The Process
Managing surplus property is secondary to any organization’s core mission, and we know it can’t interfere with more important functions. So we work to come up with the cleanout option that best fits each situation and facility we work with, in terms of schedule, budget, involvement of facility personnel, and interaction with other operations.
We can handle almost any situation:
- Cleanout of storage or warehouse space;
- Pickup from loading areas;
- Move-outs and cleanouts from schools, medical, academic and office buildings;
- Dormitory cleanouts associated with renovation or furniture replacement.
IRN offers a simple, turnkey process, usually easier (and always safer) than managing crews to throw stuff away, with huge environmental and social benefits, bottom line savings, and great publicity:
- Assemble initial Information. Location, schedule, material composition and quantity, where and how material stored or installed, basic logistics information, labor availability and qualifications.
- Conduct site visit if needed. A site visit is typical on larger projects, to review site layout, develop a detailed inventory, assess access, elevators, and stairwells, contact moving firms if needed, and meet onsite project managers.
- Develop detailed inventory. The inventory is what we offer to our charitable partners, so it’s important that it be accurate. Pictures are a huge plus.
- Prepare detailed project proposal and budget. The proposal spells out the exact scope of the project and responsibilities of all parties. Included is a detailed budget, proposed on a not-to-exceed basis; you know your maximum cost, and reap the benefit if we come in below the budget. At this point, we will have offered the project to our network of partners, and will have made at least a preliminary match with a user. When we submit a proposal, that’s our commitment that we can find a partner who will reuse your surplus.
- Coordinate publicity. Reuse is a fantastic story. We can help prepare press releases or stories for local press, company or campus websites or publications.
- Confirm schedule and logistics. When the proposal is signed, we reconfirm start date and time, project duration, and logistics details (access to buildings, keys, local and emergency contacts, etc.). We schedule moving crews and confirm crew size. And we schedule the trailers or shipping containers that will take the surplus away.
- Prepare site package. This is a “for dummies” handbook for everyone involved. It includes floorplans, a project summary, inventory, IRN and local contacts, troubleshooting procedures; information to answer to the many questions that can come up and have to be answered on the fly. It’s prepared for most large projects, and nearly all projects where we haven’t worked before.
- Go. We have a nearly 100% track record for completing projects on schedule and within budget. With hundreds of projects under our belts, it’s a track record we’re proud of.
- Prepare and submit completion package. This documents the quantity and composition of material removed, its disposition (percent to reuse and recycling), and ultimate destination.
