Property cleanup: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering property cleanup

Property cleanup is judged on a clear lot, a clean haul and no surprises for the owner or buyer. Winning it means walking the site first, naming what is included and reporting hazards in writing.

What customers ask

  • Will you clear the whole lot or only the front
  • Do you take out the stumps
  • What do you do with old chemicals and paint
  • Can you clean out the building too
  • How long will it take for a lot this size
  • Do you give a receipt for the disposal

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask for the lot size, the overgrowth type, the access and the trash volume, then book a site walk
  • Walk the lot with the owner, mark the features to keep and the hazards to report, and photograph each area
  • Quote clearing, hauling, sweeping and any tree or stump work as separate lines
  • Write down any suspected hazardous material and any structural concern, and report it in writing before you touch it
  • Haul each material to a disposal site that accepts it, and keep the receipts
  • Leave a short report with photos of the cleared lot and a list of the work done

What to put on your profile

  • Before and after photos of an overgrown lot cleared and leveled, with the client's permission
  • A list of property cleanup services you offer, such as brush clearing, debris hauling and lot leveling
  • Your equipment list, including brush cutters, chippers and haul trucks
  • Your insurance certificate and your process for hazards and permits

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a seasonal mow or brush clearing visit for properties that grow back quickly
  • Suggest a check of the lot after a storm, with a note of any new debris or damage
  • Share a short guide on what to clear before a property inspection or a sale

Licenses and permits

Property cleanup is commonly regulated where it involves tree work, hazardous material or disposal. Check with your state or local licensing agency for the rules that apply to the work you do, and refer any tree or hazardous waste work to a qualified company.

Questions

Can I clear a lot that has trees on it?

Small brush, yes. Tree removal and work near structures often need a licensed or qualified company, and sometimes a permit. Say so in the quote and refer the work if needed.

What if I find something that looks like hazardous material?

Stop, do not move it and report it to the owner in writing. Refer it to a qualified specialist for testing and disposal.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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