Clearing Basements, Attics, and Storage Units – A Practical Guide
Basements, attics, and storage units easily collect belongings over the years. Here's what to consider when it's time to clear these spaces.
Basement storage units, attics, and storage spaces are often where things get moved “temporarily” — and then stay for years. When the space finally needs clearing, the volume and variety of belongings can come as a surprise. Here’s a practical guide to how a clearing like this is best handled.
Why these spaces are their own kind of challenge
Basements, attics, and storage units differ from regular living space in a few ways:
- Access can be difficult. Narrow stairs, low ceilings, or tight passages slow the work down.
- The belongings are often forgotten. Many people don’t remember exactly what has accumulated in the space over the years.
- Conditions can be demanding. Damp, dust, mould, or rodents are more common in basements and attics than in living spaces.
- The spaces can be shared. A housing company’s shared storage areas often require coordination with the property manager or neighbours.
How the clearing works in practice
1. Assessing the space
Before work begins, we assess the size of the space, the volume of belongings, and any special features — narrow passages or damp issues, for example. This can be done from photos or on site.
2. Safety first
If mould damage, pests, or other health hazards are suspected in the space, our team uses appropriate protective equipment and can assess whether the space needs special treatment before the actual clearing.
3. Sorting on site
Belongings are gone through and divided into what to keep, what to sell or donate, what to recycle, and what to dispose of. Old documents, photos, or other personal items are always set aside separately if found.
4. Removal and recycling
Items are transported away correctly sorted. Recyclable material goes to the right place, and hard-to-recycle or hazardous waste is handled according to current regulations.
5. Handing over a clean space
Finally, the space is left clean and empty — ready for its next use, whether that’s a private storage unit, a rented space, or the housing company’s shared storage.
Checklist before clearing
- Any possible damp damage or mould in the space — let us know in advance
- Any belongings you’d like to go through yourself before removal
- Whether it’s a private or shared housing-company space — does it need coordination with the property manager
- Whether the access route is wide enough for standard transport equipment
- Whether there’s electricity for lighting in the space, or whether you’ll need your own lighting
Common finds — and how we handle them
Basements and attics often turn up things people had forgotten they even owned: old furniture, seasonal items, leftover building materials, or completely empty cardboard boxes. Everything is gone through calmly, and nothing is removed by guesswork — if something looks valuable or sentimental, it’s set aside and always checked before anything further happens to it.
If the whole flat needs clearing alongside the storage space, read more about flat clearing. For a standalone basement, attic, or storage clearing, see storage clearing.
Even if the space hasn’t been visited in years, clearing it requires nothing more from you than a phone call — we handle the rest systematically and safely.
