House Clearance

gundo

I apologise sincerely if this is the wrong forum to post this in but I wasn't sure where to put it.

My mother died November last year. I'm the sole heir and the house is empty. I've done probate and I just received grant of probate. I'll be honest, I've been really down since her death (I'm only child, single, live on my own and effectively I have no family at all now - in a nutshell very isolated). I was her carer and the house is full of memories and I dread entering the place but I want to clear it and I sell it. I've had 10 months to do this and I've procrastinated and procrastinated and got nowhere. I'm on my own and have no one to help me.

I'm at the point of giving up and getting in a house clearance service to do it. I've never used one. Can anyone give me an idea of what's involved and what to look for/avoid? I see the British Heart Foundation offer a house clearance service, does anyone have experience of this?

sal_III

If you don't intend to keep any other items, you can also just sell it "as is" and leave for the buyer to deal with the clearance. Granted this might reduce the pool of potential buyers and offers, but still an option if it's down to emotion and not money.

FreeBear

gundo wrote: »

My mother died November last year. I'm the sole heir and the house is empty. I've done probate and I just received grant of probate. I'll be honest, I've been really down since her death (I'm only child, single, live on my own and effectively I have no family at all now - in a nutshell very isolated). I was her carer and the house is full of memories and I dread entering the place but I want to clear it and I sell it. I've had 10 months to do this and I've procrastinated and procrastinated and got nowhere. I'm on my own and have no one to help me.

You have my deepest sympathies - Your situation is very similar to my own a couple of years back (single, caring for mother, then having to clear the family home). It is not an easy task and I've been procrastinating for a lot longer (four years and counting). But then I do have a sister who helped to clear out some of the larger items of furniture, so in that respect, I'm not having to cope all on my own. Still got two more rooms to clear, then the loft & garage :eek:

If you are planning on selling the property, I'd suggest going in and removing items of sentimental value, and then calling a house clearance company. Once the house is empty, it will attract a fair few more potential buyers.

TBagpuss

As others have said, check for anything which has sentimentla value first to keep those things.

If you think it is worth it, it may also make sense to get someone from your local auction house to come to check whether there is anything such as furniture, china etc that has any value.

Then, contact clearance firmss. Again, depending on what is in the house, thye may be prepared to do it on the baskis that they don't charge you but will do it on the basis that they will sell anything they can, and cover the cost of disposal for naything thye can't sell.

A final option is for a charity to do it, BHF may be ableto do so andagian, they will then sort through, sell anything saleable and dispose of the remainder.

Get several quotes and make sure that you are clear about anything which is to be left and the responsibility for reoving verything, and that you have a written cotract which you uncderstand, before you sign it.

I'm very sory for your loss.

robatwork

Don't just let someone else clear it.

In a year or two you'll suddenly think "what about that elephant ornament she loved, l'd love to have that to look at?".

Go in and take everything you may want to keep. You can always give it away later.

This is hard work so take a trolley, large car or van and a friend if you can.

gundo

Thank you everyone for your kindness and informative answers. I'll do as people suggest, remove what I feel attached to and then get a house clearance done, probably by the BHF.

Fire_Fox

gundo wrote: »

I apologise sincerely if this is the wrong forum to post this in but I wasn't sure where to put it.

I'll be honest, I've been really down since her death (I'm only child, single, live on my own and effectively I have no family at all now - in a nutshell very isolated).

I'm at the point of giving up and getting in a house clearance service to do it. I've never used one. Can anyone give me an idea of what's involved and what to look for/avoid? I see the British Heart Foundation offer a house clearance service, does anyone have experience of this?

BHF sell anything they can in their shops: furniture, electricals, soft furnishings, ornaments, kitchenalia, books, clothing .... If you are a taxpayer BHF can claim that from the taxman too. IMO a lovely legacy from your mother, albeit an unplanned one.

I have only used BHF to collect unwanted furniture, not a full house clearance, but it was a straightforward process and the two chaps were very amiable.

Please speak to your family doctor about how down and isolated you are feeling. Consider getting in touch with a local charity dealing with bereavement or mental wellbeing (eg. MIND). Get out to a Welcome session, coffee and chat, arts and crafts, mindfulness, walking group ....

Lastly consider joining us on the 2019 Clutter-free Life thread on the Old Style Moneysaving board. Many of the regulars have struggled to deal with a loved one's possessions, in fact some still are. You will get support whichever route you choose. :A

xylophone

I was her carer and the house is full of memories and I dread entering the place

The loss of a parent ( particularly for an only child) can be devastating, leaving a gap which is very difficult to fill.

However, try to think of the memories as words of comfort from your mother to you - when you go in to the house, see her smile and know that she would want you to use her home and possessions to benefit you and also any good causes that she and you favoured.

Do think carefully if there are any items which you would like to keep - these are not necessarily intrinsically valuable but just remind you of home and the love your mother had for you.

Be careful to choose a clearance service that you trust and then perhaps have the house professionally cleaned before sale.

Use the proceeds as you think your mother would have wished.

Very best wishes - don't remain isolated! If you have a special interest or hobby, is there a local group that you might join?