Finally, the stimulus money allocated for various housing and community improvement projects around the country is starting to flow into communities. This means state and local governments will start allocating contracts for lots of work - and much of it is the kind foreclosure cleanup companies - and other real-estate-related firms can vie for, eg:
Appraisers
Realtors
Brokers
Termite & Pest Control Companies
Building Contractors

In the different scenarios of life one cannot but help to pick up tips from folks who have been there and done that.

People who have firsthand experience are the best advisers truly; they have gone through the motions and are fully capable of giving good tips. In this case there are scores of folks who are faced with foreclosure possibilities, each one's case is different as the tips and strategies that they adopt are different.

Nevertheless, there are many tips that will help your circumvent a foreclosure notice and put you in a better position of retaining your home.

A good tactic that you can try is to delay your reply to the summons, bid time but don't sit on it. A foreclosure notice can prove to be disastrous when it is completely ignored and that's not what you want.