House Clearance Checklist: How to Prepare

Whether you're moving house, dealing with a probate property, or simply decluttering, a well-planned house clearance saves time, money, and stress. The key is to start early and work room by room. Most London properties can be fully cleared in a single day by a professional team. However, larger properties or those with significant contents may require two visits. Getting organised beforehand ensures the process runs smoothly.

Before the clearance team arrives, walk through every room and sort items into four categories:

• Keep — Items you want to take with you or store
• Donate — Good-condition items for charity shops or local community groups
• Sell — Valuable items worth listing on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Gumtree
• Clear — Everything else that needs to be removed

This sorting process is especially important for probate clearances where sentimental items may be mixed in with general waste.

Check every drawer, cupboard, and hidden space for valuables, important documents, or sentimental items. Common items people accidentally discard include:

• Jewellery tucked in clothing pockets
• Cash hidden in books or drawers
• Property deeds, wills, and legal documents
• Photo albums and family heirlooms
• Keys to safety deposit boxes or storage units

A professional house clearance team like Terra Waste will always check with you before removing anything uncertain.

London properties often have challenging access. Before your clearance day, consider:

• Parking — Is there space for a van? Do you need to suspend a parking bay?
• Floor level — Is the property above ground floor? Is there a working lift?
• Narrow hallways — Can large furniture be navigated through doorways?
• Garden access — Is there a side gate or rear access for garden waste?

Letting your clearance company know about access issues in advance helps them plan the right vehicle and team size.

If you're clearing a property completely, arrange for utilities to be disconnected before the clearance. This includes:

• Gas supply (must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer)
• Water supply — turn off the stopcock
• Electrical appliances — unplug everything
• Fridges and freezers — defrost at least 24 hours before removal

Contact your chosen waste removal company for a quote. At Terra Waste, we offer free, no-obligation quotes and can often provide same-day collection if you need it urgently. Our pricing is load-based, with a £65 minimum charge for up to 100kg. For a full house clearance, expect pricing to start from the larger load tiers and rise with overall volume, access, and item mix.

On the day of your clearance, the Terra Waste team will:

1. Arrive at the agreed time and assess the property
2. Confirm the scope and price with you
3. Carefully remove all items, protecting walls and doorframes
4. Sweep up and leave the property clean and ready
5. Provide a Waste Transfer Note for your records

We cover all London boroughs including Wandsworth, Hackney, Lambeth, and Islington.