We’re sorry if you’re clearing the home of someone you’ve lost. You don’t need to stand over the team all day, but it really helps if you, or someone you trust, are there at the start to show them what stays, and at the end to walk round before the keys are handed back.
Before the day
The surest way to keep the things that matter is to have them out of the way before the van arrives. Go through the house first and take out the will and any papers, photographs, keepsakes, anything promised to family and anything that still needs valuing. Check drawers, pockets and books as you go, so no letters or cash leave in the van by accident.
Then agree with the clearance firm, in writing, exactly what they’re taking, what the price covers and what happens to anything they can sell. A short list, or a few photos of each room, saves any misunderstanding on the day.
Check the firm is allowed to take household waste. GOV.UK says you must check that a clearance service is on the register of waste carriers, and you could be fined if you give your waste to someone who isn’t legally allowed to take it.
If you can’t be there
If you live a long way off, or simply can’t face being there, ask a relative, friend or neighbour to let the team in, run through your list with them, and do the final walk-round. Agree beforehand how the keys will come back to you, and ask the firm to send photos of the empty rooms when they’ve finished.
Where storage helps
If the house has to be empty by a set date but the family hasn’t decided everything yet, moving the keep and undecided piles into a storage unit before clearance day means nothing that matters is in the house when the clearers arrive. If you’re the executor, you can rent a unit for the estate straight away, in your name as executor. We can also put you in touch with local removals and man-and-van firms to help you move things in.
If a clearance firm, a buyer or an auction house collects from your unit later on, you, or someone you’ve given access to, will need to be there to let them in and oversee it, as our team doesn’t hand belongings over on your behalf. You can share access with a relative or friend so they can meet the collection for you.
If the last few weeks have been hard, Cruse Bereavement Support’s free helpline is on 0808 808 1677. When you’re ready, call us on 0800 2545585 and we’ll help you plan it, or get a price online.
Related questions
- Should I put things into storage before a house clearance?
- Who pays for storage while an estate is being sorted out?
- Can anyone else access my unit?
Further reading
- GOV.UK: Dispose of household waste
- Cruse Bereavement Support: Helpline