Clearing the home of someone who has died is one of the hardest jobs an executor faces. This checklist sets out what to do, in a sensible order, so nothing important is missed.
1. Secure the property
- Make sure doors and windows are locked and keys are accounted for.
- Tell the home insurer about the death; unoccupied properties often need different cover.
- Redirect post, and arrange for meter readings.
2. Search for important documents
Before any clearance, search carefully for the will, bank and building society statements, pension and insurance documents, share certificates, property deeds, passports and recent bills. These are often tucked away in drawers, books and boxes in the loft.
3. Value the estate
Executors need to value everything the person owned, including household contents, to work out whether Inheritance Tax is due. GOV.UK explains how to value an estate. Have the contents valued before you clear the house — once items are gone, it is hard to prove what they were worth. Our contents valuation service can help.
4. Agree with the family what to keep
Give family members the chance to choose sentimental items and anything left to them in the will. Label or box these up before the clearance team arrives.
5. Apply for probate
You usually need a grant of probate before you can sell the house. See applying for probate on GOV.UK. Many executors clear the property while waiting, so it is ready to market as soon as the grant arrives.
6. Book the clearance
- Use a registered waste carrier, and ask for a waste transfer note.
- Get a fixed price that includes VAT.
- Ask whether resale value of contents will be offset against the price.
- If you live far away, check the company can collect and return keys.
7. Final checks
After the clearance, check the loft, garage, sheds and under floorboards, take meter readings, and tell the council so council tax can be updated.
We carry out probate house clearances across Surrey and London. Call 0208 149 3085 for a fixed, VAT-inclusive quote.