Make Money With an Apartment/House Preparation Service
Although the house-cleaning field is very competitive (almost on the verge of saturated), there is a niche area within the industry that few people have bothered with. That business is an apartment and house preparation service.
This is a highly specialized area of the house-cleaning industry. Because it falls out of the usual business model that many of the big maid services offer (i.e. residential contract cleaning), there is a huge opportunity for your business to fill a growing need.
An apartment and house preparation service specializes in top-to-bottom cleaning of homes after the previous tenants/owners move out, but before the new occupants move in. This service entails much more than what you could expect from an ordinary house-cleaning service.
Here are some services that a typical business will offer:
- Stripping/waxing floors
- Carpet cleaning
- Fridge and stove cleaning
- Painting
- Window cleaning
- Minor repairs
Also, you will be expected to perform the usual housecleaning services such as, vacuuming, washing floors, cleaning bathrooms and kitchens, and so on. The big difference is going to be that you will be offering a “deep clean” service. This means that you’ll be doing what a house cleaner does – times 10. Often, you’ll be tackling areas that have not been cleaned in years. You will be scrubbing tile and grout in the shower, cleaning under sinks, behind toilets, cupboards, walls, ceilings – every last inch of the apartment or house.
To start a business like this you have to be detail oriented and very organized. Often times, you will only have a day to complete your work before the new occupants arrive. It’s your job to make sure that the place absolutely sparkles, but more importantly, that you finish on time. In some cases, you may have to work overnight.
Getting into the apartment and house preparation business doesn’t require a lot of money upfront. Other than the usual mop, bucket, and sponges, there is not much else that you will need to get your business started. Of course, this depends on the services that you are offering. In some cases, you will have to rent equipment for things like carpet cleaning – either that, or you can sub-contract this work out.
Another piece of equipment that will quickly pay for itself is a commercial grade steam cleaner. This isn’t a carpet cleaner – it uses steam to clean a variety of surfaces. Why would you need this? Because, you will be cleaning surfaces that have not been cleaned in years. This machine will make short work of even the toughest job. Not only that, but it cleans without any harsh chemicals. This is a huge selling point for your business. Expect to pay around $1000 for a decent unit. If you’re thinking about buying a cheap, consumer grade steamer from your local department store, save your money. These units are meant for light, infrequent use and will not hold up to commercial demands.
Print up some flyers and go distribute them to apartment buildings. Get some business cards, and try to make an appointment with property managers and superintendents. Take out a small classified ad in the local paper. Try to partner up with a house cleaner – You refer regular cleaning to them, and they refer deep-cleaning business to you.
As with most service businesses, referrals will start coming in slowly and steadily – provided you do excellent work. At some point, you’ll be able to rely on a steady stream of repeat customers and referrals to fill your schedule.
Along with your flyers and business cards, you can also create a “menu” type list of all the services you offer. Customers can then select exactly what they want done. You can also include this on the back of your flyer if you like.
Just a word of caution: Not every job is going to be great. In fact, you will likely run into some places that are completely trashed. This is going to require much more work than the average job, so it’s critical that you have a quick look at the residence before you settle on a price. Never accept a job, sight unseen.
You should be able to make at least $20-$30 an hour for this service. This is just slightly more than what a regular house-cleaner would charge. However, you will make more for any specialty services such as carpet cleaning and painting.
It might take you a while to get your pricing in line. You need to have a good idea of the time required to complete certain jobs – and this only comes with experience.
