Get Rid of Toxic Waste Safely Before you Sell YOUR Anoka County Home!

“I left all the extra paint  under the basement stairs, just in case you want to touch up a few things.” 

It's a statement that will often make a REALTOR® cringe at the closing. But it still is an announcement is made by home sellers at closings in Minnesota from time to time. Some home buyers are appreciative, especially if the home was recently repainted and they love the neutral color scheme. But agents, such as myself, will cringe when this hasn't been discussed prior to the closing. Some buyers won't be so happy because paint and other hazardous chemicals are considered to be toxic waste.

My husband and I periodically venture into our own little toxic wasteland of cans stored under the basement steps to do a project or touch up a bump or scratch in the paint. Every once in a while we are surprised by what is accumulated there. Some cans are so old, they are rusted shut. It is amazing how quickly we stack up dozens of half containers of paint we will never use again. 

When horde of chemicals and paint under the stairs gets to this point we know it's time for a trip to the Anoka County Household Hazardous Waste Facility (HHW) in Blaine!

The HHW is located at 3230 101st Ave NE in Blaine just west of the 35W and 95th Ave interchange and is open YEAR-ROUND and is FREE to Anoka County Residents...just bring proof of your ID to prove you are a resident of the county. Summer Hours (April through October)

Wednesday 2PM-8PM
Friday 9PM-3PM
Saturday 9PM-3PM

Winter Hours (November through March)

Wednesday 2PM-8PM
Saturday 9PM-3PMThe HHW accepts more than paint too. Drop off any household product that is labeled “Corrosive”, “Flammable”,” Poison”, “Toxic” or “Warning”. This includes old drain cleaner and mothballs from the hall closet and the insecticides and weed killer in the garage. Mercury thermometers, pool chemicals and used motor oil are also accepted.

Every time we have to drop off chemicals and toxins, we have received quick, efficient service. It's a quick drive into the facility and the service professionals remove the unwanted items from your vehicle. We never seem to wait more than 5-10 minutes, though from the lines and cones around the building, I would guess that on a busy Saturday in the summer, the wait can be longer.

Plan ahead when selling your Anoka County home and do the new homebuyer of your home a favor by disposing of old paints, stains and other products before your closing. It's FREE, easy and the right thing to do.

Copyright 2013 www.terieckholm.com

Toxic Waste in Your Anoka County Basement or Garage? Get Rid of it Safely and for FREE!

At almost every home closing in Minnesota, there is a short time where closing representatives leave the room to make copies and print checks. During this time keys and garage door openers are passed to the new homeowners and the seller usually passes on quirky information about the house. Often one tidbit is “I left all the extra paint on the basement/garage shelf so you can touch up a few things.” Though buyers can be appreciative if the home was just repainted, others will consider this toxic waste.

Last week, my husband and I ventured into our own little toxic wasteland of cans stored under the basement steps to get a quart of clear coat sealer for our oak trim. We bought it four years ago when we built an addition and had a few boards to finish. We opened it and used it once. Now we were finishing the edge of some new windows in another room and the lid was sealed completely and permanently shut to the can! Time to head to Menard’s for a fresh can, but what do we do with the old one?

We decided it was time for a trip to the Anoka County Household Hazardous Waste Facility (HHW) in Blaine! It was surprising the amount of cans that had accumulated in the decade we have owned our Ham Lake home. Might as well clean it all out at one time.

The HHW is located at 3230 101st Ave NE in Blaine just west of the 35W and 95th Ave interchange and is open YEARROUND and is FREE to Anoka County Residents!
Summer Hours (April through October)

Wednesday 2PM-8PM
Friday 9PM-3PM
Saturday 9PM-3PM

Winter Hours (November through March)

Wednesday 2PM-8PM
Saturday 9PM-3PM
The HHW accepts more than paint too. Drop off any household product that is labeled “Corrosive”, “Flammable”,” Poison”, “Toxic” or “Warning”. This includes old drain cleaner and mothballs from the hall closet and the insecticides and weed killer in the garage. Mercury thermometers, pool chemicals and used motor oil are also accepted.

We took our truck full of basement and garage household toxins into the facility last Friday morning around 11AM. It is a quick, efficient service. We had only one car ahead of us in line. You drive into the facility and the service professionals remove the unwanted items from your vehicle. It took less than 10 minutes, though from the lines and cones around the building, I would guess that on a busy Saturday, the wait can be longer.

What a great feeling to have all of those unwanted and unusable products out of the house!

If you are buying, selling or relocating to Minnesota and need help from a professional Realtor, give me a call or visit my website for a FREE Relocation Packet. I specialize in acreage and lakeshore properties in the north and east Twin Cities metro area including Ham Lake, Lino Lakes and all communities in the Forest Lake School District! Serving Anoka, Chisago, Ramsey and Washington Counties in Minnesota.

Copyright 2008 terieckholm.com