House Clearance firms

Herzlos

Albermarle said:

In our area, and I am sure many others, there is a charity that will pick up usable furniture for free, and redistribute it to the needy. I think the Salvation Army do the same .
They probably will not take everything, and upholstered goods need to have all the relevant fire labels. 

The £360 quote from BHF sounds like they are taking the usable stuff for free and OP is only going to be paying for the stuff that needs to go to the recycling centre of which those fees will be the bulk of the cost.

Given you've got a full month to go, and live quite locally, I'd go with BHF as early as you can do, and if they mess up you'll have time to arrange for everything else to go to the dump. Or even get a skip and ask on local community pages for a couple of labourers for the day to haul everything else out. 

Jude57

jem16 said:

Jude57 said:

I did a house clearance, 2 bedroomed property, a few years ago and what I learned was that the very well established company I used still underestimated the weight of the hoard they were clearing, despite my telling them from the outset that there were huge amounts of books, notoriously heavy in bulk. Three men took a most of a day to clear everything and even when the van was away to be emptied, which happened as I recall, three times during the day, two of the men remained at the property removing items ready to load immediately the van returned. I have no criticism of the workers because they literally never stopped but by lunchtime (they still didn't stop) it was clear that the property wasn't going to be emptied that day and I was given the choice of paying for another van to come that day or for a further full day's work the next day as they charged for the full day however long it took. It wasn't really a choice because there was extra cost involved either way so, with bad grace and only because I wanted to be done with the whole thing, I opted for the extra van that day. Thankfully it was enough and they were done and gone by just after 4.00. I don't believe for a second that they recycled or donated anything, despite their sincere-sounding assurances. 

I hadn't realised, and they didn't explain, that it's the weight of the cleared contents that is the key factor because when they go to the tip (make sure whoever you employ has the appropriate Waste Carrier Licence because it's your rubbish and your responsibility) their vehicle goes on a weigh bridge and they are charged accordingly. I recommend asking everyone quoting for the job whether they charge extra for weight because they should.

I'd ignore the BHF quote, quite frankly. Unless it's a bedsit that's being cleared there's no way a normal amount of household goods and furnishings can be removed, properly loaded into a van in an hour. Unless it's a huge pantechnicon type vehicle and there are scores of people working, it's simply not physically possible in my opinion. I remember moving house years ago when I was putting my house contents into storage, it took 4 men the whole day to pack and remove the contents of my small semi and these were removals experts from Pickfords using a massive pantechnicon. I don't believe that, even allowing for the fact BHF won't be carefully packing everything, they could do it all in one hour.

This is a house clearance where it’s simply furniture as everything else has been cleared over the last 9 months by me basically. Nothing needs packed as all the cupboards are empty. We’re simply talking about larger tables, chairs, wardrobes and beds. However it’s still furniture from a three bedroom house plus two public rooms. 

The two professional companies are both registered with Sepa in Scotland. I’ve no idea who BHF actually use for clearance purposes but would expect them to use a registered company. 

Ah, that does make a difference. I'm not sure whether BHF use actual removals companies or their own staff/volunteers but that's something to ask them. I still think an hour to clear that much furniture isn't a realistic prospect but I don't do it for a living day in, day out so perhaps it is possible. I'd want to be certain that I was paying for the completed job, not by the hour and I'd want that in writing.

jem16

Herzlos said:

Albermarle said:

In our area, and I am sure many others, there is a charity that will pick up usable furniture for free, and redistribute it to the needy. I think the Salvation Army do the same .
They probably will not take everything, and upholstered goods need to have all the relevant fire labels. 

The £360 quote from BHF sounds like they are taking the usable stuff for free and OP is only going to be paying for the stuff that needs to go to the recycling centre of which those fees will be the bulk of the cost.

Given you've got a full month to go, and live quite locally, I'd go with BHF as early as you can do, and if they mess up you'll have time to arrange for everything else to go to the dump. Or even get a skip and ask on local community pages for a couple of labourers for the day to haul everything else out. 

Yes that’s exactly what the quote is based on. Donated stuff is free and the stuff that can’t be donated will be chargeable. 

jem16

Jude57 said:

jem16 said:

Jude57 said:

I did a house clearance, 2 bedroomed property, a few years ago and what I learned was that the very well established company I used still underestimated the weight of the hoard they were clearing, despite my telling them from the outset that there were huge amounts of books, notoriously heavy in bulk. Three men took a most of a day to clear everything and even when the van was away to be emptied, which happened as I recall, three times during the day, two of the men remained at the property removing items ready to load immediately the van returned. I have no criticism of the workers because they literally never stopped but by lunchtime (they still didn't stop) it was clear that the property wasn't going to be emptied that day and I was given the choice of paying for another van to come that day or for a further full day's work the next day as they charged for the full day however long it took. It wasn't really a choice because there was extra cost involved either way so, with bad grace and only because I wanted to be done with the whole thing, I opted for the extra van that day. Thankfully it was enough and they were done and gone by just after 4.00. I don't believe for a second that they recycled or donated anything, despite their sincere-sounding assurances. 

I hadn't realised, and they didn't explain, that it's the weight of the cleared contents that is the key factor because when they go to the tip (make sure whoever you employ has the appropriate Waste Carrier Licence because it's your rubbish and your responsibility) their vehicle goes on a weigh bridge and they are charged accordingly. I recommend asking everyone quoting for the job whether they charge extra for weight because they should.

I'd ignore the BHF quote, quite frankly. Unless it's a bedsit that's being cleared there's no way a normal amount of household goods and furnishings can be removed, properly loaded into a van in an hour. Unless it's a huge pantechnicon type vehicle and there are scores of people working, it's simply not physically possible in my opinion. I remember moving house years ago when I was putting my house contents into storage, it took 4 men the whole day to pack and remove the contents of my small semi and these were removals experts from Pickfords using a massive pantechnicon. I don't believe that, even allowing for the fact BHF won't be carefully packing everything, they could do it all in one hour.

This is a house clearance where it’s simply furniture as everything else has been cleared over the last 9 months by me basically. Nothing needs packed as all the cupboards are empty. We’re simply talking about larger tables, chairs, wardrobes and beds. However it’s still furniture from a three bedroom house plus two public rooms. 

The two professional companies are both registered with Sepa in Scotland. I’ve no idea who BHF actually use for clearance purposes but would expect them to use a registered company. 

Ah, that does make a difference. I'm not sure whether BHF use actual removals companies or their own staff/volunteers but that's something to ask them. I still think an hour to clear that much furniture isn't a realistic prospect but I don't do it for a living day in, day out so perhaps it is possible. I'd want to be certain that I was paying for the completed job, not by the hour and I'd want that in writing.

I’d imagine that they must use some sort of clearance firm as they don’t have their own waste licence. 

I still have reservations with them I’m afraid. Their website states that clearances start from £400 yet my quote is less than that. Like you I think that one hour is totally unrealistic to clear everything especially when professional removal/clearance firms are talking about arriving at 9am and hopefully leaving early afternoon. One firm even saying a day and a half and all three assessed the house in person. 

I have a fear that BHF arrive, do what they can in one hour and then say they can’t remove the rest as not given enough time etc. 

youth_leader

I approached BHF when I was moving house in lockdown, and they refused to come for the furniture I was offering. Huge faff of photographing it all and being rejected.   

As it was lockdown I couldn't sell it as people weren't supposed to come into the house, luckily the buyer accepted it all 'for free'.

I wouldn't risk cheap and cheerful, pay peanuts and you know the saying.  Pay the grand and hopefully get a 'grand' service.

Linton

We used BHF to clear my father's fairly large 4 bedroom house.  They did a superb job quickly removing absolutely everything including a large pile of sticks and a number of demi-johns of dubious liquids. They then hoovered the carpets and brushed out the garage afterwards. IIRC it took about half a day, but there was no stated time limit. 

jem16

Linton said:

We used BHF to clear my father's fairly large 4 bedroom house.  They did a superb job quickly removing absolutely everything including a large pile of sticks and a number of demi-johns of dubious liquids. They then hoovered the carpets and brushed out the garage afterwards. IIRC it took about half a day, but there was no stated time limit. 

Thank you. I know it’s probably not something we can compare but do you remember if it was ridiculously cheap like our quote or not?

Also wondering about time slots. I’m told you book the day and then on the day they tell you a slot of around a couple of hours. Is that what happened with you?

Did they provide a written quote or was it just verbal?

Linton

jem16 said:

Linton said:

We used BHF to clear my father's fairly large 4 bedroom house.  They did a superb job quickly removing absolutely everything including a large pile of sticks and a number of demi-johns of dubious liquids. They then hoovered the carpets and brushed out the garage afterwards. IIRC it took about half a day, but there was no stated time limit. 

Thank you. I know it’s probably not something we can compare but do you remember if it was ridiculously cheap like our quote or not?

Also wondering about time slots. I’m told you book the day and then on the day they tell you a slot of around a couple of hours. Is that what happened with you?

Did they provide a written quote or was it just verbal?

The quote I think was about £250 with them taking anything they could use which included a remarkable amount of what I would have thought was pure rubbish.  This was about 10 years ago.

Again from memory they simply gave a day and time when they would turn up and that they expected the work would take half a day.  There was no suggestion that they would walk off the job if it happened to take longer. . The quote was probably verbal.  The impression I got was that everything was managed locally and the people doing the work were volunteers though obviously experienced.  So you may get a very different service depending on where the property is.

jem16

Linton said:

jem16 said:

Linton said:

We used BHF to clear my father's fairly large 4 bedroom house.  They did a superb job quickly removing absolutely everything including a large pile of sticks and a number of demi-johns of dubious liquids. They then hoovered the carpets and brushed out the garage afterwards. IIRC it took about half a day, but there was no stated time limit. 

Thank you. I know it’s probably not something we can compare but do you remember if it was ridiculously cheap like our quote or not?

Also wondering about time slots. I’m told you book the day and then on the day they tell you a slot of around a couple of hours. Is that what happened with you?

Did they provide a written quote or was it just verbal?

The quote I think was about £250 with them taking anything they could use which included a remarkable amount of what I would have thought was pure rubbish.  This was about 10 years ago.

Again from memory they simply gave a day and time when they would turn up and that they expected the work would take half a day.  There was no suggestion that they would walk off the job if it happened to take longer. . The quote was probably verbal.  The impression I got was that everything was managed locally and the people doing the work were volunteers though obviously experienced.  So you may get a very different service depending on where the property is.

Thanks as that’s reassuring. 

I spoke to the manager dealing with it this morning. She explained that it would be two vans and five men, one for recycling stuff and one for donating stuff. She’d spoken to the guy in charge of the vans - been working together for over 9 years - and he’d give me the 8 to 9 slot. They’d be there as long as it took but she’s confident of her timings. Said it’s actually one of the smaller house clearances that they’ve done. 

So feeling rather more reassured now and will probably go ahead. I’m happier that much of the furniture will be donated rather than just destroyed. 

Jude57

jem16 said:

Linton said:

jem16 said:

Linton said:

We used BHF to clear my father's fairly large 4 bedroom house.  They did a superb job quickly removing absolutely everything including a large pile of sticks and a number of demi-johns of dubious liquids. They then hoovered the carpets and brushed out the garage afterwards. IIRC it took about half a day, but there was no stated time limit. 

Thank you. I know it’s probably not something we can compare but do you remember if it was ridiculously cheap like our quote or not?

Also wondering about time slots. I’m told you book the day and then on the day they tell you a slot of around a couple of hours. Is that what happened with you?

Did they provide a written quote or was it just verbal?

The quote I think was about £250 with them taking anything they could use which included a remarkable amount of what I would have thought was pure rubbish.  This was about 10 years ago.

Again from memory they simply gave a day and time when they would turn up and that they expected the work would take half a day.  There was no suggestion that they would walk off the job if it happened to take longer. . The quote was probably verbal.  The impression I got was that everything was managed locally and the people doing the work were volunteers though obviously experienced.  So you may get a very different service depending on where the property is.

Thanks as that’s reassuring. 

I spoke to the manager dealing with it this morning. She explained that it would be two vans and five men, one for recycling stuff and one for donating stuff. She’d spoken to the guy in charge of the vans - been working together for over 9 years - and he’d give me the 8 to 9 slot. They’d be there as long as it took but she’s confident of her timings. Said it’s actually one of the smaller house clearances that they’ve done. 

So feeling rather more reassured now and will probably go ahead. I’m happier that much of the furniture will be donated rather than just destroyed. 

I'm glad to hear that they are going to turn up job handed and with two vans. I'm still not confident they'll be done in an hour but if the furniture can be manoeuvred out easily enough, it might not take much longer and as you're paying for the completed job, not by the hour, it's not that important. Hopefully, with an early slot, you'll be done and dusted quite quickly. Your experience has made me think positively about asking BHF to do any future house clearances I might need.

I hope it all goes well and thank you for the update, I'm sure it will help others.