Your Guide to Cleaning Out a Foreclosed Home

Real estate investors can often find great value in foreclosed homes. These properties sell for lower than market value, which means that you can find a good deal. However, many of these homes can have some issues. Previous tenants are likely to have abandoned them, leaving behind furniture, trash, or even damage to parts of the property.

Therefore, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to resell a foreclosed home without putting in some work to fix it up. Before you can begin making repairs, though, you’ll need to clean it out first. As it can be a big job to clean up the mess, here are some tips for cleaning out a foreclosed home.

6 Tips to Clean Out a Foreclosed Home

Cleaning up the mess after a home has been repossessed and tenants have abandoned it can be a daunting task. Here are some steps to make the job go faster, so you can reap the rewards of your investment.

1. Create a plan

Surviving the clean up of the foreclosed property requires a plan of attack. First, list all the things that need to be done. Do a thorough search of the property so that you don’t overlook anything.

While you are walking around it, be sure to write down any structural issues that you’ll need to fix. Note any problems you see with hazardous materials or pests. Then, break down the work into steps, so it does not feel overwhelming. You can do it one section at a time.

2. Get the right equipment

Before you begin the task of cleaning out the foreclosed home, you’ll need to be prepared with the right equipment for the job. Start by gathering your safety cleaning gear, such as:

• Gloves
• Mask
• Goggles
• Work boots
• Long-sleeve top
• Long pants

If you’ll be doing some outside work, get your lawn mower, rakes, shovel, ladder, and power washer ready. For the indoor cleanup, you’ll need a mop, bucket, broom, garbage bags, vacuum, flashlight, hammer, and nails.

It’s also handy to have the right size dumpster on the property. Depending on how much junk you’ll need to remove from the home, Junk Works has several sizes of dumpsters available for rent. One of the benefits to renting a dumpster is that we’ll come and haul it away for you. We understand that cleaning up your investment property can be challenging, so we make it as easy for you as we can.

3. Begin clearing the inside

It’s best to start by clearing out the inside of the home. Removing bulky items and debris can give you more space to work with. Haul furniture, appliances, and other junk to your dumpster, and get it out of your way.

Once those items are removed, you can then tackle collecting the garbage and waste. You may also find miscellaneous items that were left behind by the former tenants. Putting these in the dumpster can be the best way to have them taken care of.

After the inside of the home is cleared, you’ll be able to start working on repairs and fixes around the house. You may need to remove flooring and carpets, which can also be placed in the dumpster bin. If your work project includes tearing down walls or renovating any of the rooms, then Junk Works’ dumpster bins can be a handy place to dump the debris and waste.

4. Clean and wipe down the interior

Once all the debris and unwanted items have been moved out of the way, you can start a good old-fashioned cleaning. Begin in the attic or the top floor, and dust, sweep, mop, and vacuum each room. Don’t forget to wipe down the windows so they appear as new.

5. Clean outside

Tackle the cleanup tasks outside the home in the same way you did with the inside. Remove any bulky, unnecessary items, and place them in the disposal bin. This may include any kids’ play equipment like swing sets or playhouses.

Next, pick up any garbage outside the house, including food wrappers, papers, etc. You can place garbage bags inside the dumpster so you have a clear space to work with on the property.

Once the garbage is removed, you can mow the lawn and pick out the weeds to brighten up the appearance of the property. Then, prune bushes and shrubs to get them looking better.

6. Repair the structures

After you’ve removed all the debris and junk from the yard and made it look more presentable, tackle the exterior part of the house. That includes any repairs to the roof, siding, deck, fence, shed, walkways, and even the mailbox. You want to get the home in its best condition so you can get a great resale price. This is where you give it your all to get the most out of your investment.

Finally, wash the windows and use your pressure washer to clean the driveway and the outside of the home.

Whether you’re fixing up the home so you and your family can move in, or you’re looking to spruce it up for resale, cleaning out a foreclosed home can be tough. However, it can also leave you with a sense of accomplishment.

Cleaning up a foreclosed home is no easy task. That’s why Junk Works is there to help you in any way we can. From providing you with various sizes of dumpsters to do the hauling work for you, the Junk Works team is ready to help with your foreclosure cleanout.

For more information about professional foreclosure cleanout services in Ontario, call Junk Works at 1-888-888-JUNK (5865) or contact us here.