House Clearance FAQ’s
Please see some answers to some of the commonly asked questions, regards our house clearance service. If your query isn’t answered below, please get in touch. We are happy to answer any of your questions.
1: ARE YOU LICENSED WASTE CARRIERS ? – YES
We are licensed waste carriers and registered by the Environment Agency as an Upper Tier Carrier Broker Dealer. Waste carriers license number CBDU138983
2: ARE YOU VAT REGISTERED ? – YES
We are a UK VAT registered company: 246 484 092
3: ARE YOU FULLY INSURED ? – YES
We hold £5 Million in public liability insurance and £10 million in employers liability insurance, we are fully covered to work inside and outside of any property
4: WILL YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE TIDY ? – YES
Every room cleared will be swept and or vacuumed, including cobwebs removed from the walls and ceilings.
5: DO YOU NEED TO VISIT THE PROPERTY BEFORE GIVING AN ESTIMATE / QUOTE ? NO
We can normally provide aN estimate / quotation after a 5 – 10 minute telephone call, preferably supported by some photos of the rooms to be cleared sent via email or Whatsapp. For Larger or hoarded properties a site visit will be required.
6: CAN YOUR CLEAR EVERYTHING ? YES
All household effects, as well a carpets, fixtures and fittings if requested.
Some items are classified as hazardous waste and WEEE and need to be disposed of safely. (Paint, chemicals, fluorescent tubes, fridges freezers, TV )
These items have an additional disposal cost per item. OR we can separate these at the property for you, so you can dispose of them for FREE at your local domestic recycling centre.
*WE ARE UNABLE TO ACCEPT – Asbestos, Plasterboard, Builders Waste, Wet Foods.
7: HOW MUCH DOES HOUSE CLEARANCE COST ?
Prices will vary depending on the size of the property and density of contents. Minus where possible items that have a resale value to us, so it will be one of three scenarios, we pay you, you pay us, or we do the house clearance for free.
8: CAN YOU CLEAR SELECTED ITEMS FROM A PROPERTY ? YES
We can clear singular items from anywhere in the property including lofts and outbuildings. We can also clear a property in stages to leave bigger furniture for the Estate Agents photographs (which they often advise) then clear the remaining contents upon firm sale of the property.
9: DO YOU RECYCLE THE ITEMS YOU CLEAR ? YES
Where and whenever possible, we will always look to reduce what goes to the recycling centre, by taking suitable items to a charity first, you can read our recycling policy here
10: DO YOU BUY ITEMS ? YES
We do buy good quality items as part of a clearance, from the estate or the executor. (WE DO NOT DEAL IN CASH) Purchases are by purchase order from ourselves, with payments being made via BACS /Bank Transfer, learn more about what we buy HERE.
11: WHAT ABOUT SENTIMENTAL & IMPORTANT ITEMS ?
When we find items items that we believe to be or important, such as photos, deeds, passports birth certificates, keys, jewellery etc. We will always put them in a safe place for your inspection.
12: HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO CLEAR A HOUSE ?
Most properties can be safely cleared in a day with the right team and vehicle configurations. This includes all of the lifting and shifting on site, as well as the recycling and disposal off-site. Bigger properties with outbuildings and or large amounts of contents and hoarded properties, will take longer.
13: DO YOU CLEAR FIXTURES AND FITTINGS ? NO.
Unless this has been agreed beforehand, we will never remove curtains, carpets, built-in furniture, ceiling lights, kitchen units, doors etc.
14 CAN YOU CLEAR KITCHEN APPLIANCES ? – YES
We can clear any free standing appliances e.g Fridges, Freezers, Dishwashers Washing Machines etc.
ALL GAS COOKERS will need to be disconnected before the clearance, our recommendation is that you use a Gas Safe / Corgi Engineer. ALL HARD WIRED Appliances (not using conventional plug) will need to be disconnected by a qualified electrician.
15: DO I NEED TO BE PRESENT ON THE DAY ? NO
We can collect keys from a neighbour or liaise with an estate agent or solicitor. If you want to be present on the day thats fine with us.
16: WHAT VANS DO YOU USE ?
We use LWB Luton box vans with tail-lifts, the vans are about 16ft long and 11ft high and have a maximum payload of 3.5 tonnes
17:WILL YOU SMASH UP THE ITEMS BEING CLEARED ? NO NEVER
Every house cleared, will be done carefully and sensitively. Some rubbish clearance companies will smash up furniture on the drive, to save time and create space on their vehicles. If I saw my mother or fathers possessions being smashed up I would be heart broken. If you hire a rubbish clearance company to carry out a property clearance, they may well do this.
18: WHERE DO YOU TAKE THE RUBBISH ?
We take ALL junk and rubbish to a Licensed Waste Transfer Station – Wikipedia. Where our vehicles are weighed on entry and on exit to asses the amount of rubbish tipped in KG. We will supply you with all paperwork
19: WHAT TIME DO YOU START ?
We aim to arrive between 8.30 – 9am. For smaller clearances where a half day is required, we can start later.
20: CAN YOU MOVE ITEMS TO ALTERNATIVE ADDRESS ? YES
If there are any up to 150kg per item, we can move them to an alternative UK address.
21: IF I CHANGE MY MIND, CAN I GET ITEMS YOU HAVE CLEARED BACK? YES SOMETIMES
We understand a house clearance involves making tough decisions when letting things go.
It is possible sometimes to retrieve items once they have gone to the charity, if the items have been disposed of at the tip then its unlikely we can get them back, for health and safety reasons.