Home Preparation Service

What can you do if you are ready to sell your home, but lack the time and energy to do what’s necessary to get it ready for potential buyers? You hire a home preparation service, of course. Such a service can patch the walls and spruce up the paint, improve curb appeal with some quick and easy landscaping tricks, and provide advice on eliminating clutter that might turn potential buyers away. Should you launch a home preparation service, you will likely find customers through advertising in community newspapers under “Home Services” in the classified section. Once you get going, you can do some direct mailings to your local Board of Realtors, who should be able to off er a dozen or so good referrals at a time. Keep in mind that they are often the first to see homes that aren’t in pristine selling condition, despite protests to the contrary from the current owners. A good realtor, if he or she knows about your services, can be the perfect “rainmaker” for your business. Make a “home checklist” to help you determine what needs to be done quickly and efficiently. This can also be used to provide the customer with a written estimate of how long the job might take.


All you really need, besides some ?yers or business cards and a few classified ads, is a general home repair tool kit. Depending on the extent of your services, you may need to add on everything from ladders and gardening tools to cement and paint. Having an account at a local hardware store will help you purchase what you need until your client reimburses you.


It might be a really good idea to have lots of “before” and “after” photos in a portfolio that can be shown to potential clients so they can see the dramatic diff erence your service can make. Better yet, put those photos on your Web site, along with free tips on how to get organized for a move. You’ll be surprised how quickly your phone will start ringing once people recognize the benefit of using a service like yours.

Approx. cost of start-up:$500 to $1,500


Approx. potential earnings:$25,000 to $50,000 Typical fees: $25 to $50 per hour


Where to promote: Local real estate publications, community newspapers, bulletin boards, direct mail, coupon books


Qualifications: Handyman skills, an eye for decorating detail


Things needed: General home repair tools, a large enough vehicle to transport ladders and landscaping equipment (if you offer these services)


Required staff:No


Hidden costs: Liability insurance, advertising