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Simple "Securing of Homes" Can Be a Lucrative Aspect of Your Foreclosure Cleanup Business
Hi Foreclosure Cleanup Business Owners & Industry Colleagues,
As you know, in your foreclosure cleanup business, you can offer many services, including debris removal, trash-outs, cleaning, lock changing, lawn maintenance, vehicle removal, pool cleaning, pressure washing, gutter cleaning, repairs, inspections, boarding windows and doors, and more. But one of the primary services banks are requesting these days is the boarding of windows and doors. Simple "securing of homes" can be a lucrative aspect of your foreclosure cleanup business.
Below is an overview of some of the requirements from HUD in what they expect when you board windows and doors on a HUD home.
Boarding Windows & Doors on a HUD Home
"When boarding is appropriate, all first floor doors and windows, including all basement windows and doors, should have plywood covering the entire opening and frame. The covering should be secured with carriage bolts. Eliminate any possible hazards that may be caused by protruding bolts used to secure boarding. The use of nails is prohibited.
There should be no boarding above the first floor, unless entry is possible without use of a ladder, and the opening is large enough for a person to easily pass through.
Openings above the first floor that do not meet this test should be secured but not boarded. Second story and higher openings are typically accessible only from attached properties, stairwells or fire escapes. If security bars are located on windows/doors, boarding is not required. Openings too small for a person to pass through, particularly pet openings in doors, should be secured, but not boarded. To ensure that no hazards exist, remove all broken glass from the windows and surrounding interior and exterior areas.
All properties should be boarded in accordance with local codes. If local codes differ from HUD requirements herein, local codes supersede. For the purpose of this document, the definition of united inch is length plus width. (Excerpt from Pricing Guide.)
Specific Requirements & Local Variations
More specific requirements, including plywood specifications and more, are required by HUD. Also, in many instances, there are specific "local variations" (based on your geographic area of the country) which can be slightly different from the general requirements outlined above.
Tons of Specific Instructions Available
Specific requirements and local variations are discussed in detail in the Pricing Guide (for not only window and door boarding, but for other foreclosure cleanup services, such as inspections, photographs, debris removal, lawn maintenance, winterization, and more). Before you begin work on a HUD home, ensure you know the rules so you are doing the jobs correctly. Larger property preservation companies will expect you as a foreclosure cleanup company to abide by HUD guidelines when they send you out to work on the HUD homes.
Frontlines Busy!
We are seeing an incredible uptick in foreclosure cleanup businesses requesting our industry forms (the combo estimate and contract form and the change order form), which means you guys are busy out there on the front lines. Super! Keep up the great work. You are doing your part in getting our market back on its feet.
Glad to be in good company with you all! Continued success with your foreclosure cleanup business!
Cassandra
Cassandra Black is the Author of Property Preservation & Real Estate Contracting & Subcontracting Directory, How to Start a Foreclosure Cleanup Business: FREE Articles & Advice Blog,
How to Start a Foreclosure Cleanup Business, How to Register Your Business with HUD & Other Government Contracting Agencies: One-Stop Resource to Locate Government Contracts, Pricing Guide for Foreclosure Cleaning & Real-Estate Service Businesses, How to Market Your Foreclosure Cleanup Business, the
Foreclosure Cleanup Business Combo Estimate & Contract Form, (and other cleanup business forms) and the Housing Authority Master Contacts List with Bonus Search Tool. Cassandra is also the CEO of Foreclosure Cleanup, LLC, Real Estate Cleanup, Atlanta, GA, and an Investor & Landlord (TheCassandraGroup RE
).
Failed Banks Listed by Month
Visit this link to see which banks closed in which month. (Remember, the acquiring institutions of failed banks can be fertile ground for foreclosure cleanup businesses.)
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Yard Maintenance and Snow Removal
Grass Cuts
Here's a quick tidbit on HUD's requirements for lawn care on HUD homes. More details available, but this is a tidbit so you have an idea. (Excerpt from Pricing Guide.)
Lawn cutting (initial and subsequent cuts) includes mowing the lawn, weeding, edge trimming, sweeping of all paved areas (sidewalks, driveways, patios, etc.), and removal of all lawn clippings, related cuttings, and incidental debris (newspapers, flyers, bottles, etc.). These services are included in the cost allowable for an initial cut and subsequent cut (re-cut).
The disposal of all clippings and incidental debris should be in compliance with jurisdictional requirements. The costs allowable for trimming shrubs and snow removal are listed separately in the accompanying schedule.
Before and after photographs are required for all cuts. All photographs should be dated.
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Familiarize yourself with HUD guidelines for window and door boarding and lawn care this week. |
