House clearance FAQs

The quickest way is to send photos through our online quote form, along with the address and a note about stairs, steps and parking. We look at everything and reply with a free, fixed, no-obligation quote. If photos aren't practical, or the property is large or very full, we can arrange to visit instead. There is no call-out fee for a quote.

Yes. Once we have seen photos or visited, we give you a fixed price covering labour, loading, transport, disposal, recycling and the final sweep. The price we quote is the price you pay. If you later ask us to take extra items that weren't part of the quote, we agree any change with you before we load them, so nothing is added without your agreement.

It depends on how much there is, how easy the property is to reach, the types of items involved and how much sorting is needed. Fridges and upholstered sofas, for example, need specialist handling. Our prices page gives guide ranges for typical jobs, from single items to full houses, but every clearance is quoted individually and fixed before we start.

We agree a date that suits you, often within a few days of you accepting the quote, depending on the size of the job and our diary. If you are working to a deadline, such as a tenancy ending, a sale completing or a holiday let booking, tell us when you ask for a quote and we will do our best to fit around it.

Yes, we can work at weekends by arrangement. This can help if you want to be there yourself but work during the week, or if a weekday clearance would clash with a changeover or a busy street. Just mention your preferred days when you ask for a quote and we will agree a date that works for you.

No. Many clearances go ahead without the owner present. We can collect keys from, and work with, a neighbour, solicitor, estate agent or landlord. We agree beforehand what is going and what is staying, set aside keepsakes and paperwork, keep you updated as agreed and make sure the keys go back to the right person afterwards.

We clear whole houses and flats, as well as lofts, garages, sheds, gardens and business premises. We also remove single items such as a sofa, a bed or an old fridge, and we carry out careful bereavement, probate and hoarding clearances. If you are not sure whether we can help with something, send us a photo and ask.

No, sorting is part of what we do. It helps if you remove anything you want to keep, or label it clearly, before the day. We also set aside photographs, documents, jewellery and anything that looks personal or valuable as we go, so it can be checked before anything leaves the property.

Yes. Fridges and freezers go to specialist treatment so the gases inside are captured safely. Upholstered seating such as sofas and armchairs may contain persistent organic pollutants, so under UK rules it has to be incinerated rather than landfilled. These items cost more to deal with, but we include them in your fixed quote so there are no surprises.

We can't take asbestos, including old garage roofs, panels or floor tiles that may contain it, and we can't take gas bottles or cylinders. Other hazardous materials may also need a specialist. If we come across anything like this, we will leave it in place, let you know and point you towards the right people to deal with it safely.

Yes. Around Whitby, difficult access is common, from cottages up yards and steps on the East Side to steep streets with little parking and upper-floor flats with tight stairs. We plan how to carry everything to the van before the day and include the extra time in your quote. Photos of the approach to the property help us plan.

Yes. We work calmly and without judgement, at a pace the person is comfortable with, and nothing personal goes without agreement. A clearance is practical help rather than treatment, so we would also encourage talking to a GP, NHS talking therapies or HoardingUK about ongoing support. We can work with family members or support workers if that helps.

Yes, and we understand how hard this can be. We work carefully and respectfully, at a pace that suits the family, and we set aside photographs, papers and personal items for you to go through. If you live away or would rather not be there, we can work with a keyholder or solicitor and keep you updated throughout.

Yes. As we clear, we keep back photographs, letters, jewellery, bank statements, wills, deeds and anything else that looks personal or important. If you tell us in advance what you are looking for, such as a watch, a set of keys or a particular document, we keep a close eye out for it. Nothing personal is thrown away without your agreement.

Yes. We are happy to take instructions from an executor, administrator or solicitor, collect keys from their office and send the quote and paperwork to them. This is often easier when family members live away from Whitby. We can also liaise with the estate agent so the property is cleared and tidy in time for photographs or viewings.

It depends on the estate. Executors often wait for the grant of probate before selling or disposing of anything significant, but some tasks, such as removing perishable food or securing valuables, may need doing sooner. Please check with the executor or the solicitor handling the estate. We can give you a quote early and book the clearance once you are ready.

If you need a formal valuation for probate, it should come from a qualified valuer or auctioneer. We can tell you which items are likely to be reusable or saleable, and where things have value this can reduce the cost of your clearance. Anything you want to have valued separately can be set aside before we start.

Reuse comes first. Furniture and household items in good condition go for reuse or donation where possible. Metal, wood, cardboard, textiles and electricals are separated for recycling, garden waste goes for composting, and only what cannot be saved goes for disposal through authorised sites. You receive paperwork for disposal so you know where your waste went.

Yes. We provide paperwork for disposal, including a waste transfer note, which records what was taken and who took it. It gives you a record that your waste was passed to an authorised carrier. Businesses and landlords should keep these notes for at least two years, and householders often find them useful for peace of mind.

Ask for the company's waste carrier registration number and check it on the Environment Agency's public register of waste carriers, brokers and dealers. Householders have a duty of care for their waste, so if it is fly-tipped by an unregistered collector you could be fined. Be wary of anyone who offers no paperwork or a price that seems far too low.

Upholstered seating such as sofas, armchairs, sofa beds and padded dining chairs may contain persistent organic pollutants from old flame retardants. Under UK rules, if they are thrown away they must be destroyed, normally by incineration, and cannot go to landfill. If a piece is clean, in good condition and still has its fire safety label, it may be suitable for reuse instead.

We set paperwork aside for you to check before anything leaves the property, because old files often contain things you need, such as bank details, pension letters or deeds. Anything confidential that you want destroyed is shredded rather than thrown away whole, so personal information about you or your family doesn't end up somewhere it shouldn't.

Yes. We clear furniture, belongings and rubbish left behind by tenants, and we sweep up afterwards so the property is ready for cleaning, repairs or new tenants. We can work directly with landlords or letting agents, collect keys and provide a waste transfer note for your records. Tell us your deadline when you ask for a quote.

Yes. Holiday lets and second homes are common around Whitby and along the coast. If you are refurbishing or replacing furniture, we can agree a date around your changeover and work with a local keyholder if you live away. We remove old sofas, beds and appliances, leave the property swept and send you the paperwork.

Yes. We clear offices, shops, cafes, storage units and other business premises, including furniture, shelving, fittings and general waste. We can work outside your normal trading hours, including weekends by arrangement, to reduce disruption. Businesses need a waste transfer note for their records, and we provide one with every commercial clearance.

Yes. We are happy to take instructions from estate agents and letting agents on behalf of owners and landlords. We can collect and return keys, send quotes and photos to the agent and the owner, and time the clearance around viewings or a new let. The owner or landlord still needs to approve the quote before we start.

We are based in Whitby and cover everywhere within about 25 miles. That includes the Esk Valley villages, the North York Moors and the coast from Saltburn and Staithes down through Robin Hood's Bay and Ravenscar to Scarborough, with inland work as far as Pickering and Guisborough. If you are just outside that area, ask us anyway.

Yes. Villages such as Staithes, Runswick Bay and Robin Hood's Bay, and Whitby's own old town, have steep banks, narrow lanes and limited parking. We check how close a vehicle can get, plan a route for carrying items by hand and work to keep lanes clear for residents. The extra time is built into your fixed quote.

Travel time is one of the things we consider when pricing a job, so a clearance further along the coast or out on the moors may cost a little more than the same job in town. It is built into your fixed quote, though, so you know the full price before you agree to anything and there is nothing extra to pay later.

Quite possibly. Our list of towns and villages isn't complete, and we cover a wide area around Whitby, including remote farms and hamlets on the moors. Send us the postcode through the quote form or give us a call, and we will tell you honestly whether we can help. If we can't, we will say so.