Inventory rooms before booking, separate items that must not leave, and verify the collector. A controlled clearance prevents valuables, documents or reusable goods being swept into one waste load.

Before quotes

• Walk every room, loft, garage, shed and garden.
• Mark keep, family/owner decision, sell/donate, recycle and dispose.
• Identify fridges, electronics, chemicals, paint, batteries, gas bottles, sharps and suspected asbestos.
• Photograph bulky items and access.
• Confirm parking, stairs and loading point.
• Establish authority to remove every item.

Before the team arrives

Remove documents, keys, medicines, cash and valuables. Label retained items and lock rooms outside scope. Agree inventory, labour, exclusions, destination, price basis and paperwork.

Reuse and donation require confirmed acceptance; do not count an unusable item as donated merely because a collector says so.

During and after

A responsible adult should be reachable even if not present. Walk through scope, record changes and retain invoice, carrier details and waste transfer evidence where applicable. Check all areas before sign-off.

FAQs

Must I be present?

Not always, if authority, access, inventory, exclusions and a decision contact are clear. Complex or sensitive clearances benefit from a representative.

What should I remove or label?

Documents, valuables, keys, medicines and retained belongings; label uncertain ownership and hazardous/specialist items.

Suggested component

Use a printable Room-by-Room Clearance Inventory with destination and authorisation fields.

Related guides

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