Bereavement clearance in Carrickmines: looking after an empty house

The quiet gap

When someone dies, the funeral and the first weeks fill the days. Then comes a long middle period. The solicitor is working on the estate. The family is dealing with paperwork and with their own lives. And the house, which was lived in until recently, stands empty.

An empty house does not stay the same. Pipes get cold, post piles up, the garden grows, a window is left unlatched, a neighbour wonders who is in charge. None of these is a crisis, but each makes the sale harder and the clearance more stressful when it comes.

This guide is for families in Carrickmines and the surrounding area who are in that gap. It covers what to check, what to arrange and when to clear, so the house is in good order when the time comes. For the first days after a death, see our guide on what to do first, and for the practical and legal side of clearing, clearing a house after someone dies.

Carrickmines houses and why empty ones need attention

Carrickmines has older houses on large plots and newer estates. Many of the larger homes have gardens, garages, garden rooms and outbuildings, which means more to look after when nobody is living there. Our page on house clear-outs in Carrickmines describes the older plots and newer estates, and our bereavement clearance page for Carrickmines covers the family side.

A large house empty for months needs regular visits. A small one can be left a little longer. Either way, someone should be responsible.

Step one: decide who is responsible

Choose one person to be the house contact. They do not have to do everything, but they know who has keys, who has visited and what has been done. Write down:

• the name and phone number of the house contact;
• the names of anyone else with keys;
• the solicitor's details;
• the insurer's details;
• the name of a neighbour who has agreed to keep an eye out.

Share the list with the family, and keep a copy in the house.

Step two: tell the insurer

Many home insurance policies have conditions about unoccupied houses. The details vary, and a claim can be affected if the insurer was not told or if conditions were not followed. Ask your insurer or broker:

• whether the policy continues while the house is empty;
• how long the house can be unoccupied before conditions apply;
• what conditions apply, such as heating, regular inspections or locks;
• whether contents are covered, and for how long;
• whether the policy needs to be changed to reflect the executor's interest.

Write down the answers and who gave them. If the insurer wants proof of regular checks, keep a simple log.

Step three: security

An empty house is a target, and also looks like one if it shows signs of neglect.

• Lock every door and window on every visit, including side gates, sheds and garages.
• Keep valuables out. Take jewellery, cash and important papers to a safe place, such as a family member's house or a bank. Do not leave them in drawers.
• Check the alarm. If one is fitted, find the code and the monitoring company. Tell them who the contact is.
• Make it look occupied. Timer lights, drawn curtains opened and closed, a tidy front garden and cleared post all help.
• Redirect post. An An Post redirection and a note to the sender are helpful. Collect what arrives.
• Cancel deliveries. Newspapers, magazines and food deliveries.
• Ask a neighbour to tell you of anything unusual.

If the house has valuable objects in it, consider moving them before the long gap, and photograph what is there. Do not advertise on social media that the house is empty.

Step four: heating, water and damp

Irish winters are damp, and a cold house gets damper. Empty houses can develop condensation, mould and, in cold snaps, burst pipes.

• Keep a low background heat in cold months, if the insurer and the budget allow. Even a few degrees above freezing helps.
• Open windows briefly on dry days to air the rooms, then lock up again.
• Check for leaks. Look under sinks, around the boiler, at ceilings and in the attic for stains.
• Know where the stopcock is. If you must turn off the water, you should be able to.
• Consider draining down if the house will be empty for a long time. A plumber can advise.
• Keep the electricity on unless advised otherwise. You need light and power for visits, for carpet cleaning and, later, for power washing.
• Take meter readings on a set date, and photograph them.
• Check for mould. Black spots on walls or ceilings, a musty smell, damp patches. Tell the insurer if you find damage.

Damp and leaks matter for the sale. A buyer's surveyor will find them, and it is much better that you did first.

Step five: the garden and the outside

A neglected garden tells everyone that nobody is home. In a large Carrickmines plot, it also becomes a bigger job each month.

• Cut the grass regularly in the growing season.
• Cut back hedges along the road and the drive.
• Clear leaves from paths, gutters and the drive.
• Remove post and flyers from the front.
• Check the gutters for blockages. A blocked gutter overflows onto the wall and starts damp.
• Look at the roof for slipped tiles after storms.

For the sale, the outside matters. A drive that has gone green, a patio black with algae and moss on the roof all give a poor first impression. We power wash driveways, patios, paths, steps and walls, clean roof moss and clear gutters, and we need an outside tap and a power socket. See our page on garden clearance for overgrown gardens and green waste.

Step six: what to do with perishables and hazards

On your first visits, deal with anything that will spoil or cause trouble.

• The fridge and freezer. Empty, defrost and leave the doors slightly ajar.
• Food in cupboards. Bin perishable food.
• Medication. Take it to a pharmacy.
• Candles and heaters. Make sure nothing is plugged in or left on.
• Gas. Ask your supplier about the best arrangement. We do not take gas cylinders, full or empty.
• Chemicals and fuel. We cannot take oil, solvents, paint, chemicals or fuel. Take them to a civic amenity site or a hazardous waste collection, and we will clear the rest.
• Plants. Water them or give them away.

Step seven: documents and what to keep with the house

While the house is empty, keep the following together with the house contact or the solicitor:

• the will and any copy;
• title deeds or proof of ownership;
• insurance policies;
• utility bills and account numbers;
• recent post;
• the alarm code and any manuals;
• keys, labelled.

Take important papers out of the house if there is any risk. A fire-proof box is a good idea.

Step eight: the family and the contents

While the house waits, the family can make progress without opening the whole house.

• Walk through together and mark what is wanted.
• Photograph rooms and objects, which helps relatives who live elsewhere.
• Agree a deadline for claims.
• Offer items to charities and arrange collections.
• Keep a list of who has taken what.

Because the contents are still there, check what the solicitor needs. In some estates, contents have to be listed or valued, and the solicitor will tell you.

Step nine: staging the clearance

A large Carrickmines house is often best cleared in stages, which suits an empty house too.

Stage one: the outbuildings, garage and attic. These hold the most volume and the least emotion. Clearing them reduces what has to be dealt with later. See our guides to clearing a garage and clearing an attic, and our local pages on garage clear-outs and attic clearance.

Stage two: the main rooms. After the family has been through them.

Stage three: the final walk-through. The crew goes room by room, checking drawers and cupboards, and photographs are sent.

Staging lets you spread the cost and the emotion, and fits around the solicitor's timetable.

When to clear

There is no single right time. These are the common triggers.

• The solicitor says the house can be cleared.
• The house is to be sold, and the agent wants it empty for photographs.
• The house is a risk, because of damp or security.
• The family is ready.
• The cost of keeping the house empty is mounting.

If the house is deteriorating, clearing sooner is usually better. If the family is not ready, a staged clearance may suit. Whatever you decide, send photographs for a fixed price. We confirm the price before booking and fit the date to yours. We work Monday to Saturday, 8am to 5pm, and not Sundays.

What happens on the day

1. Arrival. The crew arrives at the agreed time. Larger Carrickmines homes often have gates and drives, so we plan where the van goes.
2. Walk-through. With you or your nominee, confirming what stays.
3. Protection. Covers go down on floors and stairs.
4. Clearing. Rooms are cleared in order. Drawers, cupboards, pockets and boxes are checked.
5. Setting aside. Papers, photographs, jewellery and personal items are kept for the family.
6. Sorting. Furniture worth reusing is set aside where possible, metals and electricals are separated, and the rest goes to licensed facilities. We are an authorised waste carrier, permit NWCPO-25-13287-01, and fully insured.
7. Finish. Rooms left clear, floors swept or vacuumed where needed, and photographs sent.

A larger home with a garage, attic and garden buildings is often a two-day job. We tell you when we send the price.

After the clearance: protecting the empty house again

An empty house with nothing in it is easier to look after, but the same rules apply: security, heating, post, garden and insurance. If the house will be on the market for a while, keep visiting.

If the house is to be sold, the order is usually repairs and painting, then carpets, then the outside, then photographs. Carpets can be cleaned by hot-water extraction once the rooms are bare. Our guide to preparing a property for sale has the full sequence.

What to log, and why

A simple visit log protects you. Record:

• the date and who visited;
• what you checked (doors, windows, heating, leaks);
• anything you found;
• meter readings, if relevant.

If an insurer asks, you have evidence. If a problem develops, you can show when it started.

Sample visit checklist

• Doors, windows, gates and sheds locked.
• No water stains, leaks or damp.
• Heating working at the low setting.
• Post collected.
• Gutters clear.
• Garden tidy.
• Alarm working.
• Nothing missing.

Mistakes to avoid

1. Leaving the house unvisited for weeks.
2. Forgetting to tell the insurer.
3. Turning everything off, including heating, in a damp winter.
4. Leaving valuables in the house.
5. Letting post pile up.
6. Clearing before the solicitor agrees.
7. Forgetting the garage and sheds, which a surveyor will open.
8. Rushing under pressure.

Looking after yourself

An empty family home can be hard to visit. The rooms still smell like the person. It is fine to go with someone else, to keep visits short and to take a break from it. The checklist above is for the house. The house will wait while you look after yourself.

A month-by-month routine for an empty house

If the house will be empty for several months, a routine makes the job lighter. Here is one that works for most families.

Every week or two

• Visit, even briefly. Walk through every room.
• Check for leaks, damp, smells and signs of entry.
• Collect post and flyers.
• Run the taps for a minute to keep the water moving, then check for drips.
• Open a window for a short time on a dry day.
• Check that the alarm is working, if fitted.
• Note the date in the log.

Every month

• Check the gutters and downpipes, especially after storms.
• Cut the grass and tidy the front, in the growing season.
• Read the electricity and gas meters and photograph them.
• Check the attic, if you can do so safely, for any sign of water.
• Look at the roof from the ground for slipped tiles.
• Walk the boundary and check gates and the fence.

Each season

• Autumn. Clear leaves, check heating before the cold arrives and review the insurance.
• Winter. Keep the heating at a low level, watch for frost and check pipes after cold snaps.
• Spring. Look for damp that has built up over the winter, and cut back growth.
• Summer. Cut the garden, check for wasp nests and air the house more often.

Dealing with problems you may find

A leak. Turn off the water at the stopcock, call a plumber, and tell the insurer. Mop up what you can, open windows and run a dehumidifier if you have one.

Mould. Black spots on walls and ceilings point to damp. Wipe with a mould cleaner, deal with the cause, such as a leak or poor ventilation, and tell the insurer if there is damage.

A break-in. Do not enter if you think someone may still be there. Call the Gardaí, then the insurer. Photograph the damage before you tidy up.

Pests. Mice and rats often move into an empty house, as do wasps. Remove food, seal entry points and call a pest controller if the problem is serious.

An unwelcome visitor. If you find someone in the house or the garden, do not confront them. Call the Gardaí.

Dumping. Rubbish left at the gate or in the garden. Remove it promptly, since it signals that nobody is looking.

Neighbours: a quiet source of help

In Carrickmines, as elsewhere, neighbours often notice more than anyone. A few suggestions.

• Introduce yourself and give your phone number.
• Ask them to tell you about anything unusual, such as lights, noise or a door open.
• Thank them, and tell them when the clearance and sale are happening.
• Do not ask them to hold large sums or valuables.

If a neighbour was close to the person who died, they may like to be told, or to have a keepsake. A card or a quiet word is often appreciated.

Large-house considerations

Many Carrickmines homes are large, with several floors and extensive grounds. A few extra points.

• Gates and electric gates. Make sure the gate controls and codes are known, and that someone can open them on the day.
• Long drives. The van needs room to turn. Clear the drive and any parked cars.
• Outbuildings. Garden rooms, garages, sheds and summer houses may hold more than the house. Photograph all of them.
• Heating systems. Oil tanks, boilers and underfloor heating. Ask a heating engineer about the right setting for an empty house.
• Alarms and cameras. Check that they work and who is called.
• Large gardens. A mature garden may need a gardener. Hire one while the house is empty, or the garden can become a bigger job by the time of sale.

Our page on house clear-outs in Carrickmines goes into gates, drives and estate rules in more detail.

Paying for an empty house: costs to expect

Keeping a house empty costs money, and it helps to know what the running costs are so you can decide when to clear and sell. They commonly include:

• home insurance, which may rise or carry conditions for an unoccupied house;
• standing charges on electricity, gas and broadband, even when nothing is used;
• heating at a low level through the cold months;
• local charges and, where they apply, management fees;
• gardening and gutter maintenance;
• security measures such as an alarm contract or timer lights.

Your solicitor and the executor can explain how these are paid from the estate. Keep receipts and a simple record, since they may be needed for the estate accounts. We do not give financial advice, but a list of monthly costs can help the family see what a delay actually means.

Getting ready for the day of the clearance

When the date is fixed, a short list helps the day run smoothly.

1. Confirm access. Who opens the gates and the house, and what time.
2. Clear the drive. Move cars and bins so the van can get in.
3. Switch on the power and the heating, so the crew has light and the house is not cold.
4. Mark what stays. Keepsakes, fixtures included in the sale and anything not to be touched.
5. Move valuables. Papers, jewellery and cash should be with a family member, not in the house.
6. Tell the neighbours the day before.
7. Keep your phone on, so the crew can reach you with questions.
8. Decide who will receive the photographs at the end.

Questions families ask us

How soon can we clear the house? That depends on the estate and the family. Your solicitor can tell you what has to happen first. We can clear in stages if that helps.

What if we do not want to clear yet? That is fine. Look after the house, keep it secure and book when you are ready. You can send photographs now to get a price, so it is ready when you are.

Is it cheaper to clear sooner? The price depends on the volume, access and items needing special disposal, not on how long the house has been empty. Clearing sooner can avoid the costs of keeping the house empty, such as heating and insurance conditions.

Do you clear garages and sheds separately? Yes. See our pages on garage clear-outs in Carrickmines and attic clearance.

What happens to what you take? Furniture worth reusing is set aside for reuse where possible, metals and electrical items are recycled, and the rest goes to licensed facilities.

Do you work weekends? We work Monday to Saturday, 8am to 5pm, and not Sundays.

Reviews from families we have helped

"I am so thankful for Ciprian & his team. We were overwhelmed with the amount of clearing out needed for our parents home but the team worked efficiently & compassionately and the house was empty in no time. I would highly recommend this company"

Linda Blair, Google review

"Excellent service clearing a full house following a bereavement. Ciprian and crew were professional, highly efficient with good communication and completed the job within two days as promised. Their fees were very reasonable and there were no hidden charges. Did exactly as they were asked to do with honesty and integrity. Would highly recommend."

Kay Waldron, Google review

Getting a price

Send photographs of each room, the attic, the garage, any garden buildings and the approach from the road, with your Eircode. Tell us any date from the solicitor or agent, and whether the house has gates, a long drive or other access issues. We will reply with a fixed price, usually the same day.