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Article Synopsis
This article looks at how professional clearance companies, such as ASAP Clearances, can help if you need to clear out a home following a bereavement. There are a number of steps you can take to ensure the whole process is stress-free, all of which are outlined below.
It will take between three and four minutes to read.
One of the most difficult tasks many people face in their lifetimes is the death of a loved one – usually a close family member. This often means their home needs to be cleared out, and this process can be an extremely emotional journey because of all the memories which are associated with the property (and all the possessions inside it).
Often, there are time pressures as well, as the property may need to be sold as part of an estate. All of this is against a backdrop of your personal loss, which can take a long time to come to terms with.
The whole clearance process can be made much more straightforward if you enlist the help of a professional company such as ASAP Clearances.
ASAP Clearances - Helping with a House Clearance After a Death in London
At ASAP Clearances, we can help with bereavement house clearances in many parts of London. You can rely on us for a sensitive, customer-focused service, and we will treat your property as if it were our own.
But what steps can you take to make the whole experience as easy as possible, while allowing you time to grieve? We have identified five key steps you can take - a little preparation goes a long way.
1. Find the Key Bits of Paperwork
It's essential that any important documents are identified and kept in a secure place so they aren’t accidentally removed during the clearance. These include the will (assuming there is one), property deeds, and recent financial documents, including bank statements and utility bills.
2. Check the Probate Situation
On many occasions, the death of a loved one leads to a probate house clearance. If you are an executor, you have a responsibility to ensure everything is handled correctly. In most cases, you’ll have to wait until probate is granted before selling or donating any items. However, you can still make a list of items and start sorting through them.
(For more information on how the probate process works, see our previous blog post here.)
3. Remove Perishable Items
Many items, particularly in the fridge and the kitchen, can be disposed of before the clearance company arrives. Check the 'use by' and 'best before' dates on any cans and tins. There are usually a few items at the back of kitchen cupboards which are well past their best. Plants and flowers inside the home can also be removed.
4. Sort and Categorise
In our experience, it helps if you have some sort of structure to your decluttering operation. Going room by room, you can put items into one of four categories.
Dispose of - these include the old foodstuffs, as well as other items which are old, beyond repair, or have no sentimental value or practical use at all.
Sell - these include high-value items which no one in the family has any use or need for. It particularly applies to white goods, furniture and other bulky items which can be difficult to move (although it may be worthwhile leaving them in situ if the property is being sold.)
Donate or Recycle - there may be smaller items which may be in good condition but don’t have much value. These can be donated to various charities or recycled rather than ending up in landfill.
Keep - in most clearances there will be items which, while they may not have much monetary worth, have plenty of sentimental value. Family heirlooms and photograph albums fit into this category.
5. Contact ASAP Clearances
By using us for a house clearance after a death in London or Hertfordshire, you can be sure of a professional service where you won’t be rushed at any stage. We can sort through any rooms which you haven’t cleared, going through books, drawers, and pockets to ensure nothing has been missed (or is being discarded by mistake). For more information on our bereavement house clearance services, follow this link.
We can also donate furniture, clothes, and bric-a-brac to local charities, and we always try to avoid sending anything to landfill. And if you have any plants and items outside which need to be removed, we can offer specialist garden clearing in Barnet, Hampstead, Finchley and across North London and Hertfordshire.
ASAP work directly with families and with probate solicitors to ensure all the paperwork is in order and all due processes have been followed.
If you'd like to get in touch, you can call us on 020 3475 0508 or follow this link and request a callback by filling in the online form.
FAQs
Q: Do I need to be present during the clearance?
A: No. Many of our clients live some distance away or find the process too emotional. We can collect keys from a neighbour, a solicitor, or an estate agent and provide a full report and photographs once the job is finished.
Q: How do you calculate the cost of a bereavement clearance?
A: Our pricing is transparent and based on the volume of items to be removed, the labour required, and any applicable disposal fees. However, if there are items of significant resale value, we can often offset these against the total cost of the service.
Q: Do you provide a waste transfer note for probate purposes?
A: Yes. We are fully licensed by the Environment Agency. We provide all necessary documentation to prove that the estate's contents were disposed of legally and responsibly, which is often required for probate and executors' records.