A&E's Hoarders: How 1-800-GOT-JUNK? takes part in a hoarding cleanup
Ever wonder what it's really like behind the scenes of a reality TV show? Here's what happens when 1-800-GOT-JUNK? gets the call from A&E's Hoarders.
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of Hoarders? 1-800-GOT-JUNK? has been working with the show since 2009. After so many seasons we can definitely give a unique behind the scenes perspective of the show.
These shoots take place all over the United States and Canada, so our first order of business is to work with the production company to identify which one of our more than 150 franchises locations would be the best match. After that’s completed we start coordinating resources with the local Franchise Partner. What we usually orchestrate for each episode:
- 4 1-800-GOT-JUNK? trucks
- 8-10 uniformed Truck Team Members
Each episode is shot over a four day period, with 1-800-GOT-JUNK? showing up on the third and fourth day. This timing allows the homeowners to work with the professional organizer and the clinical psychologist before we arrive, which gives homeowners the opportunity to prepare themselves for the actual junk removal process.
The cleanup is done at the pace of the homeowner and they dictate how much junk is hauled away, but our Truck Team Members are prepared to remove it all if necessary. From the initial ‘Morning Huddle’ at 8:00 am until the professional organizer calls it a day around 5:00 pm, our franchise is dedicated to helping the homeowner.
Many people ask why we help out on hoarders and the answer is the people. An example of a homeowner who really made an impression on us was in the fifth season. We had five 1-800-GOT-JUNK? trucks and ten Truck Team Members working in the summer, with high temperatures and long hours of loading and lifting outside.
The acreage that was full of hoarded renovation debris was a daunting sight – but after three days of solid work, we cleared it out. As we battened down the junk trucks and prepared for our convoy back into town, the homeowner and their family ran over to us to say goodbye. It was then that one family member pulled out a dozen red roses. She handed a beautiful rose to each of our dirty, exhausted junk haulers.
With tears in her eyes and one remaining rose in her hand, she thanked our men with the statement, “you have turned an experience that was so ugly into something more beautiful than this rose. You have no idea how much you’ve helped us.” See the photo above that she took moments after to remember the day we helped her family get back on track.
Remembering moments like that is why we help out on Hoarders. To date, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? has helped more than 80 homeowners rid themselves of their debilitating hoard on the set of Hoarders. We look forward to many more successful clean outs in the future. Stay tuned!
Frequently asked questions
We price based on how much space your items take up in the back of our truck, broken down into ⅛, ¼, ½, ¾ of a truckload, all the way up to a full truckload. Our trucks hold the equivalent of seven pickup trucks.
Our prices vary based on location and there is a minimum charge for our teams to remove your items, which is different in each location, based on a number of factors, including local disposal and recycling fees.
We offer single item pricing for certain items such as mattresses or TVs, sometimes this will be less than our minimum charge.
For materials that have a heavy cubic weight like dirt, concrete, and gravel, pricing is based on the total volume that the material takes up in the truck, up to a maximum of one foot in height for a full truck.
Watch us load up a truck to see how our standard pricing works!
If you need service weekly, monthly, or quarterly, we offer bulk pricing discounts. This gives you better value compared to common alternatives, such as dumpsters or less professional junk removal services.
Interested? Call our business account team at 1-888-475-3461 to discuss your needs as well as pricing options.
On the day of your appointment with us, our friendly, uniformed truck team members will give you a call or text 25-30 mins before we arrive to let you know we’re on our way.
Whether your business has a single location or multiple locations, we can create a custom junk removal solution that works for you. We can coordinate pickups at multiple locations at a local, regional, and national level. Rather than work with dozens of regional or local companies, let 1-800-GOT-JUNK? handle the jobs across all your locations.
Absolutely! We take large items all the time. As long as it can be lifted and loaded into the truck by two people, we'll be happy to take it away for you!
We work with all types of businesses and can handle any type of job - cleanouts, bulk item removal, general junk removal and even specific items like cardboard or pallets. We can take pretty much anything as long as it's not toxic or hazardous. We can remove your items from wherever they’re located, whether it’s your office, store, site or anywhere else—all you have to do is point!
Yes, we're fully licensed, bonded and insured! We have insurance covering damages to both persons and property for every single booking.
While we don't quite service the entire map, we cover almost every greater metropolitan area across the US, Canada, and Australia. To see if we’re in your neighborhood, you can start a booking by entering your zip code here.
Our customer service center is open 24/7, so we’re here whenever you need us! While operating hours may vary in our franchise locations, we offer same-day and off-hours service, including weekends.
