A little history of Howell's House Clearance

I moved to West Sussex on retirement from the Metropolitan Police and I must admit, I think the force’s reputation was so much better then. We lived in Woodgate near Barnham and with a young family and a stressful career behind me I originally started a gardening business. Well, really, I was a heavy-duty labourer and I loved it. I can remember a large garden in Victoria Drive, Bognor Regis which I had such fun hacking and clearing and obviously one such an instant result.

I had advertising cards in shop windows in all towns within a twenty-mile radius:  Petworth Chichester, Midhurst, Arundel, Emsworth and many places in between. I think the fact I advertised as a retired Police Officer helped build the business up. After only a few months I was contacted by an established solicitor in Pulborough who had seen my card in Petworth and he informed me he had a house in Storrington that needed to be cleared and the garden needed to be tidied up. It was quite a large property and an auction house from Billingshurst had been in and removed the more valuable items. The garden was not a problem as I had been clearing gardens around Chichester and Bognor Regis for a couple of years. However, this was the first time I had ever been asked to clear a whole property.

It was helpful that the solicitor guided me as what remained was valuable and he advised how much he had paid to other house clearance companies in the past.  

It was enjoyable clearing the cupboards, lofts and sheds but by the same token I came to realise that it was a very physical job. Without a doubt, I sold much of the contents of that property far below it’s real value but learning the value of things is a lifelong study and there will always be something that you have never seen before that looks of no value.

It’s some years since I started Howell House Clearance, but I still enjoy helping clients and always look forward to my work. It’s the saying that every day is different and it’s so true – you never know what you may find. Often, as was the case recently in Arundel, I always advise clients when they think that items may have a significant value to get a local auction house to have a look. In fact, if you can fit the items in your car, you can just go to Strides Auction House in Chichester, park in their car park and the staff will advise you of values while you wait.

When clearing a relative’s property (especially if it’s a distant relative) you have no idea what you may find and quite often the stories behind objects turn out to be very interesting. In Petworth some years ago a clearance company found a small, believed to be Dutch oil painting, in a damp garage. The deceased had been in the merchant navy throughout the war and afterwards. It was thought he had a relationship in one of the Scandinavian countries and spent a few years living there. His property in Petworth apparently had some interesting antiques but nothing hugely valuable. Well, all that was to change as the relatives took the painting to, I think Sotheby’s, who had an office near Billingshurst. The painting was taken to auction in London and made over £600,000 – an amazing find in the garage of a small house.

Brown furniture – ups and downs of house clearance

Alternatively, it is often difficult when you attend a property, and the relatives believe that some of the furniture or other contents have huge value. Furniture values, especially the traditional, brown, antique furniture has dropped so much but it must always be remembered, as was the case in Selsey last week, that some brown furniture has good value still. The house at Selsey had a lovely campaign chest with good, original labels from a military furniture manufacturer in Liverpool. These are very desirable as they have sunken brass handles and brass brackets to strengthen the chest that was built in two parts. The campaign chest is what First World War officers, whilst on a war campaign, would have had and their personal chest of drawers would be split into two parts as it was designed to be placed into two pine transportation boxes and carried by horse to the officer’s tent.

It really was so different for the officers and the ordinary soldiers. I gave the family a valuation of between £500-£900 and advised them to sell the chest at auction. However, the rest of the dark wood furniture really was very low value. Sadly, I could see their disappointment.  

Another problem is that when looking at auction websites, prices can vary enormously, and it is often the case that people tend to look at the price things are listed for instead of looking at what similar items have actually sold for.

Some time ago, I went to a property in West Chiltington where a lovely family had expensive, good quality, reproduction furniture: tables and chairs, sideboards and other matching furniture. They decided to leave it in the property and try and sell it about a year later. I was called again by the family, who had put the furniture in their garage in Storrington – they had turned down what I thought was a good offer of £200 for everything. Unfortunately, the garage was damp, and the furniture was now stained – the only option was for me to dispose of it at T J Waste in Yapton near Arundel.

The family had regretted not accepting the offer made to them as their parents had spent nearly £4000 on the furniture – completely understandable.

It’s true that anything is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. Most of the clients I help have a good perspective and accept that it really is no indication of value if something was expensive bought new. Especially in the expensive area of this beautiful county where we live.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. Howell House Clearance are off to Funtington near Chichester to clear a retirement flat, then to West Wittering to finish a bungalow.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need advice. I am only too happy to attend and provide a complete non obligation quote.