What’s included in a full house clearance?
The removal of most household contents, from fine antiques to general everyday items. That is most, not everything, so if you are unsure about a particular item, ask when you call.
Whatever can sell goes into our sale. That covers furniture, glassware, jewellery, household goods, pottery and ceramics, pictures and prints, toys, silver and collectors’ items. The rest is cleared or donated.
What can’t go to auction?
Items that don’t meet our seller rules, and anything we decide to refuse.
Our seller rules
Electrical goods need a BSI-compliant plug. We don’t accept mains-connectable gas appliances. White goods must be clean and presentable. Furniture must carry a valid fire-safety label. We can refuse any item. The rules and fees are set out under selling at auction.
Before we start
A few things are worth doing before anyone arrives:
- Set aside keepsakes, papers and anything that has been left to someone in a will.
- If you are an executor, photograph each room so there is a record of how the house looked.
- Make a note of anything you are unsure about, and ask us to look at it first.
If you are clearing after a bereavement, our guide clearing a parent’s home after they die: what to do, and in what order sets out the jobs in a sensible sequence.
How does the money work?
Clearances are priced on the volume and nature of what needs removing, and the cost may be covered or reduced by what sells at auction. Anything that sells carries our usual seller fees: a £4.00 lot fee per item, sold or unsold, plus 22% commission (with VAT on the commission only) when it sells. See how our clearance works for the full breakdown.
Questions about full clearances
Should the family take what they want first?
Yes. Keepsakes, papers and anything left to someone in a will should come out before we start. If you are not sure whether something is worth keeping, ask us to look at it first. A verbal valuation is free.