How to choose a junk removal company

Most junk removal jobs are booked on the phone in under five minutes. The five minutes are worth spending well, because the difference between a good hauler and a bad one shows up after the truck leaves: a dumped load in a vacant lot, a damaged doorframe nobody will pay for, or a bill that doubled on site.

Check the basics first

• Licensing. Many cities and counties require a hauling or business license. Ask for the license number and check it on the city or county website.
• Insurance. General liability covers your property; workers' compensation covers the crew. A company that cannot name its insurer is a company you are insuring yourself.
• A real address. A company with a yard, a truck and an address is easier to hold to its word than a phone number and a van.

Ask how they price

Haulers price by truck load fraction, by item, or by weight. Any of the three is fine. What matters is that the quote is all-in: labor, fuel, disposal fees and taxes. Ask the question directly: "Is there anything that can be added to this price on site?" A good answer is "only if the load is bigger than you described, and we will tell you before we start."

Ask where the load goes

Reputable haulers donate what can be donated, recycle what can be recycled and landfill the rest. Ask which charities and recyclers they use. A company that answers quickly with names is a company that actually does it.

Questions to ask on the phone

1. Can you come the same day, and what is the arrival window?
2. What do you refuse to take?
3. Do you move items from inside the house, or only from the curb?
4. Is there a minimum charge?
5. Who do I call if something is damaged?

Red flags

• Cash only, no receipt.
• A quote given without asking what the items are.
• No company name on the truck.
• Pressure to decide on the phone before a crew has seen the load.