Dirt & Duty

Foreclosed Property Board-Up & Security Contractor

Secure empty, bank-owned properties by boarding up windows and replacing locks to prevent vandalism.

Startup Cost: £0 Location: Local Difficulty: Medium Potential repeatable business Regular weekly commitment

Earning and time figures are our broad estimates, not guarantees — actual results depend on your area, your effort and demand.

Why it's left-field

You act as a physical guardian for vacant real estate, preparing abandoned buildings for future sale.

How it works

  1. 1Property preservation companies hire independent couples or individuals to visit foreclosed homes.
  2. 2Clear exterior debris, cut lawns, and install secure wooden boards over broken entry points.

Official platforms

  • Register with global property preservation directories like Safeguard Properties or local asset management agencies.
  • Fiverr

Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — it helps fund the sanctuary, and we only recommend platforms we'd use ourselves.

Get the Home & Garden Services Kit (£5)

Explore similar

Dirt & Duty

Foam or brush gutter guards keep leaves out for years — fitting them from a ladder is a one-visit job homeowners pay well for because it removes a chore forever.

Startup cost: Startup Cost: £60-£120Location: Location: Local/OutdoorsDifficulty: Difficulty: MediumEarning potential: Potential repeatable businessTime needed: Regular weekly commitment

Why it's left-field

The materials cost a fraction of the fitted price, and the skill ceiling is low — the ladder is the real barrier that keeps competitors away.

Dirt & Duty

Polycarbonate conservatory roofs turn green and grimy within a few years, and owners can't face the ladder — a careful clean restores the light for a solid fee.

Startup cost: Startup Cost: £40-£80Location: Location: Local/OutdoorsDifficulty: Difficulty: MediumEarning potential: Potential repeatable businessTime needed: Regular weekly commitment

Why it's left-field

It's the awkward height, not the skill, that's paid for. Most customers book once a year, which makes it quietly repeatable income.

Dirt & Duty

Families living far from a loved one's grave pay for regular tidying, planting and fresh flowers — quiet, dignified work with steady monthly income.

Startup cost: Startup Cost: £10-£20Location: Location: Local/OutdoorsDifficulty: Difficulty: EasyEarning potential: Potential repeatable businessTime needed: Regular weekly commitment

Why it's left-field

The need is invisible and constant: hundreds of families per cemetery, most of them a motorway away, all grateful rather than haggling.