The question:
I'm trying to get into the property preservation business, I have a truck and tools and am looking for work. Tell me where to get work.

Between the lines:
I'm too lazy to do any actual research on how this industry works, so give me a handout that will make it easy. Oh and I won't do all the work the banks needs done, but I'll try to take enough from you to make me happy.

Reply:
If you're new to the business and trying to figure it out by asking others in forums like this, you're barking up the wrong tree. What you're going to find, is that getting the work is tough and keeping it is stressful. Telling you how I got my work will never happen, because getting it is a long hard road, and there is no manual. Property Preservation companies will never tell you how they got work or where they get it from, because it's hard to get and they don't want you to take it from them.

Answer:
Figure it out yourself, because we're not telling you.

Advise:
If you don’t mind waiting 2 months to get paid less than you’re owed, you like working 16-18 hour days, working weekends and holidays is something you enjoy, you don’t mind paying taxes on already low wages, you don’t mind losing money because you didn’t follow the procedure properly, you really like processing pictures; then guess what, this is the business for you. I hope you enjoy the ride.

Bravo! Very direct and to the point without being nasty, like some of the other members have been in past posts.

I love it. And I think I like you already, NewLeafPPS.

Linda

I agree, while we all use this forum to get advise (how to handle certain task). It is not a place for free information on where to get business. We all are in the same boat and have had to spend many hours trying to figure it out.
While I wish everyone success, I can't place it in their laps.

Linda & richb,

I appreciate that I'm not the only one with these sentiments. I came into this business almost 2 years ago, with a Business degree, years of construction experience, and ambition. Little did I know that I'd sacrifice hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars just to figure out how to get in. After getting in, I have a greater appreciation of the silence of my peers.

On another note, I'd like to express my gratitude to you, Linda, for all the work you've done to educate and share experiences with your peers. I believe these forums are great places to share stories and experiences that can benefit all, and improve the quality of our services.

Forums like this are meant to be an exchange of knowledge, not a marketing gimmick or handout.

"Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime."

Shane Beck
President
New Leaf Property Preservation Specialists

You're very welcome, Shane.

I enjoy posting in the forums and sharing my experiences with others but I have my limits as to how far I will go with certain types of information just like anyone else who's been in the business and has busted their fannies to get where they are.

Unfortunately, one of the reasons I don't post much anymore is because new members rarely do any reading so they end up asking the same questions as every other new preservation member and advertising in every available preservation thread.

My hat's off to you for starting this topic. It's rare these days that a preservation "conversation" is actually started. I appreciate the time you took and RichB's time to respond as well.

Linda

Well I guess you put new companies in there place, I am not a new company but I did need advise on some things. I have been in business for 4 years and it is nothing like you explained. I get paid on time, I do the work in a ten hour day and I make good money. I do not think it is necessary to be nasty with people, you do realize that they are willing to work instead of getting handouts. I am new to the real state side of this business so what would be the problem in asking (where should I turn to get good costumers).Most of my costumers are apartments and residents, but I am looking in to getting started in real estate. Although I do not agree with people posting the same thing in every post, I do think it is not classified information to tell them a website or company to turn to. Sorry Im not trying to be nasty with you.

My question was do you think real estate companies would hire my company if we did not do winterization. We supply the rest of the services to do preservation work.......

Hello Thomas,
In my experience, I have found that the companies want you to also do the winterizations. From a business standpoint, they are not going to call you for everything else and have to call another person just for winterizations. It is really all or nothing.

Ok, thanks. That really sucks for me then, I do not know much about that. I will try anyhow to get some trash-out business. There might be some out there that will hire me for that.

Thanks again

www.citywide-trashouts.com/

In the beginning I wasn't keen on the idea of winterizations either. But I bit the bullet and hired a friend of mine who was a plumber to go on a couple with me to show me the ropes. Thank God he gave me a great discount.
He came on 2 of them with me and now I can do them.
The funny part though is when he found out how much the nationals pay us to do them. Because as a plumber he and most plumbers charge homeowners 3-400.00 for winterizations.
Good Luck

I think thats what Im going to do, I will just have someone do it for me and give them the money. I work with other preservation companies so im sure they will do it.

ThomasCWTO.
PM me and I'll give you my contractor's phone number. He can probably walk you through the process. He more or less trained himself. I will also add that I've NEVER had freeze damage on a property he's handled. I'm certain you can probably teach him a thing or two also. As others stated, tricks of the trade are generally shared, client contact info is the asacred cow.

Thomas ~

It's not about putting new companies in their place. It's more about the frustration of coming to the forum to learn and have a good conversation with other vendors and not getting it. The problem isn't with those who are looking for a hand. The problem is with those who are looking for a handout.

The pattern is pretty much the same with 99% of the new members. "Who do I contact for work?" over and over and over again gets old. And the ones that use every single PP thread to do nothing more than advertise when they should be contributing. How many of those who have asked for contacts have reciprocated by offering theirs?

I can't even begin to tell you how many startups I've helped in the past via e-mail. I would love to be able to do that now but time does not permit.

When I first joined, I read everything I could find. I learned a LOT by just "listening" to others and the information has been invaluable.

None of us posting in this thread now is trying to hurt anyone. This post, from my point of view, is a vent about the repetitive requests, not the ones who convey a sincere need for information.

We just want the new members to READ, READ, READ........ and contribute. We can probably count on 3 sets of fingers and 3 sets of toes how many PP members actually contribute.

Does that make a little more sense about the message we're trying to convey?

Linda

I understand completely, and thanks for clearing things up. The original post just seemed to be a little harsh on new companies. But no harm done, we all have are own thoughts on things. Thanks again

Thomas

Thomas,

My first post was a little harsh, but I was venting frustration at others not reading threads that are already posted here.

You seem truly interested in knowing more about the industry, so allow me to share some of my insight.

- You will need to offer all services.
- Some houses will require that you perform work in less than desirable conditions.
- The bulk of work orders are distributed by National and Regional Brokers. By Brokers I do not mean real estate agents. (see Safeguard, First American, MCS, Five Brothers, etc.)
- Prices paid for services are lower than what you would expect to receive from a private client. If you get over the initial sticker shock and start performing work, you'll find that even at $15-35/CY debris removal, a profit can be made.
- In order to work with the Brokers, you will need to be a legitimate business, with proper licensing and insurance. (both G&L and E&O)
- You will be in a better position to receive work orders if you cover a larger area and accept a larger volume. Know your limits.
- Understand that the photos or lack thereof will determine whether or not you will get paid. As a new company you will experience tough love if you do not provide adequate photos.
- Greater profits are made on Bid Approvals, but bidding everything (which is required) can be much longer than processing the work orders.
- Bid to be competitive and profitable. Know that you'll often be competing against one or two other local property preservation companies for the same work.
- Find an efficient system to both perform the work and processing it. Processing the work orders for the Brokers can sometimes take as long as actually performing it.

Hopefully that helps you get started well.

Shane Beck
President
New Leaf Property Preservation Specialists

Thanks Shane, I was a little confused on how they work. Here in Charlotte I work with a preservation company in doing their trash-outs. The local brokers hire his company then he hires me to do the trash-outs. You see I am a pretty big recycling company so the stuff that comes out of the houses is what I make money on. He says he does not work with national companies like you mentioned, he only gets work orders from local brokers and said thats what I should do. When they call him it is usually just to do that one thing that they need done. He has just done re-keys or just trash-outs ect. I do have a licensed plumber that is willing to work with me on doing them. He owns a plumbing company here in Charlotte. From what I understand you have to be licensed here to do the winterization, maybe I am wrong. One thing that confuses me is why would a bank or a broker pay more for a national company to hire me, instead of just hiring me. If I will do it for 200 and they tac on 200 more for their profit, the broker is out 200....just does not make since to me.