New year, new house clearance adventures

A very Happy New Year from all at Howell House Clearance. We hope you all had a safe and happy holiday. In the run up to Christmas we were instructed by a local solicitor in Chichester to start the clearance of a property in Selsey. It is an older bungalow and the lady who had passed away has left her complete estate to charity. We were instructed that in the property were four fantastic doll’s houses which in her will she had hoped to go to a museum. However, although good they were (only hobby standard) but very good.

Some of the doll’s furniture came in flat pack form and could be worth as much as £50 an item and several items were purchased from a mail order company with a Midhurst address and still unopened. When a full estate is left to a charity, they often appoint their own solicitors or administrators to make sure the maximum financial benefit is obtained for the receiving charity. As such the instructing solicitor requested that I used Strides Auction House from Chichester who attended the property and have accepted the four doll’s houses into their forthcoming auction in the new year. They also selected several other items and furniture which will help satisfy the charities that we are doing all we can to benefit them.

I always find it sad when dealing with clearances where there is no family such as this job in Selsey. There was no family with only an old friend connected with her church in West Wittering who collected some of her religious books. We have to remove someone’s life from a home they have occupied for many years. Although we recycle as we clear all the photographs of many unknown people are thrown away along with letters and cards and it’s often difficult not to read some of the correspondence. I remember clearing a bachelor’s home in Bognor Regis; he had served in the Army for many years and again with no family, apart from items donated to charity, his complete home had to be cleared and disposed of. He had collected a mass of documents and books about the British Army and a kind neighbour passed details of a friend who lived in Pulborough. I contacted the gentleman who came to the property and between us we were able to find a contact in West Chiltington involved with the Royal British Legion. It’s always very satisfying when we can find second homes for anything we clear from properties particularly when the subject matter is interesting and could definitely be used by someone else.

I eventually delivered the army papers to West Chiltington and came back via Thakeham and Storrington. Unfortunately, the problem with fly tipping is getting so bad I drove by three massive fly tipped piles of rubbish. Honestly, it is just terrible – it will eventually destroy the beautiful countryside we have. If only the council would maybe open the waste facilities at Chichester, Bognor Regis and Littlehampton longer and make it easier to dispose of rubbish – I feel it would certainly help.

In the larger towns (say Midhurst Petworth and Arundel) why not provide a large roll-on skip in the car parks in the centre of the towns? Even people without cars could get a neighbour to help them dispose of large items of rubbish. I know it’s not these people that are likely to fly tip, but it will reduce the necessity to use waste contractors. Something needs to be done.

A few months ago, following a clearance in Felpham, we were recommended to an elderly couple in West Wittering who needed a large garage to be cleared. The gentleman had been in the financial world in the city of London, and I would think about 90 years of age – he was amazing. Although physically a little frail but completely mobile and in good health, he was as sharp as a razor with a real interest in all current affairs and life in general. I asked him his thoughts on the cost-of-living crisis – well, he was off! In far too much detail he completely lost me with his thoughts on what government should do with the economy. He also spoke about how he felt Russia would soon be completely bankrupt following its attack on Ukraine. He was such an interesting person. He wanted us to dispose of a lifetime of accumulated possessions that he felt the family would not want. The garage was full of interesting things most of which had some value. He was very surprised when I was able to provide a quote where I informed him that I could clear the garage for nothing and cover my expenses from the salvage of the contents. A few weeks later when we were doing the actual clearance, he introduced us to his wife who suffered from dementia and was in a wheelchair. The gentleman told me that he had fantastic carers who came three times a day to help him. However, he informed us that in the new year the family were investigating the possibility of finding a care home as physically he could not provide the care she needed. That’s why he was decluttering the house in West Wittering with a view to move to Storrington where family lived nearby in Thakeham and West Chiltington.

I have nothing but the greatest admiration for those who work in social care they do such important work with so little reward. A family member has been in Bognor Regis and was in the memorial hospital over Christmas and the care of the staff was so good, especially as dementia is making him a difficult patient. We as a family cannot praise the NHS enough for all the care they have provided.

Metals, wire and scrap – not exactly treasure but worth a look

It’s always worth knowing that if you are clearing a property that scrap metal can always be taken to a local scrap yard. Look out for old copper pipes in garages and maybe any old brass ornaments that are not wanted as these have a much higher value than ordinary scrap metal. I use Whites Scrapyard in Ford near Arundel – a family run scrapyard who are very honest and helpful. I know there is a yard in Chichester on one of the trading estates and a quick Google search can find one local to you. It may be easier if you have quite a lot of metal to call a scrap dealer to come and pick it up, but they will probably offer very little – it will recycle the metal and save you having to move it.

I remember clearing a property in Emsworth the gentleman had worked in a steel fabrication factory in Littlehampton. He had three garages, sheds and metal everywhere in his garden. It took a long time, but it was worth all the hard work moving it all. He also had a great deal of good cable, some of which we were able to sell to an electrician in Bognor Regis. Again, I always feel we are doing a good job when we recycle contents of the clearances we undertake. At this time of the year, I always take my electric cable which we have collected over the year. I always snip the cable off all the electrical goods and what we find in garages – I think the going rate is £1.70 a kilo but the cable must have all the plugs and connections cut off. It always is a pleasant surprise when we weigh it at the scrapyard!

If you need any advice or would like a non-obligation quote regarding a clearance, please do not hesitate to contact me at any time. It can be a daunting task clearing a loved one’s property. We have a flat to clear in Bognor Regis this week and a large property in Storrington where before the clearance we have to deliver a brand-new mobility scooter which cost over £7000 to the client’s new home in West Chiltington and a vanload of heavy garden ornaments to their daughter in Pulborough. So a busy week ahead.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.