I need some positive information (if there is any) about being a Property Preservation Vendor for Safeguard. I'm going to my banker to ask for a loan to start this business and I need some ammunition. How much can I make? Safeguard says I'll get 5 assignments initially. HELP!!!!

If you conduct a search you would find a bunch of information about Safeguard Properties.

From their reputation in my area and from the vendors I have talked to concerning Safeguard it has not been to positive. Besides taking a big commision off your work they have the proclivity to always cut your invoices by hundreds of dollars. From what I have witnessed, it is very difficult to make any $ with them for the amount of work, equipment and investment you would have tied up.

Do a Search and I am sure you will have plenty of information to make your decision. One thing you may consider, why are they the only Big National Property Preservation Company with Recruiters? Probably because they cannot retain peole for the way they treat them. Just something to put in your hat and think about.

I know a couple of the Safeguard contactors in this area. One of them is very good but extreeeeeeeeeeemly frustrated over their slow pay (something you might want to consider before agreeing to work for them). The other is at best average, well maybe not quite that either.

I've read nearly everything available on this forum about this company and this "angle" [that is working for the MIDDLEMAN] and am trying to answer "why would I choose to torture myself this way?"

Sxzag1 ~

Safeguard is NOT the worst and you have to get your feet wet somehow. Just look around for other clients while you're accepting work from them and DO NOT put all your eggs in one basket.

Watch out for personality disorders and chargebacks. Keep your eyes and ear open for trends and read every single memo they put out.

Each new experience I had with Safeguard brought a whole new level to the joy I felt working with them. [Being sarcastic, of course. Just couldn't reply without saying something, now could I?] LOL

Linda

Sxzag1----Linda gave you some good advice and if you are really wanting to get into the PP business that is a good way to get immersed. If you follow her tips you should do alright.

You ask for something positive and that appears to be it. At least you will be going in with both eyes open and know what to look for and what the pitfalls might be.

Linda, you got your new website up and operational yet?

a regional vendor i use cut Safeguard due to nonpayment and other issues.

Personally,
either you you know how to do the work or you don't.
Safeguard is not going to "teach" you how to perform the work.
If you allready know the work, why work for a "cut rate"?

Nick

Nicholas Andraka
REO Services
serving Maryland since 1993
HTTP://reoservicesofmaryland.com

My thoughts on working for Large national vendors:
They are going to take a huge cut of your money,
and not offer anything in the way of support or training.
What they do offer is work.
So if you can find it on your own, skip the middle man.
If you have 0 contacts, they may be the way to go till you get your name out.

Nick

I was looking into Safeco but I told them that I was most interested in the garbage removal. I did explain that I was not good at the winterizations. They told me that I couldn't turn work down. So I figured best not to go that route, especially since not only do they get a percentage but then you will get dinged for any mistakes.

Richb ~

If you're only interested in debris removal, maybe you can just subcontract from a PP vendor [or vendors] in your area. I'm sure everyone can use the help if you're priced right.

Linda

Safeguard Properties can definately give you large quantities of work. However they are notorious for non payment, short payment, and late payment issues. I terminated my services with Safeguard last month due to payment issues, and they still owe me about $3000. I have yet to encounter anyone who really had a positive experience with Safeguard.

Check Safeguard Properties out on www.ripoffreport.com
It might give you a better idea of what kind of operation Safegaurd is running.

JustMott ~

Same here when I quit. But I got all my money within about 30 to 40 days. Ironically, though, I received 3 chargeback e-mails AFTER I got paid, which means the different departments don't talk to each other.

Good luck with your money situation. I hope you get paid soon.

Linda

Hey guys and gals, he is my post from earlier. First of all this is a great board very informative. I am new to the board and have a few questions in regards to safeguard properties. My question comes as there is much conflicting information on the net regarding this company, and I come here for some detailed professional unbias clarification. Currently I am in contact with a recruter for my area southeast Michigan. I am contimplating PP because it seems like It would be a good source of revenue while my property maintenance & landscaping co., is dormant during the winter months. I have experiance in a simular field from a contract with a local municapality doing ordinance enforcement. So this field seems like a natural progression. That being said my question are, It seems that most of the issues with the nationals come from contractors not following company guidlines for procedures, and as a result have their invoices docked. Also I am used to having my invoices net 30 being that we bill lawnservice monthly, so waiting a month for my funds is not an issue because I am use to running my business that way. All in all I am not looking to break into the PP market, and have to put in the man hours to cut out the middle man. I am to busy with my current opperation,just looking for additional supplimentation. What I want to know is given my situation do you think that safeguard might be a good fit for me, and also does anybody have feedback on how profitable safeguard was for you. I have the man power and resources to take on a large volume of work can it be worth it if I do things by there requirements and dont mess up. Your info would be of great help Thankyou David.

eagerbeaver:

Did you read my response to your earlier post?

Mr. Foreclosure

Mr. Foreclosure

Yes I did, seems that the story is the same on this site, allot of mixed info. Some good, bad, horrible, dont really know what to make of it. But I guess that Safeguard would not have the network they do if all their contractors were unhappy.

David ~

You have way too many conflicts in your request. First of all, you won't get a "professional unbiased clarification". What you're going to get is everyone's opinion based on their experience[s].

You say you only need supplemental income because you're too busy with your current operation, yet you need the revenue while "dormant during the winter months". PP is not a part-time job. Either you're in it for the long haul or you're not. It might start off as part-time but will end up evolving into full-time if you're any good at it and the AM likes you. You can put a lot of manpower in the field but, if you're busy with your other business, you may become overwhelmed in no time.

If I [for example] were to consider having you work for me, then found out this was just a part-time gig for you, I probably wouldn't hire you at all because I'd feel that your heart wouldn't be in it and you may not give me the quality work I expect. You can ask for a low volume and restrict your jobs close to home but the AM will push you to go further and do more. In the beginning, you'll feel obligated & grateful. But what will you do when it's too much and say no? They don't like to hear the word "NO".

If you've done your homework and reasearched all the reasons [found in MANY topics here at the forum] why Safeguard doesn't pay, you'll find out that it hardly ever has anything to do with "not following guidelines".

You're also going to find that there are new PP startups flooding the industry right now and ANY national asset management can take their pick. If they cut someone loose, there are many more [victims] waiting on the sidelines.

Not all asset managements companies operate the same way but there will be many who will exploit, then chargeback, then drop anyone they like and start fresh with a new vendor. They already know that, if they don't pay you, you won't be able to afford lien filing fees on every property in order to guarantee your eventual payment.

If I were in your shoes, I would google complaints regarding Safeguard Properties and see what you come up with. While you're at it, google Field Asset Services, who has a multitude of complaints. THEN decide what you want to do.

Safeguard may have one of the biggest names out there but that doesn't mean they're the best.

Good luck in your quest.

Linda

I think you will find they have a lot of turn over to maintain the network capacity. A lot of the contractors can't afford to stay in business with them so they move on and Safeguard recruits someone else that will also go through that cycle.

Linda I guess I should make a few things clear. First I never said I need the revenue during the winter months, but if I could make some cash and keep my crews active it would be nice. As far as being a part time or full time endevor I would be open to a full time project if the money made sense. What made safeguard attractive to me is that it seemed to be an oppertunity to get my feet wet without having to start from the ground up. A way to parlay my resources into something else without a huge effort. What I came here for is some steering, that might help make up my mind on wether I am just asking for a big headache or is it possible to have a good working relationship with these national companies. I understand from your other post that you had contracted with safeguard did they always pay you? I have also seen or heard of companies working with the nationals for 5 to 10 years, does this mean that these contractors are just taking up the butt and accepting it as status quo. Seems like a good way to end up going postal. I was just curious to what people had to say given my situation and expectations. I also talked to a contractor that told me just the threat of leans will promp them to pay but will lead to termination.

David ~

Yes, Safeguard is a great way to get your feet wet. You can utilize the resources you have and, if you start feeling like they're not treating you right, you can go elsewhere... with experience.

As far as vendors who have worked for them for 5 to 10 years, I can only surmise that they're either willing to take whatever they get or they've been there so long they know who to contact to get a response.

Yes, lien filings [or threats to file] will lead to termination in most cases.

I have never filed one but, in retrospect, I wish I had with one of the AMs [not Safeguard]. I kept waiting and waiting for things to improve, waited for e-mails & calls to be responded to or forwarded to someone who "cared" ~ but they never did.

I've put out thousands of dollars in labor, materials, dump fees, fuel, vehicle maintenance, and equipment rentals, not to mention insurance and taxes, and now I should eat it? My employees are the only ones who got paid and the AM gets the work done for free? I don't think so.

Now I'm going another route [with this particular national] and I'm going to start playing hardball. I'm done being nice. Suing people goes completely against my nature but, if I don't follow through, I won't get what IS left of my money.

My advice a few posts above is the best I have to offer, based on my experience in the industry.

I've had bad experiences, yes. But my good experiences have far outweighed the bad so I'm still alive and kicking and in business. I think I'll stick around a little while longer.

Linda

David

You should go back and read your first post, it does appear as Linda stated that you need the revenue in the winter months. Also, it gives the impression that you are looking for a supplement to your current business as a part time. Probably would be better to read and understand if it was broken down into paragraphs.

I am sure it was offense to some that you ASSUME that " most of the issues with the nationals come from contractors not following company guidelines or procedures, and as a result have their invoices docked." I am not sure where you got that impression? Safeguard is notorious to dock legitimate invoices after the fact. Also, they are notorious not to pay in 30 days as you are accoustomed too.

Your follow up posts are kinda argumentive and it appears you had your mind made up before you requested feed back on the Company. With that said I would suggest that you sign up with them and after awhile come back to the forum and give your testimony on your expierence. Hopefully, it will be a good one. Good Luck.

Wow just learned alot from reading this post. I am new to the pp business and I feel like I have a lot to stand on being on my own. Personal and local ethical service. Think I will use this as an advisting line.

I think I will keep reading

With Safeguard, they will start you with 2 initials, then 5, 10 and 20...as was told to me by our Quality Control Inspector.

Safeguard was a fairly good company to get in with starting out....we learned a lot. Recently, however, I would have to say...they are not the company I started out with.

I think a lot of the way you are treated depends on who your regional is. Everyone is issued a territorial regional, and that is who "supervises" you and your work orders. Get a good one...life isn't too hard...get a bad one, and it can be misery. Ours just changed, and it is now nothing but a stressful turmoil.

Work orders are completed, and weeks later you are given notice that they are deducting from your invoice for one reason or other. Some of our last invoices were reduced by 1. $730, and 2.$450. There are soooo many more. How can they get away with that? They always come up with a reason...most of the time they are disputing the amount of cubic yardage you have removed.

And your hands are virtually tied. They have you by the b**ls, in plain words.

I can tell you a lot of stories about the infamous Safeguard...I'm sure anyone that has worked for them can. I have read recently that a group of vendors may be banning together to form a class action suit. It is only a matter of time, I would think, that this company can get away with what they are doing.
[i]
I think the best scenario would be to take all the big wigs from Safeguard, and send them into one of our trash outs, and lock the door behind them.[/i]

Let them see what its like to work in filth, and feces, and rotting food, and mold and mildew, in scorching heat with no water or electricity.
hmmmm....I wonder if we might get a little respect after that?

I would jump on that class action suit. Safeguard still owes me a lot of money. If anyone out there has any further informaiton regarding this suit against Safeguard please PM me.

If anyone wants to expand into Texas, we are a property preservation company with a couple years under our belt. We have online systems, hydraulic dump trailers, and several crews for trash outs, janitorials, rehabs, etc. We are looking to expand as well as take on more work in the areas we currently cover. Thanks - www.redfieldconstruction.com

Just curious, anyone heard from the Eagerbeaver? Just wondering how their expierence as a new vendor with Safeguard is going. LOL

Good question. Now that you've brought it up, I'm curious to find out if his/her experience was what he/she thought it would be. Hopefully this person hasn't had too many bad experiences right out of the gate. If the relationship is going well, I'd be interesting in hearing about that as well.

Linda

I have been working with safeguard properties almost 60 days now and I have been receiving checks every week. so far my experience has been positive. fast turnaround on the grass cut checks, less than 2 week turnaround. Their work orders can be confusing at times especially on the lock changes.

You have to have had experience with Safeguard to understand the comments above. Regardless how you read the orders you will be dock for something. You can do the order as stated but they can come back with something else. This is a great place to get information and after that you make the best decision for yourself. The post are from past experience.

However, Safeguard was my first account, I was paid ontime but was dock for a lot of things out of our control.

Thanks,
Ladyshay