Where should I start?
There is no right speed for clearing a loved one's home. The practical steps below are here for whenever you're ready — a day, a month or six months after. If a landlord, estate agent or probate solicitor has set a timeline, work back from that; otherwise take the time you need.
You don't have to make every decision on the first visit. Bag things you're unsure about, label the room, and come back to them.
What paperwork should I secure first?
- Passport, driving licence, birth and marriage certificates.
- Bank statements, savings passbooks, share certificates.
- Pension and insurance letters.
- The Will (if not already with a solicitor) and any funeral wishes.
- Recent utility bills and council tax paperwork — you'll need account numbers.
- Any address book or list of contacts — helpful for notifying people.
A ring-binder or a single labelled box for all of this is easier than searching later. Executors: keep everything together in one place for the solicitor.
What about jewellery, photos and personal items?
- Jewellery, watches and coins — even if only sentimental.
- Photo albums, letters and diaries.
- Small heirlooms — clocks, medals, ornaments the family will want.
- Anything with a name engraved or a family history you're aware of.
It's worth spreading these across the family before the clearance day — everyone gets a chance to keep something that matters, and nothing is lost in the sort.
Who do I need to notify?
- Gas, electricity and water suppliers — take a final meter reading.
- Broadband and TV providers — cancel or transfer.
- Council tax — the local council needs to know for probate exemption.
- Royal Mail — set up a redirection to the executor's address.
- Pension providers, HMRC and DWP — via Tell Us Once where available.
- Banks, building societies and insurance companies.
What if there's a deadline from an agent, landlord or solicitor?
Rented properties, retirement flats and homes being sold often carry a real deadline — sometimes only a week or two. A house clearance team can normally take a fully furnished home from front-door to broom-clean in a day, which relieves most of the pressure. If a solicitor is handling probate, they can also instruct the clearance directly, which many families find easier than doing it themselves.
What can be donated rather than cleared?
- Good-condition sofas and armchairs with fire labels intact — most local charities collect.
- Wardrobes, chests of drawers and beds (frames) in reusable condition.
- Working white goods — fridges, freezers, washing machines.
- Clean bedding, unused toiletries, books and unopened tools.
- Mobility aids — often gratefully accepted by community groups.
LV81 sets aside anything reusable during a clearance and passes it to charity partners across Birmingham and the West Midlands — see our note on how we handle reuse. The rest is recycled or sorted at a licensed transfer station.
When should I call a house clearance team?
When you're ready — not before. Many families keep a small amount of the person's belongings, take a weekend to sort what's meaningful, and only then ask a clearance team to handle the rest. LV81 works quietly and respectfully on probate jobs; we'll wait for the family to lead, and we can liaise with the solicitor or estate agent if that's easier.
Need this sorted today?
LV81 Removals is a licensed, fully insured collection team covering Birmingham and the wider West Midlands. Fixed quotes, same-day slots, waste transfer note issued.