Trash-out Job: 2 Bedroom / 1 Bath Home, Need Items Removed ... Furniture, Debris, Garbage
Hi everyone. I hope all is well. Just got this in from a client needing an estimate:
"I need an estimate on a property in Thomaston, GA that has been vacant since an eviction in February of this year. My father owned the house and had passed away and I was left as executrix of the estate which left me the owner of this property. Once the tenant's belongings were put out, he hasn't been back to get anything and has re-entered the home leaving it a big mess according to some of my family members. I do not live in the area or I would've had this cleaned up before now, but I do need to get the tenant's belongings disposed of as well as the mess he left behind. I could have one of my family members to come out and let you inspect to determine the cost. Please let me know something soon as I need to get this taken care of so that I can get this property sold."
Cassandra's Notes about Above Job: Please note the below so you get an idea of the types of questions to ask potential clients as you start to receive calls for trash-outs. If you don't ask the right questions, you'll pay for it in the end (in time, money, and/or headache)...
ITEMS INSIDE & OUTSIDE: I just spoke with the client on the phone and they said there's not that much "furniture." But there are some items on the outside of the house they had sheriff oversee moving out as well that need to be taken away.
FORMAL EVICTION: I asked if there was a formal eviction. The client did confirm they went through the formal eviction process to get tenant out. This is always a key question you want to ask when you're working with an owner who is having a tenant's belongings removed. You don't want to get into a legal debacle.
HOW BIG IS THE HOUSE? It's an old house, two bedrooms, one bath, approximately 1,100 square feet, give or take a bit.
GARBAGE: Also, during our conversation, I was asked if there was "garbage" in the house. I explained to her what I meant by garbage ... "You know, old food, trash, etc." Yes, there is garbage: trash bags piled up! Remember, there is a difference in removing garbage versus just trash-out debris. (You may pick up a bag and the thing pops and you have a cleanup on your hands, so be prepared for that.)
NO CLEANING NEEDED: They do NOT need formal cleaning; just removal of the stuff and the garbage. Again, client indicated there really is not that much furniture, but definitely plan to go out and see before giving an estimate. See the article on the blog that talks about Pricing Using the Pickup Truck Capacity Rule to help you with pricing on this one.
Good luck to you, and let me know how it goes ... it's shaping up to be a busy summer.
Want to Bid? If interested in bidding on the job, simply email me at bid@foreclosurecleanup.biz before 8:00 PM Saturday, April 30th, and I will give you contact info of the potential client
. Simply type "Thomaston Job" in your subject line and I will email you the client's name and phone number.
We have no more info on the job other than what's stated above, so please save any questions for the potential client. If you get the job, this will be between you and the client. We are simply passing the info on as part of our informal outsourcing.
Good luck to you in the bidding process!
As an Aside... Here's a tiny tidbit from the foreclosure cleanup eBook that talks about our experience with garbage:
"We were in the beginning stages of our business − we had been open less than two months. Not only did we grossly underbid this job, but the clients hovered over us and our two workers, through every phase of the job. If we went in a room, they or one of their kids were in the room behind us. We bid a mere $400 to clean the whole house. And we pressure washed the garage, removing what was supposed to be "minor" debris. The minor debris turned out to be a living room set, four-months worth of old garbage in the backyard (when we lifted some of the bags, the bags popped open and out came the maggots and rats), yard brush from the side of the house, and their personal garbage that they threw on the truck when they thought we weren't looking. (We had taken this job site unseen, which I don't recommend!) .... THE STORY CONTINUES ....
Bringing back some memories. Lot of good stories in the book that give you first-hand peek at some of the jobs we've handled so you learn what to expect in varying scenarios in your business.
Cassandra
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