Recent news reports covered the remarkable story of a recluse in the Welsh village of Aberaeron who was rescued from under a mountain of clutter in her 19^th century stone cottage, after concerned neighbours raised the alarm.

Police had to struggle through piles of hoarded belongings to find the 50 year old woman, who was taken to hospital suffering from severe dehydration. It took another 4 days for a team to find the remains of her mother who is believed to have died around 4 years ago.

Although the above story is an extreme case, it got me thinking about how many possessions we accumulate over our lifetimes, whether it’s clothes, furniture or personal possessions. We all have that one box lying in the attic, shed or under the bed, with things we think might come in handy one day. I know I do. However, in recent times where ‘less is more’, people have moved away from cluttering their homes, favouring a more minimalistic approach which has been championed by a plethora of home renovation and design programmes on television.

One man’s junk is another man’s treasure

In an age of rampant consumerism, throw away culture has become the norm, with people favouring the latest trends over durable products. We often hear people remark, “They don’t make them like they used to,” and one cannot disagree as manufacturers try various methods to keep costs down, including cheaper materials, to the detriment of the finished product. However, the realisation that our planet’s resources are not infinite has led to concerted efforts to recycle rather than dispose of unwanted goods. One could argue that the increasingly popular shabby chic style which started in the 1980s has played a part too, with budding designers reviving old furniture and fabrics and giving them a new lease of life.  Upcycling has shown significant growth too, whereby waste materials, by-products or unwanted goods are transformed into new materials or products.

At Sharpes Auctions, we are regularly approached by vendors asking for assistance in clearing their properties. More often than not they are probate properties, where a relative has died and left a lifetime’s worth of belongings. Sorting through it all can be a daunting task for anyone at the best of times, not to mention at times of distress.  We have a panel of house clearance specialists, who can arrange full house clearances, removing everything you request, including carpets, white goods and furniture.

In the case of probate properties, the monetary value of the contents, also known as goods and chattels, needs to be determined, as they are part of the assets of the estate. The value is then offset against the cost of inheritance tax if the property values above the threshold of £325,000. Sharpes can undertake a comprehensive contents valuation at your request, which is especially useful if you do not live near the property in question or simply do not have the time to do it.

Call the Sharpes auction team now on 01274 731217 or 0161 302 9782 for a probate property valuation or a contents valuation or visit www.sharpesauctions.co.uk.

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