Property cleanup: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What property cleanup is

Property cleanup clears overgrowth, debris, trash and abandoned items from a lot or building, hauls the waste away and leaves the property tidy and ready for use or sale. It often follows a move-out, a foreclosure, a neglected rental or a lot that has been left unused.

Signs you need it

  • Weeds, brush and tall grass have covered the lot or the yard and hide debris underneath
  • Trash, old furniture and abandoned items have been left on the property by previous occupants
  • The property has been vacant for a long time and is collecting debris from the street or neighbors
  • A buyer or a tenant needs the property cleared before a walkthrough or a closing
  • The lot has piles of tree limbs, broken fencing or old materials that block access

What the pro does

  • Walk the property to identify the debris, the overgrowth and any hazards such as broken glass or unstable piles
  • Clear brush, weeds and small trees from the lot, leaving any features you have agreed to keep
  • Remove trash and abandoned items, sorting for recycling, donation and disposal
  • Haul away the debris in loads and take it to the disposal site for each material type
  • Rake, sweep and level the cleared area, removing loose gravel and sharp pieces
  • Leave the property with a written note on what was cleared and any hazards or structural concerns noted

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Size of the lot and the amount of area that needs clearing
  • Density of the overgrowth, including thick brush, small trees and dense weeds
  • Volume of trash and abandoned items and how many trips the hauling needs
  • Access to the property, such as a locked gate, a steep slope or a narrow driveway
  • Presence of hazards such as broken glass, unstable piles or suspected hazardous material
  • Whether the job includes sweeping or leveling, or only clearing and hauling

What a written quote should spell out

  • The area covered and the features that will be kept, such as a tree or a fence
  • The debris types removed and the disposal sites used for each one
  • Whether the work includes brush cutting, tree work or only clearing small growth
  • How the hauling is measured and how the final amount is calculated
  • What is not included, such as tree removal above a set height, stump grinding or demolition

Questions to ask before you hire

  • What counts as overgrowth in your quote, and what is included for trees
  • What do you do with suspected hazardous material or old chemicals
  • Will you tell me about any structural concern you see on the building
  • How do you handle an access problem, such as a locked gate or a steep driveway
  • Will the lot be left in a condition that a buyer or inspector can see clearly
  • Can you give me a receipt that shows what was removed and where it went

Red flags

  • A crew that offers to clear the lot without walking the property first
  • A company that dumps the waste on other land or in a waterway
  • No plan for suspected hazardous material such as old chemicals or asbestos siding
  • A quote that does not say whether tree work or stump removal is included

What you can do yourself

You can clear light brush, rake leaves and remove loose trash that is clearly safe to handle. Call a professional for large brush, tree work near structures, broken glass, suspected hazardous material and any building that appears unstable.

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 for tree work, hauling and hazardous waste in your area before hiring or doing that work.

Property cleanup questions

Do I need a permit to clear a lot?

It depends on the city or county, the size of the clearing and whether trees are involved. Check with the local authority before the work starts.

Who pays for hazardous waste found on the property?

This depends on the contract. Ask the company to tell you about any suspected hazardous material before it is moved, and get the disposal plan in writing.

Will the cleanup remove the roots and stumps?

Usually not, unless the quote includes stump removal. Ask the company what it includes for roots and stumps, since they affect what you can build or plant later.

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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