Most people book a house clearance once in their lives, often at a difficult time, and have no idea what the day will actually look like. How long does it take? Do you need to be there? What happens to the furniture? This guide walks through a typical clearance from the first phone call to the moment the property is handed back.
It covers full and part clearances for all the usual reasons, including tenancy changeovers, downsizing and emptying a property for sale. If the clearance follows a bereavement, our guide on clearing a family home sensitively deals with the emotional side in more depth.
1. The first conversation
It starts with a call or a message on 07376 293540. We will ask about the property type, the number of rooms, whether there is a loft, garage, shed or outbuilding, parking and access, and whether the whole property is being cleared or only part of it. Photos or a short video of each room help enormously.
We will also ask about the deadline. A landlord's handover date, a sale completion or a solicitor's timetable all shape how the job is planned, and we build the schedule back from that date.
2. Marking what stays
Before anything is carried out, anything being kept needs to be clearly separated. Some families prefer to do this in advance; others want us to work alongside them room by room while they set things aside. Both are fine.
Papers, photographs and anything of sentimental value should be looked for first. Drawers, wardrobe tops, suitcase pockets and the backs of cupboards are where documents tend to hide.
3. Reuse first, waste last
A good clearance is not a skip. We separate reusable furniture from genuine waste so that as little as possible ends up in landfill. Usable items can be delivered to family members, and anything you are undecided about can go into our storage in Birtley so no irreversible decision has to be made on a deadline.
- Keep: delivered to you or family, as part of the same job if you want.
- Store: held on a flexible contract until you decide.
- Reuse: separated from waste rather than thrown in with it.
- Waste: cleared last, once each room is confirmed.
4. Lofts, garages, sheds and outbuildings
These spaces are included when you ask for them, and they are often where the real volume is. Lofts in particular can hold decades of boxes, so tell us early if yours has not been opened in a while. It is the difference between a job that finishes on time and one that runs over.
5. On the day
The team doing the clearance is the same insured crew that carries out our removals. We work room by room, check before we assume, and leave anything you have flagged untouched. You do not have to be present throughout, but many people like to be there at the start and again at the end.
Our working hours run Monday to Sunday, 8am to 8pm, which gives some flexibility around work and around other family members travelling in.
6. Handover
Once the property is empty it is left swept and ready for handover, sale or a new tenant. We walk through with you, or send photos if you are not on site, so you can confirm every room before the job is signed off.
Part clearances and changeovers
Not every clearance is a whole house. Landlords often need only what a tenant left behind removed, while downsizers may need one or two rooms emptied before a move. A part clearance follows the same steps on a smaller scale and can be combined with a removal on the same day, so the things you are keeping go to the new address in the same trip.
Common questions
Related services
- House Clearance in South Shields — Full or part clearances for probate, tenancy changeovers and downsizing, handled respectfully.
- Storage in South Shields — Short or long term storage at competitive rates with immediate availability.
- Removals in South Shields — Small or large home moves over short or long distances — fully insured.
Areas this applies to
- South Shields — NE33 / NE34
- Darlington — DL1 / DL2 / DL3
- Chester-le-Street — DH2 / DH3