A community-clean up day is a great way to power through cleaning and repairing homes that are in serious disarray.
The best community clean-up days are social, casual, and accessible. They should be limited in scope to a specific type of task or list of tasks and only a few hours long.
The intent is not to extract free labor from your loved ones, but to spend time together doing small repetitive tasks that will make a big difference. Take breaks when you need to and encourage your guests to as well. If you have money to pay someone for labor, this is a great day for them to come by. Many hands make light work!
Steps for a successful clean up day
1
Define your purpose.
Set some SMART goals, each goal should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant to the problem, and Time-oriented. Example goals might be: spend a day removing all objects from an estate, a separate day for weeding and trimming the yard, and deep scrubbing/cleaning for the last day. All goals should lead towards the same goal: the building is empty, clean, and ready for a professional to start the next steps.
2
Brainstorm people to invite.
Go through your recent text messages, facebook messages, friends list, and contact lists. Post in some facebook groups and on instagram. Hop on lex or nextdoor to post your event.
3
Make your event.
This can be on facebook, craigslist, instagram, google calendar, or any public page. The purpose of this is to have a central link you can invite people to and share digitally. The event description should be casual, informative, and entice people to help.
Event Descriptions from Prior Clients
If you’re feeling stuck, try using this format as a template.
- Explain the situation. If a tragedy has occurred, there’s no need to have shame. People want to help. Speaking as a widow, people will only want/be able to help for so long.
- Ask for help. Describe the help you will need this day. Be specific. If you need help with prepping for the event, include that here.
- Ideally, you or another organizer are able to provide food, like pizza or dollar store snacks, and drinks (water, faygo, gatorade, etc). Mention the food, music, vices, or social company you will be providing. If you need help getting those things to the event, be sure to ask in the description.
- Invite everyone you know and encourage them to invite others. If you are cleaning an estate for someone who has passed, be sure to invite everyone they knew as well. Lots of people come out of the woodwork during grief.
Example 1
Hey all, the house is ready to sell.
Could we ask for some help moving the final bags/boxes into a U-Haul and moving the branch clippings to the front yard?
All of the donations from the sale of this house are going to LGBTQ+ nonprofits. We might also do some painting. free pizza and drinks provided!!!
Example 3
I’m close to selling my house, but could use some help for the finishing process. Due to my back injury, I am limited in what I can do so I’m reaching out for some last minute help. Most of what needs to be done is simple landscaping work, cleaning, and a few other little projects. Pizza will be provided and feel free to bring drinks or smoke.
Example 2
[Name] passed away in August had a lot of belongings and wanted his chosen family to allow almost all of them to be given away in a meaningful way (in the spirit of a Native American tradition) – to friends, friends of friends, and the local LGBTQ+ Community.
Friends and neighbors have been working hard to clean, organize, and display many wonderful items for the giveaway in [neighborhood], Ypsilanti. It’s happening on [date].
If you are seeing this, know that you are invited! There are lots of really cool things there that you might get for yourself, a friend, or a family member. Shoes, coats, games, knick-knacks, furniture, kitchen items, tools, and all sorts of other stuff will be available and will be given away. No money needed.
Art on the Walls are not up for grabs, certain items that are marked with tape are also not up for grabs.
Feel free to share this with friends and family!
***PLEASE DM [contact names] for address!***
Realtor Lorentz 