Probate house clearance
Calm, practical clearance of a deceased estate, working with executors, families and, where needed, solicitors.
In practice that means furniture, appliances, clothing, kitchenware and the contents of cupboards, then the outbuildings if you want those included.
This page is for people who need the work explained before they book it. If the property is a deceased estate, start with probate house clearance as well. If you think the contents may include pieces worth more than everyday second-hand furniture, read house contents valuations before anything is removed.
What a house clearance involves
We agree the rooms and outbuildings in advance. On the day we remove the contents that are in the quote, sort them, and leave the spaces as discussed. Some customers want a completely empty shell. Others keep a few pieces of furniture and ask us to take the rest.
Full clearance
A full clearance usually means every room that still contains belongings, plus the loft if it is accessible, and often the garage or shed. It is the right option when a house is being sold, handed back to a landlord, or left after someone has died and the family has already taken what they want to keep.
Partial clearance
A partial job might be a garage that has been used as storage, a loft that was never emptied after a move, or two rooms that were left furnished. The quotation is smaller because the volume and time on site are smaller. It is still a clearance, not a casual collection.
Furniture, appliances and household contents
Sofas, beds, wardrobes, tables and the rest of the large furniture are the obvious part of the job. Appliances — cookers, fridges, washing machines, tumble dryers — need to be disconnected safely. If an appliance is still wired or plumbed in, tell us. We are not electricians or gas engineers; isolation may need to happen before we lift the item.
Household contents take longer than they look. Kitchen cupboards, airing cupboards and bedroom drawers hold a surprising volume once they are emptied onto the floor. If you want cupboards cleared, say so. If you would rather empty them yourself first, that is fine too.
Garages, sheds and lofts
Outbuildings are often where tools, paint, half-used chemicals and broken furniture end up. They need a bit more sorting than a sitting room. Paint, fuels and unidentified chemicals should be mentioned before we arrive. Some of those materials cannot travel with general household contents.
Lofts need a usable hatch and a safe way up. If the loft has boarding, old tanks or poor lighting, tell us. We will not work in a space that looks unsafe from the hatch. That is a judgement about the job, not a way to avoid it.
How quotations work
There is no honest fixed price for “a house in Evesham”. Two three-bedroom houses can contain completely different volumes. One may already be half empty; the other may have a loft and a workshop as well as the living rooms.
The quotation usually depends on:
- How much there is to remove, not just how many bedrooms the house has
- Access: parking, stairs, distance from the door, and whether a lift is available
- Time on site, including sorting rather than a straight load-and-go
- Awkward or restricted items such as pianos, hot tubs or suspected hazardous materials
- Whether some pieces have resale value that changes the overall economics of the job
Resale value can reduce what you pay, or occasionally offset more of the work, but it is not a reason to expect a free clearance. Most houses contain a mixture of usable furniture and genuine waste. We will be plain about which is which.
The quotation process
Send the postcode, the property type, and a short description of what is left. Photographs of the main rooms and any outbuildings are enough for most quotes. If the job is large or unusual we may ask for a visit or a video walkthrough. You will get a figure for the agreed scope, not an open-ended “we will see on the day”.
What happens on clearance day
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Step 1
Contact us
Tell us the property type, the postcode, how much needs clearing and whether the work is a house clearance, a probate clearance or a valuation.
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Step 2
Assessment and quote
We gather enough information to understand the volume and the nature of the job. Photographs help. We do not give one-size-fits-all prices.
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Step 3
Identify what should stay
Before anything is removed, we agree what the family or executor wants kept, and flag items that may need a closer look for value or special handling.
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Step 4
Clearance day
We carry out the agreed clearance, room by room or as specified, and leave the property in the condition discussed beforehand.
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Step 5
Sort for reuse, resale and recycling
Cleared items are sorted so usable pieces can stay in circulation where practical, rather than being treated as waste by default.
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Step 6
Responsible disposal
Anything that cannot reasonably be reused or recycled is disposed of through legitimate waste channels. Landfill is the last option, not the first.
What you should keep or identify first
Take out anything you already know you want: family photographs, documents, jewellery, keys, medicines and items promised to relatives. If the house belonged to someone who has died, read what to keep before clearing a relative’s home before the date is booked.
Personal information is easy to miss. Old bank statements, passports, wills and medical letters sit in sideboards. We set aside paperwork we notice during a job, but the responsible approach is to look through drawers yourself, or ask us to pause on documents rather than treat them as waste.
After the clearance
The rooms should match what was agreed: empty, or empty apart from listed items. We take the contents away the same day. What happens next is sorting — reuse, resale, recycling, then disposal — rather than a single trip to landfill. If you need the house swept or left in a particular state for an estate agent, say so in the quote.
More detail on timing sits in how long a house clearance takes. Pricing questions are covered in how house clearance cost is worked out.
Common questions
What is included in a house clearance?
A typical clearance covers furniture, appliances, clothing, kitchenware, ornaments and general household contents from the rooms you have asked us to empty. Garages, sheds and lofts can be included if they are agreed in the quote.
Do you empty cupboards and drawers?
Yes, when that is part of the agreed job. It is still worth removing documents, jewellery, keys and anything sentimental before we arrive, so those items are not mixed into the general contents.
Can you do a partial clearance?
Yes. Some customers only need a loft, a garage or the rooms that have been left furnished after a move. The quotation is based on the spaces and volume you ask us to handle.
How is the price worked out?
The main factors are volume, access (stairs, parking, distance from the door), time on site, and any items that are awkward or restricted. Resale value on some pieces can affect the overall economics, but it is not a reason to expect a free clearance.
What should I take out before you arrive?
Personal documents, photographs you want to keep, jewellery, cash, keys, medicines and anything you have already promised to a relative. Food that is still usable can be removed by you; we can take perishable waste if it is part of the job.
Do you take mattresses and large appliances?
Usually yes. Mattresses, fridges, cookers and washing machines are common in a full clearance. Tell us about them when you request the quote so they are included in the plan.
Related services
House contents valuations
Help identifying and documenting items that may need a closer look before a property is cleared or prepared for sale.
Eco-friendly clearance
A clearance that looks for reuse, resale, donation and recycling before anything is sent for disposal.
Get a house clearance quote
Describe the property, how much is left inside, and when you need it emptied. We will come back with a clear figure.
Get a house clearance quote