Only need something valued?
See our free verbal valuations.
How does a house clearance with Shelbys work?
We start by looking at the contents with you and giving a free valuation of anything worth selling. Items suitable for auction are taken to our saleroom free of charge, with some exceptions depending on the item and where it is. Anything else is cleared and charged on the volume and nature of what needs removing.
Clearing a home in the city itself? We have a separate page on house clearance in Leeds.
Step 1
Tell us about the property
Ring 0113 250 2626, or send the quote form with a few photos if you have them.
Step 2
We look at the contents
A free valuation of anything worth selling, and a look at what needs clearing.
Step 3
We clear, sell and settle up
Saleable items go into a Saturday sale; the rest is cleared or donated. Our fees are deducted and the balance is paid to you.
What’s included
- Full or part house clearances
- Flexible scheduling to suit your availability
- Free collection for larger auction-worthy items
- Unsellable items responsibly cleared or donated
- Proceeds from auctioned items returned to you after fees
Free collection has some exceptions, depending on the item and where it is. Smaller items can be brought to the saleroom by appointment.
Which clearance do you need?
Pick the closest fit. If you’re not sure which, ring the office and we’ll talk it through.
Full house clearance
We clear the whole house; saleable contents go to auction.
Part house clearance
Some rooms, or just the pieces you’re not taking.
Probate & estate clearance
Clearing a loved one’s home, with valuations for the estate.
Downsizing & moving home
Moving somewhere smaller, or into care.
For solicitors & executors
Written valuations, clearance and sale for estates.
End of tenancy clearance
For landlords and letting agents, between tenants.
Garage, loft & shed clearance
The spaces nobody has sorted in years.
Commercial & office clearance
Shops, offices and business premises.
How much does a house clearance cost?
Every house is different, so clearances are priced on the volume and nature of what needs removing. The cost may be covered or reduced by the value of what sells at auction.
Here is how that works. Larger items going to auction are collected free (some exceptions apply), and what they make comes back to you after our fees. It is the items that won’t sell that are charged for, and what the auction earns may cover or reduce that charge. We don’t print a price list because we can’t give a fair figure without knowing what’s in the house. To find out what yours might cost, ring the office or use Get a quote.
| Item | Charge | When |
|---|---|---|
| Clearing items that won’t sell | Chargeable | Priced on volume and what needs removing |
| Collecting larger items for auction | Free | Some exceptions, depending on the item and location |
| Lot fee | £4.00 | Per item, sold or unsold |
| Seller’s commission | 22% | Plus VAT on the commission, only when sold |
Where does everything go after a clearance?
Not everything in a house will sell, so a clearance has three routes out. The same people value, sell and clear, so it is one phone call.
- Saleable items go into our fortnightly auction, and the proceeds come back to you after fees.
- Usable items are donated where possible.
- Everything else is removed by a licensed waste carrier we work with.
Selling through us is also faster and simpler than selling items online yourself, and a more environmentally friendly way to recycle things nobody in the family needs.
Upholstered furniture needs its fire-safety label
Sofas and armchairs can only be sold at auction with the label still attached (the rule comes from the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988). If a label is missing, mention it when you call.
Sofas and armchairs that can’t be sold are a different matter, and they are one reason a clearance can carry a charge. GOV.UK says that waste upholstered seating may contain persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which have their own handling rules. Seating that does contain them has to be destroyed rather than sent to landfill.
Do you work with solicitors and executors?
Yes, regularly, along with estate agents. If you are an executor, you can also have a written probate valuation before anything is cleared. It is chargeable, with the fee paid at the visit. Our page for solicitors & executors has the detail.
Questions about house clearance
Do you do full and part clearances?
Yes. We can clear the whole house, or just some rooms or items. See full house clearance and part house clearance.
Which areas do you cover?
We clear across West Yorkshire and Harrogate, from our saleroom in Armley, Leeds. There is a page for each of Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Halifax, Morley & South Leeds, Dewsbury & Batley and Harrogate & Wetherby. If you are somewhere else nearby, ring the office and ask.
What happens to things that won’t sell?
Anything saleable goes into our fortnightly auction, and the proceeds come back to you after fees. Usable items are donated where possible. The rest is removed by a licensed waste carrier we work with. A clearance is chargeable, but what sells may cover or reduce the cost.
Areas we clear
These pages cover what is particular to each area, such as local tip rules and council collections.
Leeds
Our home city; the saleroom is in Armley
Bradford
About 6 miles from the saleroom
Wakefield
About 9 miles from the saleroom
Huddersfield
About 13 miles from the saleroom
Halifax
About 12 miles from the saleroom
Harrogate & Wetherby
About 13 to 14 miles from the saleroom
Morley and South Leeds
Dewsbury and Batley
