Foreclosure Cleanups Bustling
Several men wordlessly carry out furniture, broken computers and boxes of garbage from a large blue house on a quiet upstate street on a brisk autumn morning. Rusting bikes and an old grill lay discarded in the overgrown backyard which is spotted with empty beer cans and crushed milk cartons. The mood is oddly serene as the men unload the remnants of what was one someone’s home.
Todd Drake, manager of Empire Real Estate Management in Latham, is overseeing yet another eviction. The home’s former owner has long gone, leaving just debris and an old phone number in his stead. After a county sheriff’s deputy checks to make sure no one is inside, crews head in to change the locks and clean out the refuse — also known as a “trashout.” Drake is stoic as he watches his crew.
“We’ve been butt-kicking busy,” said Linda Hall of All REO Preservation. “I work in the field as much as I work in the office.”
So busy that Hall’s even working on putting together a nationwide plan to give work to other contractors, and currently has crews and subcontractors in several other states. Her business also offers its own training program for startups.
Photo by Associated Press.
Curt on December 1st, 2008 3:14 pm
This is very interesting. I’m going to research the feasability of starting a business like this.
Matt @ Permanent Fitness on December 1st, 2008 5:48 pm
Same is with factoring and debt collection companies – it’s their time to prosper.
cassy on December 2nd, 2008 5:32 am
Its a nice business only a small capital as starting,but its a big income for earning.
Jaclyn on December 2nd, 2008 12:33 pm
On one hand this is a good read because it’s good to know that some business’ are prospering and are so busy they don’t know where to start, but at the same time it’s sad to know that they are prospering only because someone didn’t…someone lost their home so that they could make their living.
cleaningforeclosures on December 3rd, 2008 9:11 pm
Go to cleaningforeclosures.com to get the info you need to start your own foreclosure cleaning business
Foreclosure Cleanup Atlanta on December 8th, 2008 9:29 am
Got for it… good money, hard work. Go to places like New Bid Select to find realtors working foreclosures. Price fair to yourself and to your clients.
foreclosurecleaningbusinessDOTcom has official ebook.
Louis on January 5th, 2009 12:52 pm
Ladies & Gents… I own a general contracting firm and would love to advertise my services… flooring… vinyl siding…. windows…. roofing…. plumbing… electric… etc to companies that have distressed properties that need a face lift for a very attractive price! Any and all ideas are welcome!
Cassandra Black on April 8th, 2009 10:50 am
Contact “property preservation” services and also realtors who specialize in foreclosures. Also, go a step further and contact locksmiths… yes, locksmiths! They are often the first on the scene when a bank gets a property. Banks are spending money on securing properties before anything else and the locksmith may be the first man/woman in. Give them your cards and ask them to pass them along. A unique route, but your card may be the only one the locksmith has to pass along. Take his or her cards and pass them along in turn (or use them as a sub).
Good luck!
Cassandra, Foreclosure Cleanup, Atlanta
Les Tyler on May 22nd, 2009 11:27 am
Hi Everyone,
My husband and I started a foreclosure cleanup & property preservation company about a year ago to supplement our income from the commercial cleaning company we’ve run for 11 years – so far we’ve been very busy.
Start sending your contact information to Realtors who specifically list REO properties. We always pick up copies of the free real estate magazines/brochures with current listings and then contact the agents who are listing foreclosures. Start with a phone call and then follow up with an email as they may not have a pen handy to write down your information. It also looks more professional when you follow up with a written note including the list of services you provide and your contact information.
As I mentioned on another post, from my experience, this business provides great income potential but you have to be willing to put in long hours and go the extra mile for your customers (Realtors or Asset Management Companies).
For example, I’ll be working 10 hours a day all Memorial Day weekend cleaning up two ridiculously junky and dirty properties in the middle of a majorly sketchy neighborhood. But you know what? At $1250 for the first one and $1450 for the second one, I don’t mind at all :)
I’ve set up a blog with some good information on getting started in this business:
blog DOT ForeclosureCleanupCash DOT com
If you want to see a video on an actual foreclosure property that we bid out, check out our YouTube video: www DOT ForeclosureCleanupCash DOT com
You can also feel free to email me directly if you have any questions (contact form on website)
Les Tyler
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