What happens to photographs, letters and jewellery?

They are set aside rather than cleared, and somebody tells you what has been found.

Papers, photographs, letters, medals, jewellery, anything in a box at the back of a wardrobe that a family would want to see. We take our time over it, because these are the things that matter most to a family.

Nothing is thrown away just because it looks like clutter. Anything that might matter to you is kept safe for you to see.

Do I need to sort or bag anything before you come?

No. Take all the time you need to go through your loved one's belongings and keep whatever matters to you. When you are ready, leave the rest to us. There is no need to sort or bag anything.

A lot of what comes out of a house goes to charity, and sorting that is our job. Clothes, linen, books, kitchen things, the contents of a wardrobe nobody has opened yet. You do not have to bag any of it up, and you do not have to drive anything to a charity shop.

Tell us what you want kept and we will put it to one side. Everything else can stay exactly where it is until we come.

I am the executor. What do you need from me?

A date, a way in, and a list of anything to be kept.

We know executors have a lot to deal with, so we make this part as simple as we can.

We collect keys from estate agents and solicitors, so you do not have to be at the property. We drop them back when we are finished.

We invoice the solicitor directly if that is easier. Just let us know when we come to quote, and it is no trouble at all.

What if nothing can move until probate comes through?

That is fine. We work to the probate timetable rather than to ours.

If the grant has not come through yet, book the date anyway and we will hold it. There is no pressure, and we will be ready when you are.

Do I have to be at the property while you work?

No. Most people clearing a parent's house do not live in the same town, and a lot of them do not live in the same county.

We can be let in by an agent and work to a date rather than to your diary. We can send you photographs of anything we are unsure about, rather than making the decision ourselves. If you would rather walk round with us first, we will meet you at the property and go through it together.

What paperwork do I get at the end?

A waste transfer note, on every job, saying what was taken away and where it went.

Keep it with the rest of the estate paperwork. It is the document that shows the contents of the house were dealt with properly. It is useful to have if anybody asks how the estate was handled.

We are an Upper Tier registered waste carrier. The licence number printed at the bottom of every page on this site opens our own entry on the Environment Agency's public register. You are welcome to check it before you book.

How do you price a probate clearance?

We come out and look at the property, then quote. The visit is free and there is nothing to sign.

If you are at the property yourself and would rather not wait for us, you can send photographs on WhatsApp. We will price it from those. A visit is usually best, as it lets us see everything and give you an accurate price.

Where things can be passed on rather than tipped, that brings the price down. We will always explain how we reached the price.

Can you clean the house once it is empty?

Yes, usually the same day, so it is ready for the estate agent's photographs.

Most probate clearances end with a house that has to go on the market. We can clean it once it is empty as part of the same booking.

That is a separate job at an added cost. Ask when we come to quote and it comes as one price.