How to Be a Home Clean Up Specialist for Foreclosures

Foreclosed homes come in all shapes and sizes.

When a house is foreclosed on, many times the owners have had serious problems prior to losing their home. There may have been an illness, a death, or loss of employment. Moving out is often done in a hurry with little or no effort made to retrieve belongings, clean out trash, or otherwise leave the house ready for new occupants. Sometimes even pets are left behind without food or water. With large numbers of foreclosures occurring across the United States, there is a real need for people to come into these homes and get them cleaned up and ready for new occupants.

Things You'll Need

• Pickup truck
• Work gloves
• Shovel
• Rake
• Trash bags
• Breathing mask (disposable type)
• Heavy-duty vacuum cleaner
• Carpet steam cleaner
• Waterproof gloves
• Mop
• Bucket
• Cleanser
• Bleach
• Sponge
• Rags
• Paper towels
• Kitchen cleaner
• Bathroom cleaner
• Carpet shampoo
• Window cleaner

Instructions

1. 

   Paperwork is vital to any business.

   Do your paperwork first. Decide on a business name, print up some business cards, and check your local licensing requirements to be sure you are in compliance with local laws. You will need to be insured and, in some cases, bonded. You may find it difficult or even impossible to get jobs without a solid business foundation.

2. 

   Be prepared to find all kinds of trash at a foreclosed home.

   Offer complete cleanup services. People are more likely to call you if they know that you will haul away garbage, furniture, and anything else left behind, and you will also handle cleaning, sweeping, vacuuming and shampooing the carpets so that the home is ready for someone to move into it. Full service by you makes life easier for your customers.

3. 

   Spread the word that you are open for business.

   Advertise your new business. Go to real estate offices and hand out your card. Place small ads in the local paper. Attend County Commission meetings and network with commissioners, since foreclosures often go through them. Send out a press release about your clean-up business to area newspapers. Go to banks and meet the people who handle foreclosures. Post fliers on bulletin boards. Generate as much interest as you can and business will follow.

4. 

   Bring all equipment with you to the job.

   Gather everything you'll need in advance of getting your first job including clean-up and hauling materials. You want to be ready to go when you get that call. Some of the more expensive items can be rented at first, but eventually you will want your own. Shop around for the best prices on cleaning supplies. Warehouse stores often have the best deals on larger quantities of cleaners.

5. 

   "Going green" can set you apart from other local services.

   Consider using only biodegradable cleaners and offer your services as a "green" home clean up specialist. This will give your service something special that sets you apart from others in your area offering similar services, and could result in more jobs for you.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work involved in becoming a Home Clean Up Specialist for Foreclosures, consider partnering with someone who is already in business for themselves doing some part of the job. For instance, you could choose to work with someone who hauls junk and let him do that part of the job, or you could work with someone who is already cleaning houses and have her do that while you focus on other aspects of the home clean-up. Just be sure that any partners you choose are reliable, as it is your reputation on the line.

• It is not uncommon for foreclosed houses to have serious health hazards in them. Be prepared for mold, dust, mouse droppings, dead animals, and feces. If you suspect any of these hazards be sure to take precautions such as the use of gloves and respiratory masks. Open windows to provide ventilation.

References

• Foreclosure Clean Up Business: Minimum Needed to Start
• U.S. Small Business Administration: Small Business Resources

Resources

• Press Release Log: Where to Find Clients Who Need Your Services