Want your clearance done quickly and affordably?How a bit of preparation, documentation, and cooperation can help FFC save you time—and money.At First for Clearance, we know that clearing out a property or site can feel like a big job—especially when time and budget are tight. But many of the delays and added costs we see could be avoided with just a little prep.When customers take a few simple steps before we arrive, it helps us work faster, load more efficiently, and sometimes even reduce overall charges.Here are three practical things you can do that make a big difference on the day.1. Preparing: Sort More EfficientlyThe more clearly your waste is organised, the less time our crew has to spend sorting it during collection. A few labelled piles or separate areas can save real time and money.We recommend breaking items down into four basic categories:Keep: anything staying on site or being collected laterDonate: working appliances, clean furniture, boxed items in good conditionRecycle: metals, cardboard, garden waste, electricalsDispose: anything broken, unsafe, or no longer usableThis also helps us load the van by material type, which improves recycling outcomes and may even reduce your disposal costs. National organisers like Real Simple recommend the “Move-Out Method” to help decide what stays, goes, or gets reused.2. Logging & Photographing the ClearanceSending us a few well-lit photos of the clearance area ahead of time helps more than you might think. It gives us a better idea of vehicle space needed, crew size, estimated loading time, and any potential complications like access or parking.If you’ve got multiple rooms or outdoor spaces to be cleared, a short video walk-through can be even better. Just keep it simple—photos or videos from your phone are fine.Advance logging reduces uncertainty and avoids unexpected delays or costs. Sites like Zero Waste Group recommend documenting waste volume before booking for this exact reason.3. Making Access Easy for the CrewAccess matters. The more direct and obstacle-free the route from your waste to our van, the faster we can load and go. That means fewer delays, fewer trips, and often a smaller total bill.Before collection day, try to:Move cars, bins or equipment blocking access pointsUnlock gates or leave a note with key instructionsClear walkways or garden paths, especially after rainThese small things help us avoid lifting over fences, rerouting through tight spaces, or manually carrying heavy items longer than necessary. As noted in Homes & Gardens, setting up simple, safe collection zones reduces disruption and speeds up removal.Small Effort, Big ReturnClearances are always easier when everyone’s prepared. By sorting early, showing us what’s involved, and creating a clear path to load from, you can make the process smoother, faster, and more affordable—without lifting a single heavy item yourself.If you're unsure what to photograph or how to organise the space, we’re happy to guide you. Just send us a message or give us a call, and we’ll advise what works best based on your location and the type of waste involved.Ready to make space? Get in touch or schedule a clearance today—we’ll do the heavy lifting, but a little help from you goes a long way.
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