So You Want to Be a Landlord — Episode 1
Cleanout Day: Stripping a Future Rental Down to the Studs
Get the Winning Edge with Grant, Weston, & Jim Bim
Every great rental starts with a messy first step: getting the old stuff out.
In the first episode of our new series, we walk through a property mid-cleanout with Wes from First on Scene Junk and Hauling. Floors are up, the kitchen is gutted, and the house is already showing us its surprises. If you've ever wondered what really happens before a property is ready for tenants, this is it.
What Came Out
Room by Room
Kitchen
Fully Gutted
Appliances, cabinets, flooring and the drywall ceiling removed
Living Areas
Down to the Floor
Carpet, padding, trim and window trim all pulled
Upstairs
Carpet & Doors Gone
Bathroom tub removed, flooring next
Basement
Carpet & Tack Strips Up
Engineered floor underneath is staying
What the House Revealed
Surprise #1
Four Layers of Bathroom Flooring
Previous owners kept covering old floors instead of removing them. The fix: tear it all out, lay new plywood, add a Schluter waterproofing membrane, then a new shower surround and drywall touch-ups.
Surprise #2
Pet Odor Under the Carpet
Once the upstairs carpet came up, the cat smell came out. The good news is the subfloor can be cleaned and sealed with an odor-blocking primer before new flooring goes down.
Opportunity
More Headroom Downstairs
With the ceiling open, the plumbing and ductwork are exposed. Our plumber and HVAC team will look at rerouting them to gain headroom, a change that's far easier now than after the drywall goes back up.
What This Means If You Want to Be a Landlord
You won't know everything about a property until it's opened up. Layered flooring, hidden odors and awkward plumbing are common in older homes, so build a cushion into your budget and timeline for what the cleanout uncovers.
Not everything has to go, either. The basement's engineered floor was in good enough shape to stay, with carpet installed right over it. Saving what still works keeps costs down on a rental, where durability and value matter more than showroom finishes.
Finally, use the cleanout as your chance to fix the big stuff. Once walls and ceilings are open, it's the cheapest moment to rethink plumbing, HVAC and layout.
How to Tell You Hired a Good Cleanout Crew
We asked Wes what property owners should expect from a quality crew. His answer:
- They sweep up every day. The site should be neat and tidy when you walk through.
- They do a walkthrough with you. Make sure everything is the way you wanted before they call it done.
- They pull every screw, nail and staple. Crews that skip this leave your contractor spending another half day on it, and you pay for that time.
On this job, Miss Rita was upstairs with a multi-tool clearing out every last staple. That's the kind of detail that keeps the next phase on schedule.
Partner Spotlight
First on Scene Junk and Hauling
Wes and his crew always take care of us. If you need a cleanout crew you can trust, he's the guy.
Next up: putting it all back together. Stay tuned for the next episode of So You Want to Be a Landlord.
Thinking About Becoming a Landlord?
Whether you're buying your first rental or deciding what to do with a property you already own, we'll help you find the right home, the right numbers and the right people to get it rent-ready.
Call 410-461-2800Grant Bim, Weston Bim & Jim Bim — Winning Edge Real Estate
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