How to perform a house clearance?

Planning and organisation

Plan ahead and by being fully organised in completing a house clearance, the task will run much more smoothly and become less of a stressful experience.

Time for each room

Allow half a day for each room on the principle that two people are undertaking the work. If half a day seems a lot, then some homes have a room or two full of ornaments or other precious items which need to be carefully wrapped and packed.

Red

All items that you wish to keep should be boxed and the package clearly marked in red that they are your valued items you cannot do without. You may have to be ruthless with some items or you may find everything going into the red pile.

Amber or orange

Sell or donate, all the items that you wish to either give away to charity or sell through places like eBay.

Green

Mark anything that you wish to dispose of with a green marking.

Local council or authority

In many cases, the local authority will collect large or bulky items from outside your home. You simply have to phone and arrange a collection date and ensure the item or items are outside on the arranged day. It can take a few weeks to arrange this, so plan ahead.

Hire a skip

Hiring a skip is one solution although if it is parked on the street many, local authorities require a permit before it can be left outside your home.

Load your car

Place everything in your car and take it to the local tip or recycling centre, this may take several trips but it is free to offload your items in this way.

Hire professionals

Use a house clearance company to remove your unwanted items for you. This would be similar to the cost of hiring a skip without the hassle of applying for a permit. They would also take any items you wish to donate.

Specialists or do it yourself?

This just leaves the task of moving the items you wish to keep, either hire a van and move it yourself or hire a professional removals team.