When you're selling your house you're usually required to leave it in broom clean condition and empty of all items and debris. And empty means empty - that pile of stuff in the corner of the cellar? it's got to go. Those old bottles of weedkiller or cans of old paint? You can't leave them.
Our possessions often seem to expand to fill whatever space is available. If you've lived in your house for a long time or if you're downsizing to a smaller home, there's a good chance that there's plenty of stuff you'd rather not bring with you.
In Cambridge we're lucky enough to have curbside trash pickup. I was surprised however to find new rules on the City's website about how much trash can be left for pickup. Cambridge has tightened the regulations in what I imagine is a cost cutting measure. The rules allow for only one major piece of furniture to be left out each week. You're not going to be ready to move at that rate.
So - who you should you call to dispose of unwanted goods? And what about what we've learned to call "hazardous waste" - those ubiquitous bottles of chemicals, cans of paint, spare tires, old propane tanks, etc?
Trash Haulers and Clean-Out Companies
The trash haulers who'll clear out your house or basement are the last step in the process of cleaning out your house before the sale. Pricing is done by estimate, by weight, by the dumpster or by the partial or full truck load. They'll send a crew who'll haul your stuff out and away. There are typically extra charges for some items - TVs, large appliances, computer monitors, etc. since the hauler has to pay an additional charge for disposal. Household chemicals are typically not taken.
Companies include:
Jim's Clean-Up and Haul-Away of Cambridge....617-868-7066
Clean-Up - Clean-Out....617-846-5134
1-800-GOTJUNK....1-800-468-5865
Hazardous Waste Disposal
If you do have unwanted old paint cans, household chemicals, gasoline and other substances no longer allowed in the trash you'll need to plan in advance to drop them off at a Hazardous Waste Collection Day. Several are held in Cambridge each year and for a fee you can drop off at a collection day at the Minuteman Facility in Lexington.
Sometimes the new buyers of your house will want cans with current paint colors to be left with the house. You should always have your agent check with the buyers to make sure they want the paint rather than discover the morning of your house sale that you've got to clear out those shelves of paint.
By the time you're done clearing out your house you'll probably resolve to never, ever collect so much stuff again. Collecting stuff seems to part of the makeup of many of us however. Here's George Carlin's take on the subject.
For more ideas see the rest of the series about Cleaning Out Your Cambridge House:
Sell Your Stuff To Sell Your House
Appraisers, Auctions and Antique Dealers
Donating Furniture, Household Goods and More
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