Declutter Your Home: House Clearance Strategies That Work

Does your home feel like it’s bursting at the seams with stuff?

Trust us, you’re not alone. 47.2% of people say that clutter in the home makes them feel stressed, and it’s having a serious impact on families up and down the country.

The good news is, decluttering your home doesn’t have to be a chore. With the right services and a bit of know-how, you can reclaim your space and create the organised home you’ve been dreaming of.

In this article, we’ll show you:

• Why Most House Clearance Attempts Fail
• The Pros and Cons of the Professional vs DIY Approach
• The Smartest Strategies for Decluttering That Actually Work
• How To Select the Right Services for Your Needs
• Top Tips for Money-Saving That Will Make a Difference

Why Most House Clearance Attempts Fail

Do you want to know what causes most people to struggle when it comes to decluttering their home?

They lack a real strategy and don’t know where to start.

Research shows that only just over 8% of people rarely or never declutter their homes, allowing clutter to accumulate until they can no longer cope.

Here’s what really goes on behind closed doors:

Most of us are just awful at predicting how much stuff we have. We pile it up in the attic, the loft, in boxes under the bed, in cupboards, and simply move it from place to place, rather than actually getting rid of it.

The result? We spend a tonne of time, energy and money decluttering our homes, without making a dent in the overall problem.

The Professional vs DIY Approach

Is it better to hire professionals or just get stuck in yourself?

It all depends on your circumstances.

Full house clearances are always best left to the professionals, particularly after bereavement or in cases of house eviction. A trusted local clearance company in Aberdeen can take care of everything for you, from heavy lifting to disposal and recycling.

Professional house clearance costs between £175 and £595, depending on the size of the job.

For larger properties and complete clearances from top to bottom, expect to pay between £500 and £1,000.

Here’s why hiring the professionals makes sense:

• They’ll do all the heavy lifting and make sure everything is disposed of legally
• They have the time and know-how to sort everything out super quickly
• They’ll donate or recycle what you want them to
• You don’t have to lift a finger and can use the time saved to focus on more important things

Decluttering individual rooms or spaces within the home is often more suited to a DIY approach. You’ll save money, and have total control over what you want to keep and what needs to go.

Smart Strategies That Actually Work

Are you ready for the smartest strategies that will work every time when it comes to decluttering your home?

The methods we are going to cover in this section work whether you’re planning to take a DIY approach or work with professional house clearance services.

Start With One Room At A Time

Never attempt to declutter your entire house in one go.

It’s simply asking for overwhelm. Pick one room to focus all of your attention and energy on. Make sure that room is 100% done before you move on to the next. This will help prevent you from getting stressed out, and also gives you quick wins to help you keep motivated.

The best rooms to start with are the bathroom (easiest), bedroom (biggest impact) or living room (most visible).

Use The Four-Box Method

This is a tried and tested method used by professional organisers.

Grab four boxes and label them like so:

1. Keep – Use regularly and love
2. Donate – Good condition and you no longer need
3. Sell – Valuable items worth selling online
4. Bin – Broken, damaged or can’t be used

Tackle each item in your house and immediately place it in one of the boxes. Don’t let a “maybe” pile form – that’s where attempts at decluttering go wrong.

The 12-Month Rule

Here’s a simple rule of thumb for making decisions:

Have you used that item in the last 12 months? If not, chances are it needs to go.

Clothes, kitchen gadgets, books, decorations, household items, sports equipment – the 12 month rule is particularly useful for seasonal items you “might need one day.”

How To Choose The Right Services

Don’t all house clearance services do the same thing?

Not exactly, look for the following essentials:

Licensed And Insured

Any company you work with must have valid waste carrier licences and adequate public liability insurance. This protects you in case anything goes wrong during the process.

Eco-Friendly Approach

The best services won’t simply take everything and dump it in landfill. Check they have a clear system in place for donation and recycling, as well as lawful disposal of what can’t be used.

Clear Pricing Structure

Beware companies that can’t give you a clear, upfront price. A great service will be transparent about the quote they give you, with prices based on volume, property access and any special requirements.

Local Knowledge

Local companies will understand your area and where to take things better than national chains. This often results in them having great relationships with local charities and recycling centres, and you’ll likely pay less too.

Money-Saving Tips That Make A Difference

Don’t want your house clearance to cost an arm and a leg?

Try out these money-saving tips that work:

Sell Before You Clear

Spend a weekend listing valuable items online for sale. Electronics, furniture, designer pieces and antiques will all sell well on Facebook Marketplace, eBay or local selling groups.

If you can raise £100-200 doing this, that’s another hundred off your overall clearance costs.

Do The Easy Stuff First

Sort out obvious rubbish yourself before the professionals arrive. Old newspapers, expired cosmetics or foods can all go in regular bins over a few weeks, and this saves you a lot on the quote.

Broken items, simple wood and plastics can also go in regular bins.

Get Multiple Quotes

Never simply accept the first quote you’re given.

Get at least three different companies to come and take a look. This not only gives you better bargaining power, but will also help you understand what’s included.

The cheapest isn’t always the best. Look for value and a clear breakdown of what’s included in the quote, covering everything from proper disposal to recycling.

The Hidden Benefits Of Professional Decluttering

This is something most people don’t realise…

Professional decluttering costs an average of £600 for a moderate-sized home, but the benefits go far beyond having a tidy house.

You will save money in the long run because:

• You’ll stop buying duplicate items when you can’t find what you already own
• Your energy bills may even decrease due to improved airflow
• You’ll have less time spent cleaning and maintaining
• Your home will be more valuable when it comes time to sell

But the mental health benefits are even better:

Clutter and mess cause real stress, anxiety and overwhelm. The simple act of having a clean, tidy home to come back to will massively improve your well-being, with better focus and more feelings of control over your environment.

Better sleep and more relaxation are common results of a major decluttering job.

Tips For Success

What’s the one big mistake people make after decluttering?

Failure to set up systems to stop clutter building up again.

Make these simple habits:

• Deal with mail as soon as it arrives – bin, file or action
• One in, one out when making purchases
• Do a 10-minute tidy up before bed each day
• Schedule quarterly mini-declutters

Create homes for everything. If it doesn’t have a proper place, you don’t need it. Simple.

Ready To Get Started?

Decluttering your home doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

Whether you work with professionals or do it yourself, the key is having a clear plan and executing that plan.

Start small, use these strategies, and ask for help when you need it. Your future self will thank you for creating a home that supports your lifestyle, rather than adds to your stress.

Remember – the aim isn’t perfection, it’s creating a space where you can live easily, and find what you need when you need it.