Has anyone used a house clearance company?

youth_leader

Thank you GDB2222, I've just watched the news, I agree this is going to go on for several more months.   
I wish I could carry some of it downstairs for people to take from my drive way, but it's such solid heavy furniture, even if I could dismantle it, I just can't manage the bend in the staircase on my own.   

[Deleted User]

Initially, I'd go all out, put the furniture on facebook/freegle (I know from experience there will always be some people who don't seem able to read who reply, just ignore those replies), free for collection or pay someone to go in the house and lug it downstairs item by item, leaving it outside and see if its collected.(Item by item so you can monitor if items aren't collected and don't get done for fly tipping).  I think it will be collected, there's always people looking for free furniture.  Even now.

davidmcn

Or of course you could discuss with the purchaser and see whether they'd be prepared to take on the property in its uncleared state. It's possible (or likely) they won't intend doing much with the property before "normality" returns anyway.

[Deleted User]

If you read the OP's previous post, she can't DIY

GDB2222

It's not worth putting your health at risk. If you offer this furniture, even free, you're going to have to meet people who want to pick it up. They may not stand the suggested 2 metres away, and even if they do, that's probably not enough.

Our neighbour has just died of CV. Not very old. Not in poor health. A lovely guy, and sadly missed. 

youth_leader

I'm just going to make sure everything is ready for collection at some point in the future, and stop worrying about it.  My removal company are coming back to me with a cost - after the high costs to move a few items here, I'll be interested to see what they are charging.  I was flexible in agreeing the eight week completion requested by the buyer, if I do have to leave some items, I hope he will show me the same forebearance.
GDB2222 my greatest sympathies to your neighbour's family, how tragic.  I'm sorry you have lost your friend.   

GDB2222

Thanks, youthleader. We dropped a note through the letterbox. We can't even go round and express our regrets in person.

hb2

GDB2222 said:

Thanks, youthleader. We dropped a note through the letterbox. We can't even go round and express our regrets in person.

Yes, I think one of the hardest things about this is the lack of human contact at difficult times. I am sorry you have lost a friend

youth_leader

Thanks for your advice, much appreciated.  I saw my neighbour for the first time in weeks today - after fiddling around photographing and putting the bed on Freecycle and answering lots of questions from interested parties,  turns out he took my son's bed just after I'd put it out, he upcycles furniture, apparently!  I put a few other things by the bin, they've gone too, everyone round here does it.  I am en route to the supermarket, luckily.

I've come on because I've heard back from the removal company, they want £620.00 to remove 12 items.  I'm shocked it is so much.  I had hoped to sell it all before lockdown, for about £1K towards my new home as I am leaving my dishwasher/washing machine etc.   I am feeling the pinch because as my buyer asked for 8 weeks to complete,  which I felt I had to agree to with the crisis, my budgeting has gone awry as I've had to order more oil, as well as renewing my house insurance. 
Hopefully the buyer may agree to me leaving it.
 


  

Titus_Wadd

Could you perhaps contact the buyer and say you're doing all you can to meet their 8 week target but, in current circumstances, clearing the contents might delay this?  Heavily hinting that if they take the house with a few remaining contents for disposal by them once second hand and charity shops are collecting, you'd be on track to complete as they've requested.

We did this with our first two houses, but the opposite way around: each house was a probate sale with executors living out of town.  We offered to clear and dispose of any contents left behind, once they'd taken what they wanted, so that we could complete sooner rather than later.  They jumped at the chance.

Being strapped for cash and owning very little furniture of our own it was great for us; though we did have to cart a lot (and I mean a lot) of stuff to charity shops and the tip.  The first house had the nicest furniture, but the second had a couple of vintage gems like a Susie Cooper dinner service.

I guess it depends on the buyer, a developer might see it as a pain in the backside.  It depends how motivated they are to complete as soon as possible.

Best of luck!