1. Safety Issues: Many people do not realize that many of their older items in their home could present a possible safety hazard. Appliances and electrical items may not be up to code or could present potential fire hazards. Older toys may have been part of the millions of toys recalled due to lead based paint. Items that are broken can also be a safety hazard to use. Not to mention the more stuff you have, the increased likelihood you will have trips, falls, and stubbed toes in the middle of the night.

2. You’re Paying For Storage: If you’re paying for a storage unit, you may want to really think about what you have in that unit and what you have in your home that you may want to get rid of instead. We cost comparably or less than 1 month’s fee compared to most rental areas for an equivalent space in our truck. If you haven’t had the need to visit your storage unit in the past 6 months, it’s likely time to start thinking about what you have that you could get rid of.

3. You want to Be More Organized: Whether you’re looking to organize your garage, basement, kitchen, or tackling Closet Organization, the less stuff you have, the easier it will be to find and organize all of your things.

4. You Want to Improve Your Property Value: Most real estate experts will agree that having too much stuff inside or outside of your home can negatively affect the perceived value of your property. Cleaning up inside and out can help your property sell more quickly or help professionals accurately place a value on it.

5. Save Time: Most of our full truckload jobs can be done in just a few hours, depending on what items you have and if you have us move the items for you or if you have them ready to go on the curb. You can also save a lot of time

6. Get More Space: A once cluttered garage can become a workshop or studio. Turn that cluttered office into a workout room. When you have more space, you can find that you have more freedom to do more things.

7. Feel More Relaxed: When you have less clutter, you will likely find yourself feeling less stressful and more relaxed in your environment. Too much stuff can lead to distraction or making it hard to concentrate.

There are many more ways we might be able to help you – feel free to give us a call 412-848-1388 to see if there is a way we can help with your junk removal needs in the Pittsburgh area.

Here is was before:

And here it is after:

Our client Lisa D. was more than happy with the work completed and the affordable price of removal. After the job was completed she emailed us “You really DID go ABOVE and beyond what I expected…It looks great again thank you.”

If you have either junk removal project or an old shed or out building you need help removing, feel free to call us at 412-848-1388 or get in touch via our contact form.

Below is a quick checklist of things you should do before putting your home up for sale this spring:

1. Get Rid of Anything You Don’t Need: No, we’re not just saying this because we’re a junk removal company. Having too much clutter, a garage or basement piled high with items you don’t need or use, or any debris in your yard can really turn potential buyers away, costing you precious time and money as your home stays on the market longer. A buyer should be focused on the selling points of your home – not how much stuff you have! Having cluttered rooms or too much furniture can also make a large room seem much smaller than it actually is. You can donate items to charity, sell them, or you can always contact us to haul it away for you. Getting rid of things you don’t need can also save you money on moving and storage fees.

2. Give the Home a Thorough Cleaning: Cleaning might not be a lot of fun, but it is important that you give your home a thorough cleaning in order to make it outshine the competition. Beyond the basics of washing windows, dusting, mopping, and vacuuming, you will also want to make sure you give attention to small details such as your appliances, doors, and baseboards.

3. Consider a Fresh Coat of Paint: A freshly painted room instantly looks better. Neutral colors such as beige and tan seem to be the most appealing to home buyers, so if you have rooms that are bright vibrant colors you may want to tone them down a little to make your home seem like a blank canvas for potential buyers to decorate.

4. Clean Up the Outside: The way your home looks from the street, also known as curb appeal, can also help attract more buyers to your home. Many promotional materials for selling a home include outdoor pictures, so you will want to make sure the outside of your home looks its best. Make sure your walkways are in good shape, any shrubs are taken care of, and that any debris or unwanted items in your yard or on a deck and porch have been cleaned up also.

5. Consider a Home Inspection: Almost all buyers will request a home inspection when putting an offer on your home. Having a pre-inspected home can help save you unexpected surprises and make repairs early on your terms and budget, as well as stronger negotiating power when the home goes under contract.

6. Interview Agents With Care: There are hundreds of real estate agents in the Pittsburgh area. You will want to make sure when you are interviewing agents to sell your home that you ask them important questions such as their experience, the technology they use, their marketing plan, and how they will communicate with you. Don’t choose an agent just because they think they can sell your home for more than the other agents you’ve talked to – the listing price alone is not as important as your level of satisfaction of service you receive and the agent’s knowledge and negotiating experience. If you plan on selling your home “for sale by owner” or FSBO, be sure you speak to a real estate attorney to make sure all aspects of selling your home are covered.

Approximately 5000+ homes sold in Western Pennsylvania in just 30 days or less according to WPML statistics. Doing these things listed above can help make sure your home sells this spring in the least amount of time for the best possible price.

And of course, if you need help removing items you don’t want from your home before placing it for sale, feel free to call us at 412-848-1388 or use our contact form to request more information and set up an appointment. We’d be happy to help you get rid of unwanted items and sell your home successfully.

If you need help cleaning up yard debris or other messes from the storm, feel free to give us a call at 412-848-1388 to discuss your needs.

This is great news for many of us who have been dealing with icy and snow covered driveways and the usual “winter blahs”.

Here’s a screen shot of the 5 day forecast from KDKA.com:

I’m sure all of us will be looking forward to Saturday and Sunday!

If you’re planning on doing any clean up projects this weekend and need help, feel free to give us a call to see if we can fit you into the schedule to take advantage of this warmer weather coming!

This is an old video that was made for the last time we made it to the Superbowl, but thought it was a great video that showed the Terrible Towel and Steelers Fans all over the world.

Enjoy! Go Steelers!

Congratulations to Pittsburgh and the Steelers for winning the AFC Conference Title!

To celebrate this exciting news for our city, we are offering a special 10% discount on any appointments booked and carried out before February 2nd.

If the Steelers win the Super Bowl, who knows what specials we’ll offer!

1. Insulate, Insulate, Insulate: Make sure that any pipe exposed to colder temperatures are well insulated and that the areas where pipes are located are also insulated. You can get pipe insulation at any hardware store. All pipes are suspectible to freezing and breaking – so don’t forget pvc pipes also.

2. Consider Electric Heat Tape: Usually recommended for pipes in crawl spaces or unheated areas, electric heat tape can help keep pipes from freezing. Be sure to follow the cautions and directions on the package carefully and that only indoor tape is used indoors and outdoor tape is only used outdoors. Electric heat tape is also available at most hardware stores.

3. Seal Drafts: Even a tiny leak of air in severe cold weather can cause pipes to freeze. Using caulk or insulation can help. Check around all doors, windows, and any vents.

4. Shut Off Outside Water Sources: Many homes are equipped so that water for garden house faucets or other outdoor water supplies can be turned off. Turning the water off for these can help prevent any water collecting in the pipes and freezing when exposed to the outside air.

What to Do if Your Pipes Freeze:

If your pipes freeze, you may notice you turn the water on and nothing comes out of the faucet. Leave the faucets on and call your plumber to reduce chances of the pipes breaking.

Never attempt to thaw pipes using a torch or anything with an open flame, as it is possible for you to not only burn down your home, but also puts you at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. If the pipes are not broken yet and there is no standing water, you may attempt to use a hairdryer on a low setting and begin thawing the pipes starting at the faucet and then moving along towards the coldest section of the pipe.

If Your Pipes Burst:

If your pipes burst, the first thing to do is to turn off the main water supply valve to your home. If you are unable to do this yourself or locate it, calling your water supply company may be able to help. Calling a plumber is recommended for them to assess the damage and to repair the burst pipes. The plumber will also be able to help you prevent freezing pipes from happening again.

You will also want to assess any damage that has occurred from the frozen pipes. You may want to call your homeowner’s insurance agent to see if your policy covers water damage from frozen pipes. You will also want to check floorboards, walls, and carpeting for water damage, because if these are left uncared for it may become susceptible for rotting and mold growth.

If you need help getting rid of flooded or ruined items, contact us for a free estimate. We can help make the clean up process a lot easier and save you the hassle or costs of renting a dumpster. Hopefully though you’ll follow these tips to prevent your pipes from freezing and won’t need us!