House clearance and probate: what happens step by step

A bereavement clearance is not a race to an empty property. The first useful action is to secure the building and stop informal removals until the executor or administrator knows what belongs to the estate, what beneficiaries have been promised and what may need valuing.

Choose one executor, administrator or authorised family contact to instruct the clearance firm. Record their name on the quote and job sheet. Other relatives can contribute to the keep list, but the crew should not arbitrate disagreements at the door.

• Confirm who holds keys and who is authorised to instruct the work
• Read the will and any letter of wishes before allocating contents
• Check whether jointly owned or loaned items sit outside the estate
• Ask the solicitor before disposing of anything where the grant or ownership is uncertain
• Tell insurers if the property is empty and follow their security requirements

Search methodically before bulk sorting. Start with desks, bedside drawers, coat pockets, filing boxes, bookcases and the backs of wardrobes. Paper that looks routine may establish an account, debt, policy or ownership.

Our crews can follow a written instruction to set aside discovered paperwork or personal effects, but that is a safety net after the executor's own search—not a substitute for it.

Use four visible zones: retain, value, reuse and remove. Do not mix the valuation pile into general furniture. Photograph each room before sorting and keep a short list of items leaving by sale, beneficiary collection or donation.

Photos are enough for many properties; a full house, outbuildings, poor access or specialist items may need a visit. Show every room, loft, garage, shed and outside pile. Ask what labour, sweep-up and disposal charges are included.

Fridges, freezers, mattresses, tyres, paint, electricals and some upholstered items can have separate treatment or disposal charges. They should be identified before the quote is accepted.

The lead contact should mark retained rooms or cupboards before the crew arrives and remain reachable for questions. A useful job sheet names the set-aside categories, excluded items, access arrangements and destination for keys.

• Photograph rooms after the final family sort
• Use labels on keep and valuation zones rather than verbal instructions alone
• Keep pets, children and unprotected visitors away from the loading route
• Stop work if an unexpected safe, document cache or potentially valuable collection appears
• Walk every room, loft and outbuilding before the vehicle leaves
• Record meter readings and hand over keys only to the authorised person

The householder and the person arranging removal have a duty to use an authorised carrier. Check the public registration, note the vehicle and retain the waste transfer note. It should identify the parties, date, material and destination rather than merely say “rubbish removed”.

Hello Services is an Environment Agency upper-tier waste carrier, registration CBDU300454. We issue a digital waste transfer note for every load. Usable items are offered to reuse partners first where suitable; the rest follows the appropriate licensed route.

Our waste duty-of-care guide explains the checks in more detail.

Start with residential clearance in Chelmsford, Colchester or Tiptree for local access and coverage details. The Essex residential-clearance hub links every qualifying town.