Foreclosure Property Preservation
Banks pay you to clean up the houses they just took back
Bottom line
Accessible entry point; validate local supply before buying.
Property preservation contractors are hired by mortgage servicers and banks (via national field-service networks like Safeguard, Cyprexx, MCS) to secure, winterize, mow, debris-clear, and maintain foreclosed and REO properties. Routes pay per work order — typically $50-$400 — and a single contractor can complete 15-30 orders per day with cheap equipment.
Avg Revenue
$400K
Profit Margin
25%
Acquisition Multiple
1.5x - 2.5x
Startup Cost
$15K - $60K
How It Works
You sign vendor agreements with national field-service companies, then receive work orders via their portals: lock changes, lawn cuts, debris removal, winterizations, board-ups, photo inspections. You complete the work, upload before/after photos, and get paid net-30/45. Volume is counter-cyclical — it spikes in any housing downturn.
Revenue Range
BizBite underwriting snapshot
Pass for now
Foreclosure Property Preservation has enough high-level data for a first look, but BizBite has not assigned a category-specific operating model yet. Treat the score as preliminary.
Category-level fit before lender-specific diligence.
Weak source data caps the final score.
Why it may work
- No strong positives yet. More verified data needed.
Be careful
- !Source link status has not been verified yet
- !No last-checked date yet
- !No SBA category enrichment yet
- !No category operating model yet
- !Low data confidence
Pros
- +Counter-cyclical — recessions massively expand work volume
- +Low startup cost — pickup truck, mower, basic tools
- +National field-service networks supply steady work orders
- +Easily scaled with crews and subcontractors
Cons
- -Per-order pricing has been squeezed by national vendors over time
- -Net-30/45 payment terms create working-capital strain
- -Documentation/photo requirements are strict — chargebacks for sloppy work
Best For
Hands-on operators with a truck, basic trades skills, and tolerance for paperwork
Operating Costs
Major costs: pickup truck and trailer, mowers and basic hand tools, dump fees, fuel, photo-management software subscription, and labor as crews scale. E&O insurance required by most networks.
SBA Financing Estimator
Adjust the deal — see if it cash flows after debt service
Estimates only. Excludes owner compensation, capex, working capital draws, and taxes. Margin assumes average occupancy and volume. Actual SBA terms vary by lender and borrower profile.
Where to Buy
Industry trade body with vendor directory and certification programs
Largest national field-service company — primary source of work orders
Established preservation routes occasionally listed for sale
Acquisition Score
Scores margin (30), entry multiple (25), SBA market depth (20), category risk (15), and deal momentum (10). Higher = better acquisition candidate.
Quick Facts
- Category
- service
- Difficulty
- 3/5
- Buy price
- $600K–$1.0M
Buyer's Toolkit
Essential tools to get started
Some links may be affiliate links. We only recommend tools we'd use ourselves.
Ready to Buy? Start Here →
Largest business-for-sale marketplace in the US
SBA loans and business acquisition financing — get funded fast
ROBS financing — use retirement funds to buy a business tax-free
Bookkeeping for small business owners — hands-off financials
Some links may be affiliate links. We only recommend tools we'd use ourselves.
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