Preparing for a house clearance

The quality of a clearance is decided the week before, not on the morning the van arrives. Preparation is mostly about separating what must not leave the house.

1. Create a keep zone

Choose one room, or one wall of a room, and put in it:

• Passports, driving licences, paperwork
• Bank, pension and tax letters
• Photographs and albums
• Jewellery, watches, medals
• Keys for other properties
• Anything named in a will
• Medicines you still need to return to a pharmacy

Label the door or the boxes. We will not take a room marked to keep.

2. Look where people forget

Lofts, airing cupboards, freezer drawers, the garage freezer, the shed, the car glovebox, the backs of wardrobes. Bereavement and probate jobs hide papers in all of those places. See clearance after bereavement and clearance for executors.

3. Decide donate versus dispose

If clothing and furniture are clean enough for a charity to use, set them aside or say so on the quote. Do not assume every item should be dumped. Donation guidance and responsible clearance explain the order.

4. Access

• Confirm who has the keys
• Unlock gates and the garage
• Move cars
• Tell us about stairs, a missing loft ladder, or a parking permit
• Warn us about dogs, alarms and neighbours who may challenge a van

5. Hazardous and awkward items

Walk through for paint, gas cylinders, chemicals and anything that looks like asbestos. Those are usually outside a standard clearance. It is better we know before the day.

6. Tell other people

If a solicitor, estate agent or relative is also involved, one named contact should speak for the job. Two conflicting lists on the doorstep waste everyone’s morning.

When you are ready, request a quote.