The "Great Junk Transfer": The Hidden Emotional Toll of Inheriting a Lifetime of Memories
VANCOUVER, BC , Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ --
BACKGROUND:
The next big inheritance story isn't about money: it's about the things we leave behind. For millions of families, losing a parent or grandparent also means inheriting a lifetime of possessions and the difficult decisions that come with them. Sorting through photo albums, handwritten letters, furniture, holiday decorations, and a basement full of boxes can become an overwhelming part of the grieving process.
Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/1-800-got-junk/9411851-en-great-junk-transfer-emotional-toll-of-inheriting-possessions
This growing phenomenon is known as the "Great Junk Transfer" and new research reveals its hidden emotional toll. This summer, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? commissioned research administered online by Talker Research, surveying 2,200 adults across the United States, Canada, and Australia. The findings reveal that inheriting a loved one's belongings is often as emotionally complicated as it is physically overwhelming.
Findings include:
- Nearly half (48%) said they would rather inherit nothing at all than deal with a loved one's belongings.
- 60% feel guilty or obligated to keep family items they don't actually want.
- 54% said sorting through a relative's belongings made the grieving process more difficult.
- One in four families (26%) never discuss inheritance plans before a loved one passes away.
- About half (49%) said sentimental value is the primary reason they hold on to inherited possessions.
- When asked how many items people would prefer to inherit, the most common answer was just 1-5 items.
In this segment, Brian Scudamore, Founder and CEO of 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, discusses why families need to start talking openly about what will happen to their belongings after they're gone. He also shares insights from the new survey, explains the emotional burden families face during the "Great Junk Transfer," and offers simple steps people can take now to make the process easier later.
For more information, please visit: greatjunktransfer.com
MORE ABOUT BRIAN SCUDAMORE:
Serial entrepreneur, Dragons' Den investor, and author Brian Scudamore has always taken the road less travelled. At just 19 years old, he pioneered the industry of professional junk removal with 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, turning a chore people avoid into an exceptional customer service experience. Brian's accolades include Fortune Small Business' Best Bosses Award, the International Franchise Association's Entrepreneur of the Year, and the Globe & Mail's Top 40 under 40. His umbrella company, O2E Brands, also holds the distinction of being the only Canadian company listed in Newsweek's "Global Most Loved Workplaces". Find Brian's books, WTF?! (Willing to Fail): How Failure Can Be Your Key to Success, and BYOB: Build Your Own Business, Be Your Own Boss at BrianScudamore.com.
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 15-30 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.