Your Job – Basement Clearance

This page explains what goes into a basement clearance once you have been quoted. If a basement has flooded, see also our Flooded Basement Clean-Up page.

Everything comes up by hand

In many basements, everything has to come up a steep or narrow staircase by hand. That makes the stairs the main factor in how long the job takes, more than the number of items. We look at:

• Awkward turns. Corners on the stairs where large items can catch or jam.
• Low headroom. Low ceilings and beams mean working bent over and limit what can be lifted upright.
• Poor lighting. Many basements have little or no fixed light.
• Slippery steps. Damp, worn or uneven steps make every trip slower.
• Access from outside. Whether there is a usable door, hatch or steps from the garden or street, which can shorten the route.

A heavy item that was carried down years ago may need dismantling before it can come back up safely. See Your Job – House Clearance for how stairs, parking and carry distance affect the time.

What can be hidden in a basement

• Damp boxes
• Water-damaged furniture
• Rubble
• Old paint
• Broken glass
• Belongings stored behind other items

What you can see from the foot of the stairs may not be the whole room. Items at the back, or stacked behind other things, often only appear as we work. For more on what is expensive or difficult to dispose of, see why disposal costs vary and hazardous household waste.

Wet contents, damaged steps and other hazards

Wet contents can be much heavier than they look. A damp cardboard box full of books, or a wet piece of furniture, is harder to lift and may fall apart on the way up. Other things can change how we approach the job and what we quote for:

• Standing water. We may not be able to start until it has been dealt with.
• Damaged steps. Weak or broken treads limit how safely we can carry.
• Mould. It affects how the contents are handled and how we protect the crew.
• Signs of rodents. Droppings or nesting material change how the area is handled. See Verminous Property Clearance.

If we find any of these, we tell you what we have found and how it affects the job before going on.

What to tell us beforehand

• Any flooding, now or in the past, and whether the basement is damp
• Any known access problems, such as narrow or damaged stairs, or poor lighting
• Whether there is access from outside
• Anything you want kept, and roughly where it is
• Any large or heavy items that were carried down years ago

Photographs of the stairs, the doorway at the top and the inside of the basement help us give a more accurate quote.

Clearance, or clearance and cleaning

At the survey, we agree whether the work covers clearance only, or includes any separately quoted cleaning. Clearing means removing the contents. Cleaning after a clearance is a separate piece of work, so if you want it, say so before we quote.

Ready to go ahead?

Arrange a free survey or call us on 0151 733 3355. You can also go back to Your Job to see the other services.