Foreclosure homes might need to be cleaned out.
Foreclosure homes are often left in a state of disaster after the former resident leaves. Cleaning companies dispose of garbage and furniture left behind by the previous homeowners. The cleaning company gets the home ready for listing on a public real-estate platform. Businesses who perform these cleaning duties receive contracts on a per-home basis.
Instructions
Legal Business Setup
1. Apply for a business license. It's necessary to get a business license before you can receive contracts for cleaning out houses with foreclosures. To get a business license, contact the business licensing center in your state.
2. Apply for a federal Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The IRS has the forms available online (see Resources), or you can call and request an application be mailed to you.
3. Purchase liability Insurance. You won't be able to receive jobs from banks or asset managers without liability insurance. Most companies who sell homeowners insurance can also help with the purchase of general liability insurance for your business.
Professional Setup
4. Purchase or make business cards. When contacting potential clients, you'll want to present a professional appearance. Most of the clients you'll be dealing with work for large banks (REO managers). To help with your professional appearance, it's useful to have business cards printed for you to hand out to potential clients. Keep the cards simple and include your contact information. Consider adding a "before and after" picture of a property you cleaned out---this makes a great background for your business card and shows the quality of work you're capable of.
5. Design, or have someone help you design, a website. If you have a few more dollars to help set up the professional feel of your new business, consider investing in a website. Instead of hiring a website developer, use the online hosting programs offered through the company you purchase your domain name from: These hosting services are usually easy to work through and don't require computer programming skills.
Sections you might consider using on your website include: About us, Services Offered, Rates, Portfolio of Work and Contact Us.
The About Us section should be a simple overview of your clean out company. Included how many years of cleaning you have had, your business views as well as some content about your business goals.
The Services Offered page can describe all the details about cleaning out foreclosure properties. Expand on lawn clean up services, trashing out houses with persona property left behind and cleaning walls and floors. Add any other specific work your firm can do.
Rates do not have to be included, but if you are able to give a price range for services it can cut down on phone calls from potential clients whom just want to inquire about the rates for your services.
Your portfolio of past work can be displayed on your website for visitors to see past jobs your company has been hired for and completed.
In the Contact Us page list your phone number, physical address and an email where you can be reached.
6. Purchase a business suit. It's important to look professional when going to meet potential clients. Wearing a suit will make you stand out compared to other cleanout contracting firms. Although your work is dirty (and when you're cleaning houses, you obviously won't be wearing a suit), showing up to marketing calls dressed appropriately will show potential clients you have high standards for yourself and your business.
Contacting Potential Clients
7. Read newspapers for people and businesses in need of a cleaning crew. To receive a contract, start contacting business professionals who are looking to have foreclosure homes cleaned. Newspapers are a good place to start looking for housecleaning jobs; consider taking on a variety of assignments to build your portfolio of work. Professionals that will be looking for foreclosure housecleaners include bank REO managers, asset managers and real estate agents.
8. Visit local bank REO managers and asset managing firms. Be prepared to hear "no" as their first answer: Usually these types of organizations already have a cleaning firm they contract to do all their cleaning. Leave your card and offer to work on short notice if they're ever in a bind. It's also helpful to follow up with your initial contact two to four weeks later.
9. Contact local real-estate agents. Offer to clean any of the homes they're working with that are in need. Sometimes agents will get listings from rental companies after the death of a relative or when a foreclosure home has been purchased. Making yourself open to work on any of the agent listings will help build your business relationships.
10. Assemble a business portfolio. For every job you're able to get, take "before and after" pictures. These pictures can be used in your brochures and advertisements and on your website to spotential clients. You can also make a flyer to follow up with the bank REO managers and asset managers you made initial contact with about receiving a contract for cleaning out houses.
Tags: your business, potential clients, asset managers, bank managers, bank managers asset, business license
