Probate Clearance for Executors and Administrators

Key takeaways

• We work at a pace that suits you, whether that is a single visit or several sessions spread over weeks while you go through belongings.
• Nothing is disposed of without your agreement, and we set aside anything that looks like it needs a second look before removal.
• We can clear a whole property in one visit, or work room by room if you want to be present for some parts and not others.
• Pricing is confirmed after we understand the volume and access involved, with no obligation to book on the spot.
• We are used to supporting people who are grieving and doing this for the first time, and we will never rush a decision about what to keep.

What it means to clear a loved one's home

Most people who contact us as executors have never cleared a house before, and certainly not one belonging to a parent, sibling or close relative. It is very different from moving your own belongings.

Every drawer might contain something you did not know existed, from old letters to photographs to items that turn out to matter more than you expected once you are holding them. There is no need to rush this part, and we would rather you took the time you need to go through personal items before we remove anything, even if that means visiting the property more than once over a few weeks.

Some executors want to be present for the whole clearance, going through things as we work. Others find that too difficult and prefer to sort out anything personal in advance, then have us clear what remains in a single visit.

Both are common, and we will work in whichever way feels right for you.

If you are doing this alongside a full-time job

Many executors are trying to sort a parent's house in the evenings and at weekends, often while living some distance away and managing everything else that comes with probate: bank accounts, solicitors, utility companies, and the property itself. We know that finding a full week to empty a house is rarely realistic, so we offer flexible visits that fit around your availability, including weekends, rather than expecting the whole job to happen on one working day.

If you need to leave the property between visits and want it secured, we can also advise on straightforward steps to keep it safe while the clearance is ongoing.

If there is no time pressure at all

Not every clearance is urgent. If probate is still ongoing, or there is no immediate need to sell or hand back the property, there is no reason to clear everything at once.

Some executors prefer to remove items gradually over several months as they work through them, calling us in only when they are ready for specific rooms to be cleared. We are just as happy to support a slow, considered process as a fast one, and there is no pressure from us to book more than you are ready for.

If you are sharing decisions with other family members

Clearing a family home often involves more than one person, and decisions about what to keep, sell, donate or dispose of can take time to agree between siblings or other beneficiaries. We are used to working with more than one point of contact and can hold off on removing anything until everyone involved has confirmed they are happy to proceed, even if that means pausing partway through a job while a decision is made.

How the work runs

Most people start with a phone call to describe the property and roughly what is involved, or a short visit if that is easier to arrange volume and access. From there we agree a plan, whether that is one full clearance or a series of visits, and give you a written quote before anything is booked.

There is no obligation to proceed at that stage, and no pressure to decide quickly. On the day of clearance, we work carefully and respectfully, and if you want to be there while we work, that is entirely fine.

Once finished, we can provide confirmation of the work carried out, which some executors find useful to keep with their probate paperwork.

If something changes, whether that is a delay in probate, a family member wanting more time, or a decision to keep more than originally planned, just let us know and we will adjust.

Common questions

Do we need to sort everything before you arrive?

No, not at all. Some executors prefer to sort personal items in advance, but plenty ask us to help them go through things as part of the visit, taking as much or as little time as needed for each room.

What if we are not sure whether probate is finished yet?

You do not need probate to be granted before contacting us, though for larger or more valuable estates it is worth checking with your solicitor whether anything needs to be valued or documented before items are removed.

Can we keep some things and clear the rest at different times?

Yes, this is very common. We can clear a property in stages, coming back as and when you are ready for the next room or the next visit.

What happens if we find something valuable partway through?

We will stop and set it aside so you can decide what to do, whether that is getting a valuation, offering it to another family member, or arranging specialist sale.

How much notice do you need to book a clearance?

It varies, but we can often accommodate bookings within a week or two, and sometimes sooner. Let us know your timeframe and we will do our best to fit around it.

Will you judge us for how much or how little we want to keep?

No. Every family approaches this differently, and there is no right way to decide what to keep.

We are here to support whatever decisions you make, not to have an opinion on them.

If you live outside London and cannot visit often

A good number of the executors we work with do not live near the property they are clearing, sometimes not even in the same part of the country. Coordinating a clearance from a distance adds its own difficulties: you cannot pop round to check on progress, and every decision has to be made over the phone or by photograph rather than in person.

We are used to working this way, sending photographs of anything we think you would want to see before it is removed, and keeping in touch by phone or message so you are never left wondering what is happening at the property while you are hundreds of miles away. If you can only make occasional visits yourself, we can plan our work around those trips so you have the chance to go through specific rooms or items in person when you are able to be there.

Dealing with a property that feels overwhelming to face

It is common for executors to put off starting a clearance simply because the idea of walking into a parent's or sibling's home and beginning to go through their things feels like too much, especially soon after a death. There is no timetable you have to meet before you feel ready, other than whatever practical deadlines exist around probate, a sale, or a tenancy ending.

When you do feel ready to start, we can take as much or as little of the initial sorting off your hands as you want, from doing nothing until you have been through everything yourself, to helping you work through room by room at whatever pace feels manageable. Plenty of executors tell us that having someone practical and unhurried alongside them made a difficult day easier than facing it alone would have been.