How Does House Clearance Work? A Step-by-Step Guide

House clearance is more straightforward than most people expect. A team comes to your property, removes everything you want cleared — furniture, appliances, personal effects, the lot — and leaves the place swept through and tidy. You do not need to sort things in advance, move items to one room, or be there for the whole day.

If you have never arranged a clearance before, it is natural to wonder what the process actually involves. This guide covers everything from the initial quote to what happens to your items once they have left the property.

The process starts with a quote. At Clear It Out, we price every job from photos. Send us a few pictures of the rooms or areas that need clearing and we will usually come back with a fixed price the same day — no obligation, no hard sell.

We do not charge by the hour. Every job is a fixed price confirmed before anyone arrives, so you know exactly what you are paying. For larger or more complex properties we may suggest a brief site visit first, but for most house clearances photos are enough to give you an accurate figure.

To get started, use the Get a Free Quote form or call us on 020 8050 5832.

Once you are happy with the quote, you choose a date. Clear It Out operates seven days a week and in most cases can get to you within a few days of booking. If the clearance is urgent — for example ahead of a property sale, an end of tenancy deadline, or following a bereavement — call us directly and we will do what we can to accommodate you quickly.

There is no need to do any preparation before we arrive. You do not need to bag things up, sort through cupboards, or clear a path. The team handles all of that.

A fully trained team arrives at the agreed time and gets straight to work. The team goes through every room that has been agreed in the quote, removing furniture, white goods, clothing, books, general household items — everything on the list. Items are carried from every floor, including lofts and outbuildings where agreed.

You need to provide access at the start of the job, but you do not need to stay. Many customers — particularly executors and family members dealing with a bereavement — prefer not to be on-site during the clearance. That is completely fine. If there are items you want to keep, identify those beforehand and either remove them in advance or point them out when the team arrives.

How long it takes depends on the size of the property and how much there is to clear. A one-bedroom flat might be done in a couple of hours. A large detached house with a full loft and outbuildings could be a full day. We work at the pace the job requires and do not cut corners to save time.

Everything removed from the property is sorted. Items in good condition — furniture, clothing, books, household goods — are donated to local charities, passed to reuse organisations, or sold through second-hand channels. Clear It Out actively prioritises keeping usable items out of landfill.

What cannot be reused is recycled wherever possible. Only what cannot be reused or recycled goes to landfill, and all waste is disposed of legally under our Environment Agency waste carrier licence, number CBDU176999. You can request a waste transfer note for your records if needed.

We never fly-tip. Every load is disposed of through licensed routes, and you are covered by our licence from the moment the team arrives.

Cost depends on the size of the property and how much needs clearing. A one-bedroom flat typically starts from around £150 + VAT; larger properties are priced individually based on volume and access. For a full breakdown of what affects the price, see our house clearance cost guide.

In some cases, if the property contains items of value — antiques, furniture, jewellery or silverware — those items can offset part of the clearance cost. We assess the contents honestly and let you know if anything is worth buying before we quote for the removal.

A large proportion of the clearances we carry out follow a bereavement. The process is the same, but we understand these jobs require more care and a different pace. There is no pressure to rush. If you need us to work around solicitors, estate agents, or other family members, we accommodate that.

If the estate requires a probate valuation before the clearance can proceed, we can carry out both in a single visit — producing an HMRC-compliant written valuation report and a clearance quote at the same time. Our full probate clearance service is available for estates that need it.

Clear It Out carries out house clearances across London, Surrey and Kent, seven days a week. Every job is fixed price, fully licensed and carried out by a trained team that handles everything from start to finish.

To get a quote, send us a few photos using the form below or call us on 020 8050 5832. We will usually come back with a price the same day.