Story and Photos by Art Petrosemolo
It’s that time of year when flowers bloom, allergy sufferers suffer, and some people start thinking of getting rid of stuff that their kids have outgrown, or just don’t use anymore.
It’s yard sale season for some, but for others who are downsizing big time, it’s a call to the guy who will take it all.
There are lots of those “guys” in Monmouth County with names like AAA CleanUp, Hitmen Cleanouts, Junk-Be-Gone and 1-800Got Junk. Some are regional franchises of national companies while others are local, entrepreneurial hands-on operations.
Three years ago, friends Dane DeBartolo and John Doherty started their own company, Jersey Junkers, out of Middletown. They handle general cleanups, downsizing, furniture and junk removal from move-ins or move-outs, cleanups after fires, and other disasters.
“It’s hard but honest work,” DeBartolo says, hefting an old dishwasher with Doherty from a Cherry Tree Farm Road home in Middletown, where they were helping Donna Valente’s parents get rid of 40 years of “stuff” the family has acquired in the house.
People call his company for different reasons, he said. Many people just don’t have the time or inclination to sort and donate. And many non-profits just won’t pick up large pieces of furniture or the like.
“What it comes down to is, people just want it gone,” said DeBartolo.
Although the company advertises and uses social media, many of their jobs come from referrals or someone seeing their truck on the job. That’s how they got this contract: Valente got their name from friend Peggy Evernham, who saw their truck and hired them to remove windows and doors left over from a house fire and not removed in the demolition.
Hiring a junk removal service is similar to having a Dumpster dropped off n your backyard for a clean up. “The difference is that we do the work,” DeBartolo says. “We remove the stuff from your home and then clean up before we go.”
Their truck is 15 cubic yards and a typical load is about three-quarters of the truck. Customers pay by volume, but there is an extra charge when removing heavy construction debris. The cost to remove a truckload is about $600. Most junk removal companies are registered with the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). They usually move the trash to private transfer stations where it is separated. Some materials are recycled before the rest is carted to landfills.
The busiest months for junk removal is April through September, the same time as the busy moving season. At times, DeBartolo says, “I think everyone is moving to Florida.”
With lots of competition, being licensed, insured and providing the best service can make the difference. “They’re terrific guys,” said Evernham, their customer. “They responded to my call the same day and had things cleared away quickly.”
Although many loads go to the transfer station daily, not all make it all the way. DeBartolo smiles when he says people would be surprised at what other people call junk. “I furnished my apartment with some nice things we were taking to the transfer station.”
Jersey Junkers’ biggest job happened earlier this spring when they got a call from a “hoarder” who was finally ready to get rid of stuff. “Oh, he had stuff,” DeBartolo says, “we removed eight full truckloads from his house. It was the mother lode of stuff, and we were pretty tired at the end of the day.”
Moving and Packing Tips
Managing a move to a new home can be overwhelming But having a plan and starting the process early can lessen the stress, says Econo-Line Movers President Jim Mahedy, who offers these tips:
1. Take inventory of your possessions to determine what you you’re keeping and what you can jettison.
2. Once you’ve determined what you don’t need to bring along, think out how you can donate, sell, discard or replace the items.
3. When you are ready to begin packing up, have a plan and tackle one room at a time. “I tell my customers to remember that they didn’t accumulate their possessions overnight so they should remain calm and not pressure themselves to pack the entire house up in one day,” Mahedy says.
4. Mark boxes with the enclosed contents, name of the room in new home it should be placed, and your last name. Utilize luggage, furniture trunks and chests by packing delicate items inside. Store legal, medical/insurance records in a safe area or in a handled lock box to protect these valuable items.
5. One month from moving day, notify the post office in both your new and old towns about your change of address. Reach out to utility companies for disconnect and connection services.
6. The day before the move, set aside extra moving supplies and tools, such as tape, a pocket knife, screwdriver, tape measure and marking pens. Pack a bag for your family containing things you will need during the move (change of clothing, toiletries, medicine, first aid kit, snacks and drinks.)
7. Share your cell phone number with the movers
8. Arrange for someone to care for pets during the move.
