As a Realtor or real estate agent, having to cleanout foreclosures can be a time-consuming and costly project. Oftentimes, there is an abundance of cleaning that must be done in addition to abandoned property and trash that must be hauled out and disposed of.

While you may be a competent real estate professional, cleaning out properties was NOT one of the categories on your real estate examination!

Cleanout Foreclosures, Real Estate Strategy, and You

As we already noted, cleaning out an abandoned property can be one of the more costly actions that lenders and real estate agents of foreclosed properties must take. Because some prior residents leave in a hurry, or are angry for losing their home, they often leave large amounts of trash and sometimes cause extensive damage to the inside of them house.

Because these scenarios tend to be the rule rather than the exception, once the property is vacant, it isn’t simply a matter of showing the home to prospective buyers. Unlike a typical residential property, there are a number of chores that must be completed before the property is in a marketable state.

You Can Cleanout Foreclosures Effectively With A Strategic Plan

Too many times, the cleanout portion of the foreclosure process is approached haphazardly, or without any real planning. Occasionally, little or nothing is done. 

Here are three tips to cleanout foreclosures effectively:

1. One of the first critical tasks is restoring the outside appearance of the property.

Keeping the exterior of the property clean and uncluttered helps maintain the property values of the immediate community. Keeping a regularly mowed lawn, maintaining any landscaping and ensuring that the yard is free of clutter not only ensures the safety of the place, it will greatly improve the chances of the property selling again. Determine what needs to be done first. Mowing, weed eating, and trimming will improve the appearance of the lawn. And because lenders are often in the foreclosure process for many months and must retain someone to care for the property and residence.

2. To cleanout foreclosures strategically, consider what's needed beyond simply cleaning windows and carpets.

Often there are abandoned vehicles that will need to be towed away. More likely, however, there will be piles of debris in the house, in the garage, or in the yard or storage sheds that will need to be hauled away. This is not a DIY project for a real estate professional. This is where you want to engage the help of a professional hauling firm like Junk King.

You should also repair any broken windows or blinds and keep the area facing the street neat and clean. Surprisingly for some, this is a very important part of the property preservation process, because it will discourage vandals and vagrants.

3. The interior of the house can require a great deal of cleaning and hauling that needs to be done.

You may have to remove stained or torn carpets, repair broken tiles or lighting fixtures, and even bring in pest terminators. Because there is often large amounts of junk and debris left by the vacated prior residents, the help of a professional junk hauling firm is in order at this stage. Junk removal must occur before proper cleaning can be started, but once all of this work is finished, the lender can begin to show the property.

Winter is Almost Here! What Else Needs to be Done?

In many parts of the country, the onset of winter weather can be devastating for unattended properties. In addition to the hauling and disposal work needed to cleanout foreclosures, prepping an abandoned home for the winter is a strategic part of the process.

Winterizing a property is essential

The task can involve shutting off all utilities such as the electricity, gas and water, unplugging all appliances and turning off electrical breakers. Pour antifreeze made for recreational vehicles into toilets, drains and in the bottom of washing machines, dishwashers and any other appliance that uses water.

Drain the pipes. Once the water is shut off, there will still be water left in the pipes which can freeze and damage the plumbing. Turn off the water main and then turn on every faucet and water fixture to drain the pipes. Flush toilets until they will not flush again. Remember to turn faucets back off after you drain the water. Otherwise, the house could flood once the water is turned back on! Wrap the pipes after you drain them. Any kind of insulation will work to keep the pipes warm enough to avoid cracking or bursting.

Getting Help With Hauling and Disposal to Cleanout Foreclosures

Once you decide to outsource the trash removal part of your real estate deal, you need to determine which firm is the right one for the job. And while you can certainly find plenty of guys with trucks willing to do the job, choosing that alternative may end up costing you more than you hoped to save. This is why Junk King really is the firm of choice.

Junk King is the leading business to business junk removal service in North America and our real estate junk removal services take care of this cleanout process for you. It’s one big task off your to-do list and it’s a big step toward getting your property ready to sell or rent.

Speed, Reliability and Quality Service
We understand that as a real estate professional you need your homes to be pristine and you want to be able to list them as quickly as you can. We also understand that you appreciate hassle-free services and really can’t afford to have problems with a property. And your clients have enough to deal with when selling a home, so having the chore of junk removal handled by someone else is a huge bonus.

Junk King offers fast and friendly junk hauling with an emphasis on eco-friendly practices. We recycle or donate 60% or more of the junk we collect — including renovation debris, furniture and appliances, and even clothing and personal items. Real estate ventures can proudly call Junk King their green partner for real estate junk removal.

Real Estate Ready

We are insured and offer post-escrow payment. Junk King handles junk removal services for real estate professionals across the U.S. and we are the highest rated service brand in the nation. You can depend on Junk King for speed, reliability and for the peace of mind that comes with getting your property ready fast.

Our team specializes in large waste removal and trash hauling. We can be on location in mere minutes, so call us today! Our crew is fully insured and well-trained, so you can trust them to get rid of your unwanted items in a professional and courteous fashion.

One of the best things about hiring Junk King is that we recycle a much of the material we pick-up. This is proof of our commitment to being an eco-friendly removal service. If you have questions about what we do or what we believe, give us a call at (707) 744-4254.