Estate clearance for solicitors and executors
Estate clearance for solicitors is a property clearance service that empties a deceased person’s home on the instruction of the solicitor or executor administering the estate. DrClear House Clearance carries out this work from Wednesbury across Birmingham and the West Midlands, with an itemised inventory of the contents and a Waste Transfer Note for the estate file. Probate clearance starts from £575.
DrClear is a property clearance company based in the West Midlands. It is not a firm of solicitors and is not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. DrClear does not give legal advice, does not prepare probate papers or applications for a grant of probate, and does not represent executors or administrators in any legal or tax matter. Work is limited to clearance, inventory, valuation support and property management. Any figures provided are estimates to assist the estate’s records; the Personal Representative remains legally responsible for information submitted to HMRC. Where a RICS valuation or an insurance decision is required, that is determined by the relevant regulated professional or insurer.
What a solicitor instructing a clearance receives
A solicitor or executor instructing DrClear receives a documented service, set out in writing before any work starts:
- Itemised inventory: an itemised inventory of household contents with photographs. This is an inventory, not a valuation. Where the estate needs a formal valuation, the Personal Representative instructs a RICS Registered Valuer directly.
- Written quote: DrClear confirms the total price before work begins, with no undisclosed labour or disposal charges added on the day.
- Waste Transfer Note: DrClear issues a Waste Transfer Note on every clearance, giving the estate a documented record of the waste transfer to support its duty of care. Read how Waste Transfer Notes work.
- Itemised invoice: an itemised invoice follows the completed work. By default the invoice is addressed to the solicitor’s firm.
- Items of value: the estate decides what happens to items of value. They can be offset against the clearance fee, the proceeds can be passed to the estate, or the items can be disposed of. Nothing is treated as a default route.
Documents, paperwork and devices found in the property
Estate properties hold paperwork that matters to the administration. Personal documents, financial records and sensitive paperwork found during a clearance are segregated and never discarded with general waste. Wills, title deeds, share certificates and bank statements are handed to the instructing solicitor or executor before any paperwork is destroyed. Paperwork cleared for destruction is destroyed securely, and DrClear can provide confirmation of secure disposal on request.
DrClear removes data-bearing devices from the property and physically destroys them in-house, so the contents cannot be recovered. Personal data belonging to living relatives found on a device is not copied, shared or retained.
How an instructed estate clearance runs
Each instruction follows the same documented sequence, from first photographs to the final paperwork.
1. Send photographs for a free quote
Send the property address, a short description and photographs or a video walkthrough of each room, loft, garage and outbuilding. A written quote comes back with no obligation.
2. Agree access and instructions
Confirm the date, access arrangements and any items the family or beneficiaries are keeping. DrClear collects the keys from your office and returns them afterwards, so nobody from the estate needs to attend on the day.
3. Inventory, sort and set aside
The team records contents room by room, photographs them for the inventory and sets aside the items and paperwork the instruction names. The itemised inventory is always completed before any item leaves the property.
4. Clear, divert and document
Reusable furniture and goods go to reuse and charity routes, recyclable materials go to licensed facilities, and the Waste Transfer Note records the transfer. DrClear achieves 95% landfill diversion by volume.
Licensed, insured and founder-led
DrClear holds an Environment Agency upper-tier waste carrier registration, CBDU549477, which any firm can check on the public register before instructing. The business carries up to £6M public liability cover, with the certificate available on request. Founder Krzysztof Szczesny started DrClear in 2005, leads every job personally, and the business has completed more than 13,000 clearances.
DrClear covers Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Dudley, Walsall, Sandwell and Solihull, and takes estate work across Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Leicestershire.
For the full service for families and executors, read about probate clearance.
5 Churchfields Rd, Wednesbury
- Booked for full clearance of a one bed flat and garden clearance (excessive weed growth). Was available very quickly after visiting to quote which helped us massively!
Clearance was done to a high standard and extremely quick! The 3 man crew were very … More polite and friendly
Would recommend to anyone needing their services
Frequently asked questions
Does DrClear value the estate for inheritance tax?
No. DrClear produces an itemised inventory with photographs, not a valuation. Where a formal valuation is needed, the Personal Representative instructs a RICS Registered Valuer directly, and remains legally responsible for the figures submitted to HMRC.
Can DrClear prepare the probate application?
No. DrClear does not prepare probate papers or applications for a grant of probate, and does not give legal advice. The work is limited to clearance, inventory, valuation support and property management, carried out under an EA upper-tier waste carrier registration.
What happens to items of value found during the clearance?
The estate chooses. Items of value can be offset against the clearance fee, the proceeds can be passed to the estate, or the items can be disposed of. The estate makes that choice, not DrClear.
What paperwork does the estate file receive?
The estate receives a written quote before the work, an itemised invoice after it, a Waste Transfer Note on every clearance, and the itemised inventory with photographs. Confirmation of secure disposal for destroyed paperwork is available on request.
How quickly can a clearance start?
Same-day and next-day availability depends on the number of jobs already booked for that day. Call 07958 429751, Mon-Sun 08:00-21:00, to check the diary.
Get a free photo quote
Send photographs of the property and receive a written quote for the estate file. Get a free photo quote or call 07958 429751.