November is the month to be thankful, to enjoy time with our families and consider all our blessings. That makes it a great time to donate items you don’t need anymore.

Why donate items you don’t use anymore? First of all, it helps people in need. Temperatures are finally dropping in the metro Atlanta area; homeless shelters and other organizations that serve those in need often find their resources strapped right now. In this time of goodwill and thankfulness, isn’t it great to give back to our communities?

Second of all, it frees up space in our homes to prepare for the holidays! At Mr. Junk we’re pretty excited about decluttering–we love the pleasant look and calm feel of a tidy home. Plus, we love being able to find things when we need them! The winter holidays often bring an influx of guests, food, and gifts, so get prepared by paring down early.

While you’re planning what to declutter and donate, bear in mind a couple of easy tips. Be ruthless in what you select to declutter, but don’t donate trash! The easiest way to handle this is to get rid of everything you don’t need, and then contact Mr. Junk to haul it away. When we pick up a load of junk, we don’t just toss it in a landfill–we sort through each piece and donate or recycle everything we can before we ever throw anything away. Plus, you only pay for what we haul, with no hidden fees. 

This holiday season, let’s work together to get your house organized and your excess stuff to people who need it!

The weather is finally cooling down, which is great! But as it gets chillier outside, you may find that your family members aren’t the only ones retreating into your home. That’s right–pests will happily invade your indoor spaces for shelter during the colder months. How can you keep them away from your attics, closets, and crawl spaces? 

• Declutter. Rodents in particular love to live in your junk. The less junk you have, the fewer places they have to hide. Get rid of clutter and be ruthless!
• Properly Store Food. Make sure that you’re not providing free meals to pests. Store food in rodent-proof containers, and never leave uneaten pet food out.
• Take Out the Trash. Pests aren’t picky! The less trash there is in your home, the less pests have to eat. Take out the trash regularly and keep indoor trash cans carefully sealed. Use bungee cords if necessary. Don’t put anything past rodents!
• Call an Exterminator. By the time you see rodents, your pest problem is well advanced. The signs of pests are also signs that you should call a professional.
• Declutter Again! Did you really declutter last time? Do it once more, just in case. Cleaning out the attic, the crawl space, the closets, and even the drawers in your home will go a long way towards dissuading pests.

With a little extra work, you can make your home comfortable for your family, but not for mice, rats, and bugs. Don’t forget to call Mr. Junk in Metro Atlanta to haul away your unwanted stuff so they have nowhere to hide!

Moving to a new home can be such a hassle! It seems like no matter how carefully you plan, something unexpected always pops up. Here at Mr. Junk we’re pretty much the moving experts, so take a look at our moving timeline for some good ideas on how to keep on top of things.

Six to Eight Weeks in Advance

• Begin collecting important documents, including school and medical records.
• Research and contact moving companies.
• Begin using up your frozen foods and cleaning supplies.

One Month in Advance 

• Begin packing anything you won’t need over the next month.
• Schedule the cancellation or transfer of utilities, including internet service.
• While you’re packing, declutter!

Two Weeks in Advance

• Change your address with the post office, banks, family, etc.
• Contact Mr. Junk to schedule a pickup of things you don’t need anymore.
• Continue packing.

The Week Of

• Pack an Essentials Bag for the days just after the move, including important documents, scissors, a first aid kit, clothing for a few days, and any other personal items you’ll want easy access to.
• Take pets to the vet for checkups and anxiety medication if needed.
• Finish packing! Plan to have this done a few days in advance to save yourself some headaches.
• Put together a list of addresses and important phone numbers for everyone to have on moving day.

The Night Before

• Add daily medication, phone chargers, and grooming supplies like toothbrushes to your Essentials Bag. Pack this bag in the car with your purse, coats, and keys.
• Get a good night’s sleep!

Moving Day

• Make sure everything is turned off, if applicable.
• Do a final walkthrough to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything.

With a little extra planning, moving doesn’t have to be terrible. Remember that the more junk you have Mr. Junk haul away, the less you have to pack!

Decluttering your home isn’t only good for your peace of mine–you may also come upon certain items that may be valuable! While you’re organizing and cleaning, keep an eye out for the following:

• Coins. Next time you sweep the couch cushions for loose change, take a look at them before you toss them in the change jar. Look for coins that were only in circulation for a short time, or coins with minting errors, like double dates. Unlike everything else on this list, dirty coins tend to sell for higher prices, so don’t clean them before you take them in for appraisal. 
• Comic Books. Should you stumble on a comic featuring the first ever appearance of a popular character, consider yourself very lucky–a copy of Action Comics #1, the first appearance of Superman, sold for over $3 million! But for the rest of us, keep an eye out for older comics (pre-1970s) in good condition. Books about popular characters (such as anything with a movie) with low issue numbers are your best bet.
• Art. Like comics, the condition of a piece of art is going to have a big impact on its value. Art tends to be subjective in its pricing, but generally an original will be worth more than a print or reproduction. Contact local museums and galleries to find reputable dealers to help you price art.
• Stamps. These are similar to coins. Stamps that only circulated for a short time or stamps with manufacturing errors are your best bet. The better the condition they’re in, the better the price they are likely to fetch.

If you’ve been hanging on to something just because you think it might be valuable, speak with a qualified, reputable dealer to get a fair assessment. After you’ve sorted out what to keep and what to sell, call Mr. Junk in Metro Atlanta to get rid of everything else!

Every year, Americans produce about 230 million tons of trash. Only about a quarter of that gets recycled! Recycling at home can seem like a big job, so at Mr. Junk in Metro Atlanta, we’ve put together some tips to set up home recycling.

First, know what is and isn’t recyclable in your home city or county. Depending on where in Metro Atlanta you live, that can change. Check your local listings for the City of Atlanta, Cherokee County, Gwinnett County, Dekalb County, or Cobb County. Some locations may have curb-side recycle; others may require a trip to the recycling center.  

Once you know what can be recycled, and where to recycle it, it’s time to set up your home recycling. Set aside a dedicated recycling container in your kitchen, bathroom, and anywhere else you throw out a lot of things, like a craft room. Some municipalities give free or discounted recycling bins, or you can simply pick up a different trash can at the store. Make sure the recycling bin is distinct from the bin you use for trash so you don’t confuse it. While you’re still getting use to it, put a list of recyclables on the wall behind the bin.

Remember, Mr. Junk recycles over 75% of the material we remove! We also donate items, and do all we can to ensure we don’t throw away anything more than we have to. If you have big hauling jobs, or even little ones, contact us first–you only pay for what we haul!