Work is plentiful for employees handy at cleaning out houses after they've been foreclosed. According to "Fox News," you can make as much as $1,500 for a complete clean-up to get a house ready for the market. Many jobs go to those companies that develop relationships with banks, lenders and realtors. Landing one of those positions requires contacts in the industry and the ability to sell your diversified home repair and cleaning skills.

Apply for Federal Work

Follow the application process outlined by Fannie Mae, one of the largest lenders in the country that consistently deals with foreclosed homes. The Department of Housing and Urban Development, state agencies carrying federally backed loans and other national lenders accept applications for foreclosed house cleaning contracts. Agencies may list guidelines that spell out how much they allow for payment. For example, you can bid up to $75 for cleaning a toilet and up to $100 for cleaning out a freezer or refrigerator for Fannie Mae.

Network with Realtors

Banks typically use local realtors to list and show the properties they accrue through foreclosures. Contact local realtors to find out whether they take on foreclosures and ask who performs their clean-ups. Attend professional real estate associations and business groups to meet small business owners who are taking advantage of the abundance of lucrative work.

Develop Credentials

While you don’t need to have extensive training to work on a cleaning crew, employers appreciate your efforts to increase your knowledge and perfect your skills. Look for training through organizations such as the Association of Residential Cleaning Services International or the Association of Certified Handyman Professionals, where you also can network to find employers. Become certified and get the insurance and licenses that will place you higher on the list of qualified cleaners and handyman workers in your area.

Highlight Your Skills

Very little training or background is required to land a job as a maintenance worker, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If you bill yourself as a handyperson, however, you increase your odds of landing a position because additional tasks often need to be done to ready a foreclosed property for sale, such as fixing doors, doing landscape work, replacing locks, and repairing windows and screens. Develop a resume that includes all your maintenance and home repair experience.