Pre-Holiday Cleanup Tips

With the higher temperatures that have returned, it is the perfect time to do some last minute outdoor cleanup. Here are some actions you can consider taking before the next cold snap.

If you have Christmas lights and decorations in the garage then see what needs to be disposed of, repaired, or replaced as you get organized.

If you have leaves or branches on the ground then you may want to get them out of your yard or from under or around your deck etc before they are covered in snow and you have to wait to deal with it in the spring. 

If you have dead branches on trees in precarious positions (i.e. over wires or roofs) then you may want to cut them down or have them taken down by a professional arborist to avoid them coming down if Toronto gets another ice storm.

This could be your last chance to redeem yourself if you promised someone to cleanup the garage, backyard, or basement. Make the most of the time remaining and before the busy holiday season is upon us.

While you are in cleanup mode, you should keep up the momentum and see what kind of cleanup and space-making you can do inside in preparation for visiting family and friends as well as all of the gifts that will be coming in over the holiday season.

As part of your cleanup efforts, please give some thought to those less fortunate this holiday season and consider donating time, money, gifts, or furniture. You will be making a difference in people’s lives and you will feel better for it.

If you have any furniture that you would like to donate, we know our friends at The Furniture Bank would love to find a new home for it with people who could use it.

If you need our help then we are just a phone call, an email, or a tweet away!

photo credit: Mastery of Maps via photopin cc

The Top 5 Things You Should Know About Junk Removal

To some, junk is junk but there is more to it than that. While one person’s trash might be another person’s treasure, everything has to be examined to ensure that it gets handled properly. There are a number of things you should consider when faced with a junk removal situation.

1. What do you need removed and how urgently do you need it removed?

For example, if you are selling your house and need to tidy or stage it before people start viewing it then you may need things removed quickly. If you are doing spring or fall cleanup then you may not have the same kind of time constraints and elect to remove junk at your convenience.

2. What kind of junk do you need removed (quantity, hazardous material, heavy, awkward and/or requiring a lot of space)?

Sometimes you have junk that is big and awkward but not necessarily heavy. Sometimes you have junk left over from renovations or construction that can be heavy and/or somewhat hazardous with sharp edges or contain nails. If you have appliances or machinery that have reached the end of their use then perhaps it is time for them to go. You might accumulate junk if you are renovating your office and/or moving to a new one (e.g. old cubicles and out of date office equipment).

Junk such as paint, chemicals, batteries, petroleum materials, medical/biohazardous waste, or asbestos may require special equipment and certain expertise which may mean calling a firm or firms that specialize in those types of materials.

3. Who are you going to call - two guys and a truck that drove through your neighbourhood or someone more reputable?

Don’t go with the person who just drove by or whose name and number on the truck look slapped on and temporary. Take some time and investigate. Do some research online. Ask friends, family, and colleagues who have used them in the past and what their experiences were like.

4.  Do you know where to go to find reputable junk removers?

See how long they have been in business. Google them! You never know what you will find. Maybe they have been praised or criticized online and Googling them will help you find that out. Check out review sites to hear directly from customers. See if their site includes testimonials and, if so, check them out.

5.  Do you know what kind of protection you have as a consumer?

Checkout their website. See what they say about their services and what kind of guarantee they offer. Call with questions and don’t commit til you feel comfortable. Asking questions when the company is already at your location creates unnecessary pressure. Call ahead and go through the process over the phone and confirm expectations in advance. Doing some online research doesn’t hurt either. Being an informed consumer helps you ask the right questions and companies appreciate dealing with well-informed customers. It makes it much smoother for everyone involved.

photo credit: Lawrence Whittemore via photopin cc