The longer you wait, the higher the cost

“Be prepared” is more

than a Boy Scouts of

America slogan for at

least one local businessman.

Sean Lane, owner of

Clean Up Clear Out and

Your Home Valet,

strongly suggests people

who need to clear

out a house — from

downsizing to estate

sales — shouldn’t put off

fi nding a vendor to help.

“I’ve been barraged

with last-minute phone

calls,” said Lane, a

Grosse Pointe Shores

resident. “If someone

tells me, ‘I need to get

this done in a week,’

that raises a red flag.

Why the sense of

urgency? It’s either their

disease, meaning hoarding,

or it’s just tire kicking,

meaning they’re

shopping for estimates.

“Last minute never

works for anyone,” he

continued. “You’re not

going to get a better

price. It’ll be higher, in

most cases.”

Clean Up Clear Out

offers free estimates,

but not over-the-phone

rough estimates.

“I need to see the project

in front of me,” Lane

said. “Even if they say,

‘I’m not going to hold

you to it,’ they’re going

to hold you to it.”

A recent caller told

Lane of the decades

worth of items in the

house, some of which

family members plan to

keep.

“It’s unfair to the customer

and to me to base

an estimate on that,” he

said. “You’re going to

think the bid is too high,

because once I’m there

to do the job, items have

been removed. Remove

them fi rst so they’re not

included in the assessment

or tag them so

they’re not included in

the assessment.”

Last-minute requests for clean up only serve to hike the

price of removal. Like most skilled

trades, if it’s in demand, there’s a

wait.

“If you’re worth your weight in gold

as a painter, plumber or any of the

skilled trades, you’re going to have

work lined up,” Lane said. “Skilled

tradesmen are not going to put you to

the front of the line. Or if they do,

there’ll be a fee.”

Which is not to say it can’t be done,

but preparedness is key in making

the clear out smooth. Lane said his

business isn’t on board with taking

advantage of people, but the services

he provides are worth the expense.

He’ll even go above and beyond if it’s

a help.

“There may be a higher rate, but it’s

worth every penny,” he said. “I’m not

a hit it and quit it person. I go over

and above and try to accommodate

the needs of the client. We conduct

proper legitimate work. My clients

feel confident in my abilities and

don’t have to worry. They know it will

be handled correctly.”

Lastly, Lane said, he doesn’t like the

role of Harvester of Sorrow, but he

urges people to be prepared — especially

concerning Hurricane Irma.

“I know people in our area are

going to suffer losses in Florida,” he

said. “The same rules apply up here

as they do down there, only they’re

going to be even worse. Check, check,

check your insurance policies. If

you’re in a condo, check, check,

check the bylaws to see what’s covered

or not. All the con men are coming

out, asking for checks with no

contracts, asking for deposits with no

timelines.

“All the snowbirds will have a whole

different kettle of fish to contend

with,” he continued. “They’re going

to need a respectable pair of eyes and

ears to know where they’re at for

repairs and that kind of thing. And

there’s another hurricane coming

right behind it.”

He urged people to be cautious

with any post-hurricane repairs and

not to rush into any decisions when

hiring help.

“Con men are looking at these situations

and are waiting to pounce.”