How much does house clearance cost?

Our homes are our personal sanctuaries. Coming home to a spacious, clean, and tidy home can easily uplift our moods after a long, tiring day. If you get too busy and need help making space in your basement, garage, or entire home, house clearance is a good idea! But how much does a house clearance cost?

On average, how much a house clearance costs start at £80 for an extra small clearance or (a fourth of a truck) and £320 for a large clearance (one full truckload!).

However, costs are measured differently by different service providers. Some measure by volume, some by weight, while others prefer a one-off fee – full house clearance costs a maximum of £1,200 if we follow the one-off fee route. These could get confusing, especially for first-timers! Want more guidance in doing your house clearance? With our price guide, you can find out exactly how much is a house clearance and make an informed choice for your own home.

Factors that affect house clearance costs

Whether you just want to make some space at home, planning to move out, or doing some renovation, house clearance can improve your home. When it comes to cost, the volume of items will be reflected in the prices. To help you prepare the right budget, we listed the essential factors to keep in mind that will affect the costs involved in house clearance.

Quantity of items

As mentioned, a house clearance can be paid according to volume, weight, or item type. Whichever method you choose, the more items you need to be cleared, the more expensive. A clearance that will cover the load of half a van will be cheaper than a clearance that will cover the whole van.

Type of items

If you only want to get rid of a few items instead of a whole van, the same principle is observed. Bulkier and heavier items will be charged higher compared to smaller and lighter items. To illustrate, the cost of clearing an oven, around £25, will differ from clearing a piano, around £100. These will further be discussed below.

• Timing and budget

• Location

• Car make and model

• Major or minor service?

• Anything in your scheduled maintenance due?

• Any issues noticed?

• Equipment and parts provided?

• Any additional services required?

Location  

In addition to these, the price of house clearance will vary depending on the location. If you live in London, expect house clearance prices to be slightly higher than the rest of the UK. In general, labour costs more in London since earnings are also higher.

Aside from this, you might also face extra fees if you live in a distant and remote location as it will be more challenging, and it will take longer to bring the truck or van to your area.

Per-item price list

If you want to get an idea what is the average cost of a house clearance per item, we’ve prepared an itemised list showing estimated costs of the most common items:

Additional costs to consider

Aside from the quantity, type of item, location, recycling costs, vehicle costs, and special disposal of items are additional costs to consider.

Vehicle costs around £60 to £80 per day while recycling costs around £180 to £200 for a full van load. Recycling is an important part of house clearance since fly-tipped waste is fined in the UK. You want to make sure that your waste is handled properly and are recycled in an authorised centre.

If you have items that need special disposal, such as electrical and electronic goods, these might also incur a fee. Disposal of the said items follows strict regulation under the Waste Electrical and Electronic directive. 

Lastly, if you plan to hire a skip hire to help you sort through your items before the actual house clearance visit, it will cost around £100 to £300 per day.

Tips to minimise costs

To reduce house clearance costs in the UK, it helps to do initial preparations like pre-sorting items and personally reselling them online or within your close circles. You can also get discounts through the resale amount of valuable items from your house clearance specialist.

Do an initial sorting

Do an initial sorting of your items and check if some items can be resold online. Aside from generating an added revenue, you will also help make the clearing process faster and more efficient by doing initial segregation. This will also reduce the amount of stuff to be cleared, which will help decrease house clearance service costs. 

Ask for the resale value of cleared items

While your house clearance specialist is in your home, check the estimated resale value of valuable items and align if these will be deducted from the current fees or paid after selling.

Get multiple quotes

Having a range of options is always helpful, so it’s worth it to ask for a few quotes. Get quotes from house clearance specialists nearest your location and find one that suits your budget and has good reviews.

Feel like refreshing your attic, basement, or the entire home? Whether you want a whole room clearance or just want to get rid of many bulky items, get personalised house clearance quotes in minutes when you put up a task on Airtasker.