Probate house clearance
Swifty Clearances works directly with executors, administrators and, where instructed, solicitors, to clear a property that has entered probate — sorting what the family wants to keep and dealing with the rest, so the property is ready for market or handover.
What a probate clearance involves
When someone dies, an executor or administrator is usually responsible for dealing with their estate, which includes having the property cleared before it can be sold, let, or handed back to a landlord. That's the job we do: going through the property, setting aside anything the family wants to keep, and clearing everything else.
We aren't solicitors and don't offer probate or legal advice. If you're unsure about the legal side of dealing with an estate, your solicitor is the right person to ask. What we can tell you plainly is how the clearance itself works.
When the clearance can happen
In most cases, clearing a property's contents doesn't need to wait for probate to be granted — it's a separate, practical step from the legal process of administering the estate. That said, every estate is different, and if you're not sure whether it's the right time to clear the property, it's worth checking with your solicitor first.
Once you're ready, we can usually give a quotation without needing to visit, and arrange the clearance for a date that suits the estate's timetable.
How it works
Enquiry & quotation
Call or send a few details about the property. We'll ask what's involved — roughly how much needs clearing, and whether access is straightforward — and give a price, usually without needing to visit.
Agree access & timing
We agree a date and how we'll get in. Keys are often held by a solicitor or estate agent rather than a family member, which is fine — we're used to arranging access that way.
Clearance day
We work through the property methodically. Anything you've told us to set aside — documents, valuables, anything of sentimental value — is separated first, before the rest is cleared.
Property left ready
The property is left clean and empty, ready for valuation, viewing, or handover to a new owner or tenant.
What's kept, donated, reused or cleared
Probate properties often mean sorting through decades of belongings, which can be one of the harder parts of dealing with an estate. Tell us in advance about anything that needs to be found and kept aside — personal documents, photographs, correspondence, jewellery, or anything of sentimental value — and we'll separate those before anything else is touched.
Everything else is sorted as we go. Furniture and household items in good condition are set aside for reuse or donation where that's practical; the remainder is cleared and disposed of appropriately. If the family wants specific pieces valued rather than cleared — furniture, antiques, or anything else — let us know before the clearance and we can work around that.
Properties standing empty
It's common for a probate property to have stood empty for a while before anyone gets round to arranging a clearance — sometimes for months. That's not a problem. If the property is currently vacant, we can usually work directly with whoever is holding the keys — an executor, a neighbour, a solicitor, or an estate agent — without needing to coordinate around anyone living there.
Access, parking and timescales
What affects the price is mostly what you'd expect: how much there is to clear, how easy the property is to get to, and whether anything needs to be carried a long way — stairs, a lack of nearby parking, or restricted access in a block of flats all make a job take longer. Tell us about any of this when you enquire and it'll be reflected in the quotation, not added on afterwards.
Timescales depend on our schedule and the size of the job. We'll always give you a realistic estimate when we quote, rather than a vague promise, and we're happy to work to a date that suits the estate's timetable where we can.
Common questions
Do you provide legal advice about probate?
No. We handle the physical clearance of the property. For anything about the legal or financial side of administering an estate, your solicitor is the right person to speak to.
Who normally arranges the clearance — the executor or a solicitor?
Usually the executor or administrator, though we're also happy to take instruction from a solicitor acting on the estate's behalf.
How is the cost worked out?
It depends on how much needs clearing, how easy the property is to access, and whether anything needs special handling. We give a clear quotation before anything is booked in, so there are no surprises.
How long does a probate clearance take?
It varies with the size of the property and how much there is. We'll give you a realistic timescale as part of the quotation, and we can usually work around the estate's own timetable.
What if nobody has been living at the property?
That's normal for probate properties. We can arrange access with whoever holds the keys, whether that's a family member, a solicitor or an estate agent.
Ask about a probate clearance
Call to talk through the estate, or send a few details and we'll come back to you with a quotation.