Junk removal in Los Angeles is a growth business. Since 2008 and the implosion of the housing market in Los Angeles junk removal has experienced a growth spurt. More and more real estate agents are turning to junk removal companies to help them clean up properties, more contractors are relying on junk removal to clean up their job sites, and individual homeowners are turning to junk removal services to help them de-clutter.

But junk removal in Los Angeles also comes with its dark side and with its bad apples. Luckily, you can avoid these bad apples (mostly) and we’ll show you how.

The most common way junk removal companies in Los Angeles scam customers is the tried and true bait and switch. You call up a junk removal company and say, I have This, That, and This Other thing. And they say, Great! That will be $170. Then a couple hours or a day later that junk removal company arrives at your door, they look around at your stuff, and then say, “Oh that will now be $500.” Because of stairs, because they had to park the truck on the street, because one of the workers stubbed their toes…

So how do you avoid this tactic?

First and foremost know who your junk removal company is before you hire them. How? There are dozens of internet review sites online like Yelp and Angie’s List. Chances are your junk removal company has been review by other customers. You can also check with the Los Angeles Better Business Bureau to see if your junk removal company has had any recent complaints.

When you book your appointment ask the junk removal company you called if their price quote includes labor. Junk removal companies frequently provide low junk removal quotes, but conveniently leave off the labor charges. If you plan on having your junk removal service dispose of hazardous materials, ask how much extra they’ll charge for disposal of toxic materials.

If your junk removal company in Los Angeles does try the bait and switch, send them packing. Bait-and-switch companies rely on psychology to bully you into paying extra. Don’t give in. Hold firm to a quoted price and if they don’t want to do a job for that price, send them packing and find a new junk removal company that honors their original price.

Lastly, if a quoted price seems too good to be believed, it probably is too good to be true.