Job Description of a Make-Ready Porter

by Neil Kokemuller
Making used cars

Making used cars "like new" is important for merchandising and presentation.

Barry Austin Photography/Photodisc/Getty Images

Make-ready porter is a title typically assigned to someone who details cars or prepares them for purchase at a dealership, or someone who cleans and maintains apartments or lodges. While the work settings vary, the basic purpose of this job is to "make ready" the vehicle or room for a customer or client.

Apartment Porter

Large apartment or resort complexes that constantly turn over rooms need employees or contracted porters who can make rooms ready for new guests or residence. The specific duties vary, but generally include basic housekeeping. This role involves picking up and taking out trash, vacuuming and dusting. Basic maintenance, like painting, doorknob repair and supply replenishment may also be a porter's responsibility.

Vehicle Make Ready

Car lot make-ready porters have a slightly different role. The primary purpose of the job is to get cars cleaned and detailed to presentable condition. Along with typical cleaning and detail work on the exterior, make-ready porters may buff and wax the vehicle and patch up any holes. Large dealerships that have a large volume of used cars have regular and ongoing need for make-ready porters to efficiently get cars ready for sale.

Lot Maintenance

For a car make-ready porter, another common job role is to keep the dealership lot maintained. When the porter isn't detailing cars, they spend much of their time washing down the lot and sidewalks. Additionally, in climates where it snows a lot, clearing the lot after each snowfall is part of the job. Porters also commonly move cars around on the lot as directed by the manager.

Requirements and Pay

Make-ready porter is an unskilled, entry-level position. Therefore, you typically don't need formal education or training. Some apartment and dealership managers prefer to hire people with some maintenance and repair skills. Dealers often want car-savvy workers as well. Pay is typically modest, often just above minimum wage. Early morning, evening and weekend work is also common in many apartment complexes and dealerships.

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  • Barry Austin Photography/Photodisc/Getty Images
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