bin in sight.  We most often end up settling for a trash can.

We all know how recycling can help the environment, and especially in today's world how recycling our waste is seen as an obligation to our neighbors and society at large.  So how do we find the proper balance between time and good-will and get in the habit of regularly recycling?  I'd like to take a moment to provide five ways in various situations that we can get in the groove of recycling more often.

1.    Make a List:  It never hurts to make a list to keep track of your everyday activities.  There are often several points during your normal day where you may have an opportunity to recycle, but simply don’t.  Sit down and make a list that maps out your day and when you might normally throw out trash (on the way out the door, after lunch, etc.).  Next time you encounter that time of day you’re far more likely to recycle.

2.    Create a Habit:  We all know it’s pretty hard to kick a bad habit; the same often goes for good habits like recycling.  Most of us have been habituated to throw our waste away in a trash can, just because we’ve repeatedly done that throughout our lives.  If you make recycling a game or goal, it can become easier to keep than you think. 

3.    Create a Company Culture:  If you are in charge of a company, or simply want to make difference where you work, creating a company recycling culture can be a great way to get a large group of people into the habit of recycling.  Think of an innovative way to make people look for those blue recycling bins: maybe everyone could initial their cans and bottles and win a ‘point’ for each recycled item, with the end goal of winning some sort of prize. 

4.    Use an Eco-friendly Junk Removal Service:  It’s often an even bigger hassle to recycle large or heavy items like scrap metal, old brick foundations, or computer equipment.  Junk-King provides an eco-friendly junk removal service that recycles up to 60% of the total hauled waste.  For those items that you can’t recycle yourself, be sure to consider Junk-King’s affordable services.

5.    Set an Example:  You’d be surprised at how people might look up to you if you start recycling on a regular basis.  Whether it’s at the office, at home, or out and about, you can pass on the recycling ‘vibe’ by smoothly and swiftly depositing your trash in that blue bin.

A recent study was conducted by the University of Washington which concludes that the average American produces up to 7 pounds of garbage a day. If you do the math, it means each of us churns out 2,555 pounds of garbage every year. Multiply that by 300,000,000 million Americans and that’s a lot of garbage. Unfortunately for us, most of this garbage is going to end up in one of the thousands of landfills that are stretched across the county. Why do landfills hurt the environment and our way of life? Let’s count the ways:  

Bad for the Air We Breathe

As the garbage in landfills begins to break down and degrade, it releases various gases into the atmosphere. Typically, these are chemical compounds that rise into the atmosphere and hitch a ride on the jet stream. These emissions then become “seeds” for rain clouds and end up clogging the atmosphere. This means that just because you don’t live anywhere near a landfill doesn’t mean you can’t be exposed to the harmful effects.

In addition, when these chemical emissions are collected in the upper atmosphere they can contribute to the deterioration of the ozone layer. As we all know, this is one of the main concerns of global climate change. When the ozone is depleted, we lose our protection against the sun’s ultraviolet rays which increases the ocean's temperature. This has a cascading effect that is felt in severe storms and rising sea levels. Once garbage is dumped in a landfill, it’s there for a long, long time. 

Bad for the Water We Drink

Not all the problems of a landfill can be found in the air we breathe. As that garbage decomposes, there are just as many harmful chemical compounds that seep into the soil and find their way into water ways. These underground water ways feed into larger aqua tributaries which in turn become our sources for water.

Yes, landfills are supposed to be in safe areas but think about rotting fruit. If you leave a piece of fruit out on your lawn, it will break down and disintegrate. Now instead of fruit think of discarded computer monitors, batteries, oils, and paints… the list of harmful elements in a landfill is truly endless. 

Bad for Our Quality of Life

For the unlucky folks who happen to live near a landfill, there are a whole host of unwanted “guests” who show up to feast on the garbage. This means bugs, birds, rats, possums and all many of creepy crawlers who would make their home in the landfill. And don’t think they’re going to stay there for long. As their unfettered population grows, these critters will leech out into the surrounding areas leading to a virtual overrun of vermin. 

When you add in other dangers like burning fires and floating debris, you can clearly see why landfills hurt the environment and are bad all around.  Junk-King is trying to slow the growth of our country's landfills by recycling up to 60% of the waste that we salvage.  If you're thinking about getting rid of the unwanted clutter in your home or business and aren't sure if it will end up in landfill, feel free to contact Junk-King for a free onsite junk removal estimate.

There are two things you can count on in this life and it’s not just death and taxes; it’s the fact that we all have junk and at some point we all have to get rid of that junk. Junk can come in many forms: from left over refuse to a broken down backyard fence to paperwork from years gone by. Most folks let their junk pile up until it becomes unbearable. If you live by yourself that might not be a problem but chances are you live with someone and at some point you’re going to be asked to “get rid of all this junk!” That’s actually great news for anybody who has a junk removal franchise. With one phone call that junk can become a fleeting memory and peace will once again return to the customer's kingdom.

If you’ve never thought about a franchise business consider this: almost every fast food restaurant you’ve ever been to is a franchise business. What this means is a motivated entrepreneur has invested in a proven formula for success. All the hard work has already been completed because the franchise has been established. Whether it is a restaurant or service industry business, the franchise has the support of the parent company with a proven track record of success and profits. It’s the difference between stepping into an unfurnished house versus a furnished house. With former you’ve got more work, with the latter you’re ready to start living. And with a franchise business, you’re ready to start making money right away. 

It's a different experience opening up a restaurant or a junk removal franchise but some of the same basic principles still apply. They cover basic necessities: We all have to eat and we all have junk to get rid of. One of the other benefits of becoming part of a junk removal franchise is that you’ll get all the tools you need to make your business a success. Not only will you get help with the paperwork of maintaining a business but also help with marketing to make sure you can maximize your profit potential. 

Having a franchise business means you’re not going to be alone. You’ll be utilizing an established formula for profit. It only makes sense that a parent franchise company wants you to be a success because it makes them a success. As franchises go, you want to find a service or commodity that you know will have longevity. A junk removal franchise definitely fits into that category. 

It would be like setting up a snow removal business in Alaska. You’ll always be in business. The same goes for junk removal. You’ll always be in business. And just because you’ve cleared out one person’s garage or attic or backyard doesn’t mean you’re done. Think about the neighbor who sees this junk removal going on. That’s a new potential customer. House by house, block by block you’re going to find that word spreads quickly at how easy it is to get rid of junk with your services. So the next time you see someone hauling away their junk, just think: that could be your business.

This may seem like a pretty easy question – Junk Hauling simply refers to the process of picking up and hauling away unwanted junk from your home or business.  However, there is a big difference between a professional junk hauling service and a company that can’t provide you with the quality work you need.   I’d like to take this opportunity to distinguish the characteristics you should be looking for in a great junk hauling company.  

1. Your Junk Hauling Service should provide you with a free estimate:  It’s hard to decide if you want to use a Junk Removal Service if you don’t know exactly how much it will cost you.  That’s why you should make sure that your service provides you with a free of charge estimate before they dig into the work.
2. Your Junk Hauling Service should charge based on the quantity of Junk:  Many Junk Hauling Companies will charge you an hourly rate – which leaves you open to getting a huge bill because the movers were slow (in fact it would be their advantage to slow down the process).  You should find a service that solely charges based on the amount of junk that they pick up.  It makes sense that you shouldn’t pay as much if you are having several small items hauled away as opposed to a large scale hauling operation.
3. Your Junk Hauling Service should have a record of professionalism and efficiency:  You should check around to make sure that your junk hauling service has a record of success in their field and area.  Check some online reviews or read testimonials on the company website; make sure that you are dealing with seasoned professionals.
4. Your Junk Hauling Service should be modern:  Your junk hauling service should get with the times.  Can you schedule an appointment online?  Do they have a clear website that outlines their process? Do they take the environment into consideration and recycle the junk they pick up?  These are important considerations to factor in when deciding on a junk hauling service.
5. Your Junk Hauling Service should haul almost anything for you:  Aside from hazardous waste, your junk removal company should be able to pick up almost anything you have in store for them.  Whether it’s building materials, electronics, yard waste or appliances – they should be able to haul it away after a quick call.

Junk King satisfies all of the above requirements and more.  We are proud to provide a junk hauling service that is professional, efficient, cost effective and modern.  To get your free junk removal estimate today, schedule an appointment online or call 1-800-995-JUNK (5865).

Have you seen the Junk-King commercial yet?  Not only does Junk-King recycle up to 60% of the material that we haul from your home or business, but we also provide you with a really affordable pricing structure. 

If you're considering getting rid of all that unwanted clutter in either a residential or commercial space, consider using Junk-King's services, which will take both the environment as well as your wallet into account.

Why spend all that time cleaning clutter out of your home when you could be doing a ton of other things, such as spending valuable time with your family. If you own a business, you know that a clean work atmosphere can mean increased productivity from employees. Getting unused equipment out of the office is easy with Junk-King's reliable hauling service.

Call 1-800-995-JUNK (5865) or schedule a free in-house junk removal estimate through our website.

Everyone who owns a home knows that familiar feeling – you head down into your basement and see clutter from wall to wall.  Musty boxes filled with receipts, broken exercise machines, torn up couches and unused toy chests are just a few examples of things people end up storing in their basement.  Basements end up as junk heaps because everything that isn’t useful anymore ends up piled down there.  You can’t decide if you want to throw something out and so it ends up sitting in your basement for years, collecting dust.

This common practice of mistaking a basement for a landfill prevents a homeowner from making the most of valuable space.  Essentially, you are paying per square foot of your house, and not effectively making use of a large basement is simply a waste of money. There are a ton of fun, interesting, and practical things you can do with a basement if it is cleared of all that junk.  I’d like to take this opportunity to provide you with a list of the top ten things you can do to make proper use of your basement.

1. Exercise Room: So you’ve wanted to get in shape but don’t want to pay for a gym membership, or simply can’t get the motivation to pack up and drive to the gym every day.  Your basement is the perfect place to set up your personal, customized exercise room.  You can pick the equipment to your liking, whether you are into lifting weights, running on a treadmill, hitting a heavy bag or working out on a Bowflex.  You can even invite some friends or family members down there to join you on your fitness crusade. 
2. Guest Room: Often times when guests stay over for an extended period of time they can become a burden on your home, constantly getting in the way and popping out at the most awkward moments.  A basement is a great place to install a guest room, not only because it gives your visitor a bit of privacy, but also because it will keep them out of your hair.
3. Movie Theatre:  Nowadays, with the proper HD TV equipment, you can get the picture and sound quality of a Cineplex from the comfort of your home.  Throw in some comfy couches and a popcorn machine, and you’ll never want to leave home on those rainy Saturdays again.
4. Art Studio:  You’ve always wanted to take up drawing, ceramics, sculpting, or a number of other arts, but just don’t have a place to do it.  Your basement is the perfect place to pick up that hobby or art form.
5. Pool Hall:  Pool halls are often crowded, smoky, and filled with people that you don’t really like.  That’s why getting a pool table in your basement can make it the perfect place to have friends over to play some billiards.  Emulate the real thing by installing a few small TVs in high places and a mini-fridge down low.
6. Small Business: If you are a budding entrepreneur who is about to launch a home business, considering using your basement as an office.  It will provide more of a separation between your home and work life than the other rooms in your house, and also can be a great, quiet place to focus on your business goals.  
7. Mini Zoo / Aquarium:  Your house is overflowing with fish tanks, lizard terrariums, hamster cages and who knows what else.  Your basement is the perfect place to establish as a ‘pet zone,’ where animals can be taken care of and enjoyed, but not be in your face every second of every day.
8. Ping Pong Center:  Ping Pong (or Table Tennis) requires a good amount of space that can’t often be found within the interiors of most homes.  Basements are the perfect place to set down a ping pong table and start playing.  Place a whiteboard on the wall and you can keep track of scores and tournaments and install a rack someplace to hold your ping pong paraphernalia.  
9. Arcade:  Your basement can fulfill your children’s dreams (or yours) of having your own personal arcade.  Whether it is old school Pac-Man style machines or modern gaming consoles, your basement can become the place to escape to a fantastic world of gaming.
10. Children’s Fun Zone: If you have kids, the basement can be a place where they can play and make a mess, but not cause a hassle.  Given you keep an eye on them, children love to have their own space to run around and create those little imaginative games.  If you have some sleeping bags on hand, the basement is also a great place for your kids and their friends to have an adventuresome but safe sleep over.  

No matter what you plan to use your basement for, it needs to be cleared of all that junk before you can transform it.  Sometimes that junk can be heavy and troublesome – hauling it yourself can prove a daunting project.  That’s why Junk-King offers affordable and efficient junk hauling services so that you can reclaim your basement from the clutter.  If you book an appointment today, Junk-King’s professional movers will even give you a free on-site basement clearing estimate.

Many businesses across the country are glad to put 2009 behind them. 2010 marks a fresh start for businesses, bringing a better economic atmosphere and renewed goals for success.  Some companies have been hunkering down throughout the past year and cutting costs wherever possible.  Now, with a bit of extra capital, businesses can start to prepare for some ‘spring cleaning’ to get their priorities and goals in order.

There are a number of things a business can do for a fresh start, including upgrading computer systems, re-evaluating customer relations processes, and hiring new talent.  One often overlooked step a business can take to ‘reboot’ its operations is by cleaning out the office.  A good office environment is essential to the productivity of employees.  Clutter and unused office furniture can be distracting to employees and can also take up space that could be otherwise used to make a company more efficient.  Just as a house needs a good spring cleaning, businesses should also consider getting rid of the junk that is piling up from the last year of operations (or well before that).

Here are a few reasons why cleaning up the office can be essential for a business:

• Productivity:  It is proven that employees are more efficient in an uncluttered environment.  Having some open space can help an employee hone in on the task at hand.  This doesn’t mean a productive office can’t have ‘extra stuff.’ However, it’s one thing to have fun and gimmicky office appliances (such as gumball machines) and another to have old office furniture lying around doing nothing. 
• Employee Health:  Just as old home appliances and furniture that sits around can accumulate dust and mold, old office furniture will do the same.  Getting rid of this old furniture can drastically improve the air quality and general cleanliness of the office environment.
• Business Image:  A good image is essential to any business that is trying to grow or network with other companies.  If you bring some potential clients into an office filled with junk, they probably won’t get a great first impression of your business.  Clearing out the extra clutter will certainly give off a more professional image.

So now that you’ve figured out you need to get rid of the unwanted clutter and junk in your office – how do you go about it?  Hiring a junk removal service like Junk-King is often the most efficient and cost effective way to clean up your office.  Much of the larger office items that need to be moved can be hassle for yourself or your employees to take on.  Setting aside the time and manpower to move this office junk can disrupt your normal business operations.  That’s why a professional junk removal service can perform an efficient ‘in-and-out’ haul that won’t disrupt business. Junk-King also recycles 40-60% received materials, so that you will know your business is contributing to a cleaner environment.