Probate House Clearance in Dublin: A Guide for Executors
Probate house clearance in Dublin, from a family firm: keep what's left to family, store what you're unsure about, and clear the rest legally.
A probate house clearance is the job of emptying a home after someone has died, usually arranged by the executor of the estate. In our experience it goes best when one firm handles all three parts of it: moving the things left to family, storing what nobody is ready to decide on, and clearing the rest legally.
We are a family-run removals and storage business, here since 1982. Clearing a parent’s or relative’s house is never just a job for the family, so this guide sets out how we think an executor house clearance should be done.
Why one firm beats three
After a death, the contents of a house tend to fall into three piles:
- Things left to someone. Items named in the will, or pieces the family has agreed should go to a son, daughter or grandchild.
- Things nobody can decide on yet. Photos, papers, a dresser that three people half want.
- Everything else. Furniture, kitchenware and general contents that need to leave the house.
Many families end up booking a removals firm for the first pile, renting a storage unit for the second and hiring a clearance outfit for the third. That means three bookings, three sets of strangers in the house and three bills. It also means the executor has to keep track of who took what.
We do all three. We move belongings to family homes as a normal house removal, we hold items in our own storage, and we carry out the house clearance itself. One firm, one point of contact, one record for the executor.
Sort first, then clear
The single most useful thing an executor can do is sort before the clearance day. Walk the house with the family and agree what is staying with whom. Mark it clearly, or move it into one room. Anything not marked is then fair to clear.
This matters because a clearance cannot be undone. Once general contents are gone, they are gone. Taking a little time at the start saves a lot of regret later.
Storage for the “not yet” pile
Grief does not run to a timetable, and neither does probate. Families often need weeks or months before they can face going through a box of letters or decide who keeps the good china.
That is where storage helps. All of our storage is our own, on our own site, not a partner’s facility. We store household goods short or long term, and you can access them by booking. So the house can be cleared and handed back, sold or let, while the things that still need a decision are kept safe with us. You can read more on our storage service page.
Clearing the rest, legally
For the general contents, the question every executor should ask is where it all goes. We hold a waste collection permit, number NWCPO-25-13139-01, valid in all 26 counties. All clearance waste we collect is disposed of legally. We never dump illegally. Before you hire anyone, ask to see their permit; we explain why in our post on waste collection permits.
Usable furniture from our clearances is donated to Restore rather than thrown away. Many families find it easier to let go of a loved one’s furniture knowing it will be used again.
We are licensed and carry goods in transit and public liability insurance, so the estate is covered while we work.
Questions people ask
What is included in a house clearance?
With us, a house clearance means taking out the contents you have asked us to clear. Usable furniture is donated to Restore, and the rest is disposed of legally under our waste permit. If some items are going to family or into storage, we handle those on the same job.
How much does it cost to have a house cleared in Ireland?
Our guide prices, including VAT, are €200 to €400 for a studio or one-bed, and €500 to €1,000 for a typical three-bed house. The final price depends on the weight and volume of what is being cleared, so we give every estate a clear quote with no hidden fees.
Talk to us about an estate
If you are an executor dealing with a house in Dublin, we are happy to walk through it with you and the family. Three generations of the Hanway family have done this work, and we treat your belongings like our own.
Get a free quote or ring us on +353 85 194 9801.