Probate & bereavement clearance
A careful clearance, carried out to your instructions
Clearing a home after someone has died can involve more decisions than expected. We can remove the agreed contents once the family, executor or solicitor is ready, while leaving anything marked to stay exactly where it is.
There Is No Need to Clear Everything at Once
Some families want the property cleared in one visit. Others need time to collect photographs, papers and belongings before anything else is removed. Both are reasonable.
We can clear the whole property or work room by room to an agreed list.
Before the job starts, tell us what must stay, what can go and whether there are particular items or documents to look out for.
Before the Clearance
A little preparation protects the estate and gives everyone clear instructions. These points are worth settling before a clearance date is booked.
Call or send a few details about the property, the contents and who is arranging the clearance. We will explain what we need to quote and help you plan the next step.
- Confirm who has authority to instruct the clearance.
- Check the will and any letter of wishes for belongings left to named people.
- Ask whether the contents need to be recorded or valued for probate first.
- Remove or clearly mark anything the family or beneficiaries want to keep.
- Tell us about papers, photographs, jewellery, cash, keys or other items to watch for.
- Agree which rooms, cupboards, lofts, garages and outbuildings are included.
Ready to discuss the property? We will start with the practical details.
What We Can Clear
You do not need to bag everything or move furniture before we arrive. Once the keep/remove instructions are agreed, we can remove items from throughout the property.
Some items need specialist handling, including asbestos, chemicals, gas bottles, clinical waste and certain building materials. Mention anything unusual when you enquire so it can be dealt with properly.
Furniture, beds, mattresses and soft furnishings
Kitchenware, books, clothing, ornaments and general household contents
Fridges, freezers, washing machines and other electrical items
Contents from lofts, garages, sheds and outbuildings
Garden furniture, tools and agreed outdoor items
Selected rooms, specific items or the remaining contents of the whole property
Sorted, not skipped
85%+ diverted from landfill
Across the average domestic clearance.
A Clear Process, Without Pressure
Talk the job through. Tell us about the property, who is instructing the clearance, the timescale and whether the contents have been checked and valued.
Receive a clear quote. Photographs may be enough for a smaller job. For a full or more involved clearance, we may need to visit before confirming the price.
Agree the instructions. We confirm what stays, what goes, which areas are included and what to do if important papers or belongings are found.
We carry out the clearance. The team removes the agreed contents and confirms when the work is complete.
Common Questions
Do I need probate before the house can be cleared?
It depends on the estate and who has authority to act. The personal representative may also need to record and value the contents before anything is disposed of. Check with the executor or solicitor before instructing a clearance if there is any doubt.
Can you work with an executor, solicitor or estate agent?
We can take instructions from the person authorised to arrange the clearance. Confirm who can approve the work, make decisions about found items and provide access when you enquire.
Does the whole property need to be cleared in one visit?
No. A full clearance may suit an empty property that is ready for sale, while a partial or staged clearance gives the family more time. Tell us what is ready to go and what must remain.
What if something important is found during the clearance?
Tell us in advance what to look for and give us a contact who can make decisions. Agree how matching items and anything else that appears important should be handled before the clearance begins.
Do you provide probate valuations?
A clearance quote is not a probate valuation. If a valuation is required, arrange this before the relevant contents are removed. Confirm with Ranskill House Clearance whether they can recommend an appropriate local valuer.
Can the value of saleable items reduce the clearance cost?
Sometimes, but it depends on the items and the resale route available. Any value offset must be assessed and agreed clearly when the quote is prepared; it should never be assumed.
Do family members need to be at the property?
Not necessarily, provided the authorised person can arrange access and the instructions are clear. Confirm whether an unattended clearance can be arranged when you enquire.
What happens to photographs and personal papers?
Remove anything you already know you want to keep and tell us what else to watch for. Agree the process for found photographs, legal papers and financial documents before the clearance starts.
Can you remove medicines or medical equipment?
Mention these items before the job. Medicines and some medical or clinical items need a separate disposal route and should not be treated as ordinary household waste.
How much does a probate or bereavement clearance cost?
The price depends on the volume and type of contents, access, labour, disposal costs and whether the job is completed in one visit or stages. Once the work has been assessed, you will receive a clear quote before it begins.
How do I know the waste will be handled legally?
Householders must use a registered waste carrier when paying a private business to remove waste. Ranskill House Clearance’s registration number should be shown on the website and paperwork once confirmed.
Tell us what needs clearing — we’ll send a free quote, fast.
Photos by WhatsApp are the fastest way to a price. We typically reply same day, and we won’t pressure you.