109 attic cleanouts!

Hello everyone,

I'm going to look at a cleanout job today at an apartment complex that has 109 units. The housing manager wants to clean out all the attics. My usual estimates include hourly labor and disposal fees, but where each attic will be different, I'm thinking of charging a set amount per attic. What do you all think? Has anyone else had experience with this? Thanks!

Think thermal issues and insulation issues. That means it may be hot up there and you may be breathing in all kinds of stuff. Wear a mask and bring bottled water.

Bidding on a time and materials basis is definitely safer for you, but customers like a firm fixed price. You may want to try a small number of units on a firm price and then re-evaluate once done. Most customers would see this as a reasonable approach.

you'll likely need some type ventilation. I've seen this accomplished in many ways, the most versatile was a fan placed in fresh air, and a tube of plastic attached (it came in long rolls), you simply ran the tube to where you wanted air, and if you were working in different locations, a hole could be cut anywhere in the tube, to provide air there. When the tube got to wholey you simply replaced it. Summertime attics can be monsters. How clean?? What is the purpose of it? Have you visually inspected any of them ? Could there be a "bug" issue? Do the attics have walk boards, or are the ceiling joists exposed and open to below? (a potential safety hazard) Think I'd have lots of questions on that, but if they want it done bad enough, You can do it

Went to look at the job today. It turns out all the units are in four different buildings, and there are four large attics that go the space of the buildings. There are a lot of locked storage cubicles that have been abandoned, and that's what they want cleaned out. It's very large and airy, though hotter because it's on the 4th floor. There's virtually no refuse, so I don't think I'm looking at much for disposal. Probably most of it could go to the local goodwill that's about 5 blocks down. Normally I would only charge for disposal if I'm actually paying disposal fees. Do you think I should charge something anyway? The lady seems to think it will take us a week just to do one, but I'm pretty sure we could do in 2-3 days tops. She said the other three weren't as full. She wants a set price, but I took the advice on here, and asked if I could do one hourly and disposal-based, and then set a price for the others.

Cool! does it have elevators? Goodwill might possibly turn it down. Before I moved I took a load of household items to one in Nashville, he looked through it like he was shopping at Dilliards, and said they couldn't use it. Funny thing was I'd bought a good bit of it there in the first place

As far as taking stuff to goodwill that is my biz.......If it hits my truck there is a disposal and handling fee.........That sounds like you should have a giant yard sale first then donate the leftovers and I would still charge a disposal charge(Mabye a little less than trash)

I agree 100%. As for the leftovers, try Craig's List or Freecycle first before hauling it to Goodwill. You would be surprised at what people will come get if it's free. Last summer, I had the remains of a hardwood floor that I had torn out. I figured someone might be able to use it for camp fires. Four or five guys called wanting to re-use it for flooring, even though I had specified that it was trash.

Originally Posted by Bear

Cool! does it have elevators? Goodwill might possibly turn it down. Before I moved I took a load of household items to one in Nashville, he looked through it like he was shopping at Dilliards, and said they couldn't use it. Funny thing was I'd bought a good bit of it there in the first place

Haha, no elevators (I wish) If Goodwill doesn't take it, Salvation Army is on the next corner. A lot of it is christmas stuff. It's all small stuff because it had to fit in the cubicles which weren't very big. The biggest thing I saw was a stuffed chair. It's just going to be labor-intensive because it's up and down 4 floors. I'm just curious what other people would charge for disposal. That town's charge is $3 a day plus $5 per load for any load under 1 ton.

I would look at maybe a dozen attics and idea of what your scope of work is. Put a price on your time/material. How long its gonna take you to do one attic times that by 109 units. Assume all is trash. Anything you can resell or scrap is a bonus for all your hard work. Don't short yourself but b fair. Some of the units might b hard work some might b easy money.

Maybe I am a little off on this but why not just do one as a test run and figure out your costs after doing a sample. So what you do one for free. There is still 108 more to charge for. Better to learn what you are getting yourself into then to get in over you head and commit to a losing proposition where the only one that wins is the owner of the property.

I think she's already said there are FOUR attics with multiple lockers in each.

If there are windows or any other access to the exterior open it up. You can rent the tubes that allow you to safely drop debris to the ground. Bang right into the truck and away you go.

Originally Posted by Geiser093

If there are windows or any other access to the exterior open it up. You can rent the tubes that allow you to safely drop debris to the ground. Bang right into the truck and away you go.

Really good idea! Where do you think they rent those - taylor rental or a hardware store?

Originally Posted by LadyScrappers

Really good idea! Where do you think they rent those - taylor rental or a hardware store?

probably goes with a dumpster