With COVID keeping many of us at home the past few years, many got to work making their homes into their best versions. Remodeling and decluttering junk they no longer needed was a big part of it. This has caused a surge in business for junk haulers. After hiring Those Junk Movers for a hauling job and having a great experience, I thought it would be great to learn more about how fellow homeowners can prepare to have their own unwanted items easily removed. I had the opportunity to learn more from Jiliberto Pimentel, owner of Those Junk Movers. Here is a little bit of behind the scenes of a locally-owned junk hauling business. Read on for the interview!
FresYes: Tell me about yourself – how did Those Junk Movers get started, and what made you decide to go into this field? How long ago did the business get started?
Jiliberto: My Name is Jiliberto Pimentel, and I am the owner and operator of Those Junk Movers. I served for 5 years in the Marine Corps. After being discharged I serviced energy fuel cells across the Central Valley for 12 years.
Starting my own business has always been my dream – and I began to create Those Junk Movers in May 2021. Since then, it has grown into a full-time operation. The idea of a junk removal business stuck out to me after listening to Econtalk, an economics podcast. On the podcast they discussed the book Second Hand by Adam Minter, which talks about how Americans tend to overconsume household goods, then struggle with the logistics of storing and disposing of unwanted items – this was a lightning bolt moment and provided me with direction.
FresYes: Are you from the Valley originally? What do you like most about living here?
Jiliberto: I was born and raised in Huron, CA, a small farming community in the South end of Fresno County. What I like most about the Valley is the openness. Fresno is a large city, but still has the benefits of a country feel to it.
FresYes. What’s a typical work day like for your business? And – what’s a wild work day like? Any really memorable clean ups that you felt super proud of?
Jiliberto: I have to say, there isn’t anything typical about the junk hauling business! There have been days where we have 1 job scheduled in the morning, and while we are at that job, we book 3 more. We work hard to get to our customers as soon as possible.
Currently, the most memorable task was for an older gentleman who was unable to clean out his backyard by himself. We removed over 20 cubic yards of junk. He even wanted to help with the loading of some of it, and he was extremely grateful for the service we had provided.
FresYes: What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Jiliberto: The most rewarding part of the job is helping people. Our customers have all kinds of different reasons why they need help to get rid of unwanted items, but I love seeing our customers show signs of relief as we wrap up a job. To me it’s very rewarding knowing that we have helped them. Another rewarding aspect of this job is getting to meet our customers. Their stories always amaze me! It never fails that they pass on knowledge I am able to learn from, and often implement in my business and in life.
FresYes: If people need your help, what is the best way to prepare for your service, and is there a general guideline they can use to plan their haul-away budget?
Jiliberto: Customers need to determine how much junk they have that needs to be removed. A cubic yard is the approximate size of a washer or dryer. Once they determine how many cubic yards of junk they have, then they can start looking for a quote.
Some items will have additional fees to dispose of at the landfill, and some junk removal companies will pass it on to the customer. Some of those items are appliances, refrigerators, tires, mattresses, bulky items, etc. It’s important to know that some junk removal companies will not take oil, paint, chemicals, or hazardous materials. If you are making a decision based on price, I recommend calling several companies and trying to get the lowest quote.
FreYes: What do you wish people knew/understood about your work – that many people probably do not?
Jiliberto: I wish people knew the realities of the fact. Sometimes I give a quote for a job and the customer will sometimes say, “I can dispose of that for less.” They may be right but our service also must account for manpower, fuel, equipment, licensing etc. Often times there are less expensive ways to do a task, but if you are reaching out to a company for help it’s helpful to keep in mind that it may not be the cheapest route, but you’ll be able to enjoy the convenience and professionalism that comes with hiring quality help.
FresYes: What’s the most interesting/unexpected thing you’ve ever been asked to haul away?
Jiliberto: After cleaning out a customer’s garage, he actually asked us to take a truck that he’d had parked for several years that needed a bit of work. He wanted to donate it to our company and help us grow after hearing that we had just started up. The vehicle will help our growth, and we plan to use it for advertising.
FresYes: What’s the best way for people to contact you/book your services?
Jiliberto: Customers can reach us at (559) 816-5167, on Facebook/Instagram under thosejunkmovers. For accurate quotes, we request you send us photos to our phone number above! Customers can also book a pickup at https://thosejunkmovers.com/.
FresYes: Anything else you’d like FresYes readers to know?
Jiliberto: We are here to help, and we pride ourselves in the work that we do!
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