What should I ask a junk removal company before booking?

Before you book a junk removal company, get five things settled: the full price in writing and what could change it, which items they refuse or charge extra for, where your load goes, whether they hold any permit your locality requires and carry insurance, and when you pay. Most problems with junk removal come from a vague quote or a load that ends up somewhere it should not. A few questions on the phone prevent both.

The price, and what can change it

Ask how they price: by the share of the truck the load fills, by the item, or by weight, and what the minimum charge is. Then ask how they will measure on the day, and what happens if the pile is bigger than described. A good company will price from photos and a list and tell you the range; a company that will only name a price once the truck is in your driveway leaves you little room to say no.

Ask for every surcharge by name. Refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers and window AC units, mattresses, tires, TVs and heavy debris such as concrete or dirt are the usual ones. Ask whether stairs, long carries or taking furniture apart cost extra. For what drives these numbers and the public disposal fees behind them, see how much junk removal costs in Virginia.

What they will not take

Every hauler has a refused list, and some of it is set by law. Virginia law makes it unlawful to put a used lead acid battery in mixed municipal solid waste.^[5] EPA says lithium-ion batteries and devices containing them should not go in household garbage or recycling bins,^[6] because a battery crushed in transport or processing can start a fire.^[6] Paint, solvents, fuel, pesticides and propane tanks are usually refused too and belong at your locality's household hazardous waste drop-off; see how to dispose of old paint in Virginia.

For appliances that hold refrigerant, ask how they handle it. EPA says the final disposer of an appliance is responsible for recovering any refrigerant in it,^[4] and if someone else recovers it, EPA requires a signed statement with that person's name and address and the date of recovery.^[4] A company that takes refrigerators regularly will have an answer ready.

Where your load goes

This is the question people skip, and it matters. Virginia law makes it unlawful to dump trash, garbage, refuse or litter on public property, including a highway or right-of-way, or on private property without the written consent of the owner.^[1] A conviction is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 12 months in jail and a fine of $500 to $2,500.^[1]

A separate statute says it is the duty of all persons to dispose of their solid waste in a legal manner.^[2] It adds that, in a civil case, if the waste was in the defendant's possession before it was dumped without the landowner's permission, the court presumes the defendant improperly disposed of it unless the defendant shows otherwise.^[2] A court that finds improper disposal must assess a civil penalty of up to $5,000.^[2] Boxes and papers with your address on them can lead back to you, so it is worth hiring someone who can tell you where the load goes.

Ask which landfill, transfer station, scrap recycler or charity they use, and whether they can show the disposal ticket. Ask what they donate or recycle, and whether they give donation receipts.

Local permits and insurance

Some Virginia localities regulate who may collect refuse. Fairfax County's code requires refuse collectors serving county residents and businesses to hold a permit called a Certificate to Operate,^[3] and contracting with a company that does not have one is a violation of county code subject to civil penalties.^[3] The county publishes a list of permitted companies, and says the list is not a recommendation or endorsement.^[3] Elsewhere, ask the company and your county or city what applies.

Ask whether the company carries liability insurance, and who pays if the crew scratches a floor, gouges a door frame or damages a car in the driveway. Ask whether the people who come are employees or subcontractors.

Scheduling and payment

Ask for the date and an arrival window, how many people are coming, and whether you need to be home. Ask whether they need the items gathered in one place, and where the truck will park. Ask when payment is due and how; many companies collect when the job is done because the final price depends on the load. Get the price, the items included and the payment terms in writing before the crew arrives.

If something goes wrong

Raise it with the company in writing first, with photos. If that does not resolve it, the Virginia Attorney General's Consumer Protection Section takes complaints against businesses operating in Virginia through an online form,^[7] and runs a Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-552-9963 from within Virginia.^[7] It asks for copies, not originals, of your documents and a statement of the resolution you want.^[7] Report items dumped on a roadside or someone's land to your county or city.

Stop and call a pro if

• The load includes chemicals, unlabelled containers or fuel. Ask your locality's household hazardous waste program before anyone hauls it.
• Remodel work is part of the job, such as pulling out cabinets, flooring or a shed. That is a contractor's job, done before the hauler comes.
• A company will not give a price before loading, will not say where the load goes, or asks for full payment up front with nothing in writing. Keep looking.

Booking on Loclis

On Loclis you describe the job once at /jobs/new, businesses quote, and contact details are shared only after you book. A business that needs to see the load first can offer an estimate visit, and a paid visit fee comes off its price. Browse more junk removal and moving answers, see junk removal businesses, or find junk removal and moving businesses around Blacksburg.