A house clearance is one of those jobs that sounds straightforward but tends to take twice as long as expected — especially when it's a probate clearance or an end-of-tenancy with a hard deadline. A little preparation makes an enormous difference. Here's how to make the day go smoothly.
Before the day
Walk every room with a fresh eye
Before you start sorting, do a single walk-through with nothing in your hands. Take photos, make notes, and estimate the volume in your mind. Most people significantly underestimate how much is there — especially in lofts, garages, under beds and at the back of wardrobes.
Separate what you want to keep
Sounds obvious, but it's easy to leave sentimental items in a clearance zone and only notice they've gone after the van has left. Box up and clearly label anything you're keeping before the crew arrives. Move it to a separate room if you can — ideally out of the clearance area entirely.
Check carefully for valuables
Jewellery in old coat pockets. Cash in books or envelopes. Family photographs at the back of drawers. Documents you'll need for probate. Don't rely on a clearance crew to sort through everything carefully — spend an hour yourself checking systematically before anyone arrives.
Donate before you clear
Charity shops take more than people expect: working kitchen appliances, crockery, cutlery, books, DVDs, and clothing. The British Heart Foundation offers free furniture collection. If you can get donations out the day before, you'll have a smaller (and cheaper) clearance.
What to tell your collection crew
When you book, make sure you tell us:
- Access: is there a lift? Stairs only? Which floor?
- Parking: is there a loading bay, single yellow, or will we need to park and carry some distance?
- Heavy items: pianos, cast-iron baths, safes (some require specialist equipment or additional manpower)
- Items that cannot go: anything you're keeping, waiting on, or donating separately
- Timing: if there's a strict landlord deadline or solicitor sign-off required, say so upfront
On the day
Show the crew the full scope on arrival — walk them through every area being cleared before they start loading. It's much easier to add a room to the job than to retrieve something from a van that's already been loaded.
You don't need to be present if you can't be — a keyholder, letting agent, or photo of the premises is fine. But if you are there, one person directing is enough. Clearance crews work significantly faster without multiple people asking questions mid-job.
After the clearance
The waste transfer note
You'll receive this by email on the same day. Keep it — it's your legal evidence that your waste was handled correctly by a licensed carrier. If you're clearing a property ahead of sale or new tenancy, your solicitor or letting agent will likely ask for it.
End-of-tenancy specifics
If you're clearing ahead of an end-of-tenancy checkout inspection, try to schedule the clearance the day before. That gives you time to deal with any items the crew couldn't take — hazardous materials, a piano requiring specialist removal — before the checkout appointment takes place.
The biggest time-waster on clearance day is deciding what to keep. Do that in the week before, not on the morning the crew arrives.