Six questions to ask before you book anyone
An office clear-out looks simple from the outside: a van, a few people, a day's carrying. The differences between companies show up afterwards, in where the equipment went, what happened to the data and whether the building manager ever wants them back. A few straight questions sort that out early.
Here are the ones we'd ask, why each matters, and our own answers.
| Ask | Why it matters | Our answer |
|---|---|---|
| Do you hold a waste collection permit? | Office waste dumped by an unpermitted collector can be traced back to your business | Yes: NWCPO-25-13287-01, on the public NWCPO register |
| Are you insured? | Desks and cabinets moving through lifts, corridors and common areas can cause damage | Yes, fully insured on every job |
| What happens to the electricals? | Monitors, PCs and printers shouldn't go in general waste | Kept separate and taken to electrical recycling |
| What happens to the data on our devices? | The data stays your business's responsibility under GDPR | We don't destroy data; wipe or remove drives first, or we set them aside for you |
| Is the price fixed? | Hourly rates grow when a lift is slow | A fixed price in writing, agreed before booking |
| Who actually turns up? | Building managers want names, and you want accountability | Our own crew, not subcontractors |
A seventh question is worth asking if your furniture is in decent shape: what happens to the good pieces? Our answer is that sound desks, chairs and storage are set aside for reuse where possible, metal goes for recycling, and only what's left goes to licensed waste facilities. If you'd rather sell the best items first, do that before we come and we'll clear the rest.
Ask any company the same questions. A business that answers all of them quickly, in writing, is usually one you can work with. You can check any permit yourself on the NWCPO register; our guide to using a permitted clearance company explains why it matters.
Answers that should make you pause
Most office clear-out companies are fine. These replies, though, are worth a second question:
- "We'll look after the data for you" from a company that can't explain how, or give you a record of it. Data destruction is a specialist service. If they don't provide one, the honest answer is "wipe it first".
- "The price depends on how the day goes." That's an open-ended bill, and lifts, loading bays and stairs always take longer than hoped.
- No permit number, or one in another name. Check that the holder on the register is the company on the quote.
- "Sure we'll take the partitions and the carpet too" without mentioning a strip-out contractor, an electrician or the landlord. Fixed items are a different trade, and they can matter for your lease.
How we quote: photos, a video or a walk-through
Most offices are priced without anyone visiting. Send us:
- Photos of each room and storeroom, including the corners where things have piled up.
- The route out: the corridor, the lift (and whether it's a goods lift), the stairs and where the van can stop.
- What's staying, marked in the photos or listed.
- Your dates and hours, including any time slots the building insists on.
A short video, walked from the furthest room to the front door, often does all four at once. For a multi-floor office, a building with tricky access or a very large clear-out, we'll suggest a walk-through first. Either way you get a fixed price in writing, usually the same day for photo quotes, covering the labour, the van loads, the dismantling and the recycling.
spotless.ieComparing office clear-out companies? Send photos or a short video of the office, the lift and the parking, with your dates. We'll come back with a fixed price in writing and answers to anything you want to ask.
What your building manager will ask us for
In a multi-tenant building, the building manager or facilities team usually wants to know who is coming before the day. Typical requests, and how we handle them:
- Insurance details. We're fully insured on every job, and we'll send the details to the building manager in advance if asked.
- Our permit number. NWCPO-25-13287-01, for their contractor file.
- Names and arrival times. Who's coming, when, and roughly how long we'll need.
- Vehicle details. The van registration, if the car park or loading bay is managed.
- Lift protection and booking. Whether the goods lift needs padding and a reserved slot.
- Waste leaving the building. Confirmation that nothing goes into the building's bins or bin store; it all leaves in our van.
Put us in touch with the building manager early, or forward their contractor rules, and we'll deal with them directly so you don't become the go-between. If building management asks for a method statement or anything else specific, tell us at the quote stage.
What we don't do, said up front
Choosing well also means knowing where a company's work stops. Ours is removal and disposal:
- No strip-out or demolition. Partitions fixed to the building, suspended ceilings, raised floors and fitted kitchens are for a fit-out or strip-out contractor.
- No data destruction or shredding. Drives and confidential paper are your responsibility to deal with first, through a specialist if needed.
- No hazardous waste. We don't take chemicals, paint, oils or gas cylinders.
Within that, we clear furniture, storage, electricals, kitchens and general office waste, dismantling desks and shelving on site. The full list is on our office clear-out services page.
After you've chosen
Once a date is booked, we confirm the plan in writing, liaise with building management, and walk through each area with your contact on the day before it's cleared. At the end you get a swept, empty space and photos if you're not there to see it. If plans shift, because the lease end moves or the new furniture arrives late, tell us as soon as you know and we'll move the date where we can.
If you're keeping the office and only want the clutter gone, read about office clear-outs while you keep working. For the logistics of city-centre buildings and business parks, see office clearance in Dublin, and our main office clearance page covers lease ends and moves. The office clearance planning guide has a timeline if you're working towards a handback.
