FAQs About Cleaning Foreclosures a Living
1. How Do I Get Started in the Foreclosure Cleaning Business? This question is so broad that it’s impossible to answer in any kind of detail because every person’s situation is different. For example, if you want to clean foreclosed properties and already have a junk hauling business, you’ll have to do less than someone who won’t have the equipment and/or vehicles you probably already have.
However, there are some definite steps you can take. Primarily, you need to get licensed and insured if you’re serious about making money in this business. Why is this necessary? Most of your business as a foreclosure cleanup company is going to come from realtors, banks and mortgage companies (to a degree). And, many of them won’t hire companies to clean foreclosed properties on their books unless they are licensed and insured.
2. How Much Do I Charge to Clean Foreclosed Properties? Again, a very broad question because each foreclosure cleanup job is different. It depends on so many factors. Following are few things to keep in mind when devising rates for your foreclosure cleaning services:
Geographic location, square footage, length of time vacant, repairs needed, contractors/subcontractors need, cost of materials, turnaround time, etc.
The list goes on and on.
Clean Foreclosed Properties Pricing Tip: One little golden nugget we can dispends though is that it is practically impossible to price a job correctly without seeing it. Many realtors, bankers and other property owners will want you to give them a quote over the phone.
This is a recipe for disaster in the vast majority of cases. Before you price a foreclosure cleanup job, see it with your own eyes first. Otherwise, you’re likely to under or over-price it. And, when you do, either you’re going to be unhappy, or the customer is. Either way, it’s not a good ending.
3. How Do I Find Clients That Want Me to Clean Foreclosed Properties? As mentioned above, banks and realtors will be your biggest clients. But, there are also mortgage brokers, individual homeowners, real estate investors and homeowners associations, to name a few. Marketing to whom is only part of the puzzle in the foreclosure cleaning business. The other part is how to market to them correctly. Saying the wrong thing can brand you as a novice and kill your chances of not only one project - but future projects as well.
The beauty of this niche for those who clean foreclosed properties is that once a bank or realtor uses you once, they’re much more likely to use you again and again. But, it all starts with hooking them the first time.
May be reprinted on your site, blog, newsletter, newspaper, etc., with the following attribution, in full: Learn more about how to start a foreclosure cleaning business at ForeclosureBusinessNews.com. Here you’ll find everything you need to know about foreclosures, including info on legislation and programs the federal government is proposing to help the foreclosure crisis, tips on buying foreclosures, advice on how to stop foreclosure, home loan modifications, etc.