18 Days In: From a Family Van to a Full Truckload of Gratitude

Zachary Perez
Jun 18
4 min read

📍Serving the Greater Kansas City Area | Book Now

It’s wild what can happen in just 18 days.

On June 1st, I made a simple post on Facebook: I was starting a junk removal business. No truck. No website. No fancy marketing plan. Just an idea, some grit, and a flyer.

And here we are, 18 days later, with a truck full of stories, a growing list of happy customers, and a heart full of gratitude.

Let me take you through how it all began.

Day 1: The First Job, No Truck, No Problem

The first call came from Andre at Art Craft Construction right here in Kansas City. He needed a couple of pallets hauled off, and I showed up in my family van to make it happen. That was my first official junk removal job — no equipment, no backend system, just hustle.

Andre gave me a shot, and I’ll always remember that. If you ever need high-quality, local construction work, definitely reach out to Art Craft. Solid guy, solid business.

The Second Job: A Chair, a Sofa, and a Borrowed Truck

Next up, I got a message about a simple furniture removal. A chair and a sofa. I didn’t have a truck yet, but a friend loaned me his — along with his time — and just like that, deal number two was in the books.

Still no website. Still no logo. Just word of mouth and follow-through.

Building the Foundation

After that, things started moving fast. I built my own website through Wix, filed the LLC, got my EIN number, and claimed Mooch’s Junk Removal across all the major platforms:

✅ Facebook

✅ Instagram

✅ Thumbtack

✅ Yelp

✅ Nextdoor

I was starting to look — and feel — official.

The Truck That Changed Everything

I spent days researching trucks. F-150? F-250? Regular bed? Dump trailer? I wasn’t sure.

Then I went on a short vacation to Chicago, and by the time I came home, every F-150 I’d been looking at had been sold. What was still sitting there? A Ford F-250 Super Duty with a Tommy Gate lift.

That truck was meant to be mine. I’ve already filled it to the brim more times than I can count. The Tommy Gate has saved my back on every big item I’ve lifted. It was the right call — 100 percent.

Stories That Stick

One job that really stuck with me came from a woman whose husband, Bill, had recently been diagnosed with bone cancer. Bill told me that 1-800-GOT-you know who.. had come out and charged them $1,400 just to remove carpet from the home. It was outside their budget, so they stopped the job after that and reached out to me for help with the garage.

I showed up the same day. Spent a few hours loading up two full truckloads at a fair, honest price. Bill was in his early 80s, and we got to talking while I worked. He used to scrap metal and bass fish — just like I did with my great-grandpa Mooch. He even had those same piercing blue eyes.

By the end of it, he was emotional, and so was I. This is why I do what I do.

Another memorable moment came during a haul when I got to talking with a guy named Ron. He shared stories, wisdom, and then, before I left, he handed me something I’ll never forget — a solid copper coin that read “Dirty Hands, Clean Money.”

For those who haven’t seen one, it’s about the size of a silver dollar, weighty in your palm, with bold lettering and a handshake etched across the face. It’s a symbol of old-school values — a reminder that honest, physical work still matters, and that there’s dignity in getting your hands dirty to earn a living.

That coin meant something to him, and now it means something to me. I keep it close, not just as a keepsake, but as a reminder of what this business stands for.

Tools of the Trade

After wrestling with a rusty trampoline last week, I realized just how stubborn those things can be. So I picked up a reciprocating saw with a steel blade to make the next one easier. Little upgrades like that make a big difference.

Bigger Jobs, Bigger Purpose

I’ve also started dropping flyers around the city and picking up new jobs from that effort. Yard debris, household cleanouts, appliance removal — the volume is growing.

This week I’m tackling my biggest job yet: a downsizing project for a daughter helping her parents transition into a new phase of life. It’s more than just hauling away junk. It’s helping people let go of a chapter, with care and respect.

More Than Junk

One thing that’s become very clear to me — this is a people business.

A lot of folks I’ve helped in these first two weeks are either nearing the end of life or caring for someone who is. There’s emotion tied to what we haul. Photos, old furniture, items from a full lifetime.

It’s not just about loading and dumping. It’s about trust. About stepping into someone’s space and treating it with the respect it deserves. It’s about listening. Hearing stories. Being a good human.

I’ve realized how much I enjoy that part. Connecting. Showing up. Helping people through something that often feels overwhelming.