Although house-clearances can be very satisfying once completed, it’s no secret that they can also be stressful and take up lots of time. This is especially true if you are having to go through personal belongings; because of this, we’ve put together some top tips to make your house clearance as stress-free as possible.
1. Planning is key
Before you get stuck in with your clearance, it’s important to sit down and make a plan of attack. It’s very easy to get distracted and it can become overwhelming not knowing what room to start in first. By writing or drawing out the rooms in order of importance, you will be able to prioritise where to start and set an estimated completion time.
Creating lists of what is in the room and ticking off the items you’ve cleared as you’re going along is also a great way to keep track of your progress and limit any distractions. As well as this, if you already know you have bulky items such as fridges and cabinets that need to be cleared, write them down and do some research on how these can be best disposed of before starting. Prior arrangements may need to be made which can cause delays and possibly more stress if left to the last minute.
2. Sell and donate
When going through clothes and other items such as toys and electricals, it’s a good idea to create piles for selling and donations. According to a recent study by LABFRESH, the United Kingdom produces 206.456 tonnes of textile waste in a year; therefore, it’s more important than ever to recycle and reuse unwanted belongings where possible.
For antiques and other items that have significant value, reputable auction services can be contacted to give quotes on how much they can be sold for. Items of less value can be donated to charity shops or there are popular apps such as Depop and Ebay where you can easily upload photos of your items and have them up for sale within minutes. Facebook groups have also become a popular place for donations. Just search your area and terms such as ‘items for free’ and ‘items for swap and share’ and see what groups are in your area.
3. Have somewhere to put the rubbish
Once your items have been separated into keep, throw and recycle piles, it’s time to say goodbye! For this, you’ll need something to throw your rubbish into, especially when it is a whole house clearance. Make sure you have sufficient, heavy-duty bags available and for clothes you want to keep, vacuum packs are a great investment to maximise space.
For clearing a large amount of items, hiring a skip will save you lots of time going back and forward to the tip. After choosing what size skip you need, it will be delivered to your door and taken away when you’re finished. However, not everything can be put into skips, so it’s important to check beforehand to make sure it is still the best option for you.
4. Get someone else to do it
If you’ve decided what items you’d like to keep and feel you’d rather not deal with the rest, it might be worth hiring a man with a van service to complete the clearance. They will do all the hard work for you, not only is your waste taken away and recycled but labor is included in the price, taking the strain off you.