What vacant buildings collect
A building left vacant for months or years becomes a different kind of cleanup job. Common conditions include:
- Trash and debris from trespassers or previous occupants
- Needles, drug paraphernalia and human waste
- Animal infestations: rodents, raccoons, birds, bats and feral cats, with their droppings and nests
- Dead animals
- Water damage and mold from roof leaks or plumbing failures
- Vandalism damage
These conditions bring real health risks. Rodent droppings can carry hantavirus, bird and bat droppings can harbor fungi such as Histoplasma, and needles carry bloodborne disease risks.
How the work is done
- Assess safety. Check structural concerns, utilities and hazards before entry.
- Sweep for sharps before moving debris.
- Remove animal waste with wet methods that keep dust down, and dead animals and nests.
- Clear debris and contaminated materials.
- Clean and disinfect affected surfaces.
- Coordinate with pest control, wildlife removal, roofers or mold specialists for problems outside our scope.
- Document conditions and work for owners, lenders, buyers or municipalities.
For owners, buyers and cities
We work for owners preparing to sell or rehab, investors who just bought a distressed property, and municipalities dealing with nuisance or condemned properties.
Securing the property
After cleanup, the building should be secured to prevent re-entry. We can coordinate board-up. See emergency securing and board-up coordination.
Common questions
Is it safe to walk through a vacant building?
Use caution. Avoid disturbing droppings, watch for needles and weak floors, and wear protective equipment if you must enter.
Do you handle mold?
We clean up contamination related to vacancy. Significant mold growth should be handled by a mold remediation specialist, and some states license mold work.
Can you clean before an inspection or appraisal?
Yes. Clearing debris and contamination makes inspection safer and more accurate.