Putting a house on the market usually starts with one uncomfortable realisation. There is far more stuff in the loft, garage and spare room than anyone remembered. If you are planning a quick clear out before the estate agent arrives, booking skip hire in Erith is one of the simplest ways to get it done in a single weekend instead of a month of tip runs.
This guide covers which skip size suits which kind of clear out and how to plan the two days. It is written for homeowners and landlords across DA8 and DA18.
Why Clear the House Before Listing It
Buyers walk through a home trying to picture their own furniture in it. Cluttered rooms, full wardrobes and a garage stacked to the roof make that harder, however good the property is.
A clear house also makes the rest of the sale easier. Photos look cleaner, viewings run more smoothly, and you are not packing in a rush once an offer comes in.
Why a Skip Beats Repeated Tip Runs
A car boot holds very little when you are clearing a whole house. Wardrobes, old sofas, carpets and timber do not fit in a hatchback, and every trip to the recycling centre eats half a day.
A skip stays outside the property for the whole job, so you can carry things out room by room and keep going. Nothing sits in the hallway overnight, and the house empties at the same speed you work. That is what makes a weekend clear out realistic.
Choosing a Skip Size for a House Clear Out
The right size depends on how much is in the house and whether the garden and garage are included. The guide below is a rough starting point, and it helps to describe the property to the team before you book.
| Skip size | Typical use for a house sale | Price range (excl. VAT) |
| 4 yard | One or two rooms, a shed, or a small garage | £210 to £230 |
| 6 yard | A loft plus a spare room, or a small flat | £260 to £280 |
| 8 yard | Most of a two bedroom home | £290 to £310 |
| 10 yard | A three bedroom house with a garage | £320 to £340 |
| 12 yard | A large family home, garden included | £350 to £370 |
Prices are shown as ranges, so confirm the exact figure for your address when you book. Hire runs for 14 days as standard, which gives you room to clear the house at a steady pace.
If you are unsure, going one size up is often safer for a full house, because old furniture and bagged rubbish take up space quickly. Heavy waste such as soil, bricks or tiles is the exception, since weight can become the limit before the skip looks full.
A Simple Weekend Plan
A clear plan matters more than speed. Here is a way to split the two days.
Friday Evening: Prepare
Book the skip so it arrives before you start loading. Same-day or next-day delivery is often possible in DA8, subject to availability, but booking a day or two ahead removes the pressure.
Walk through the house and sort things into four piles: keep, sell, donate, and dispose. Only the last pile goes in the skip. Setting aside usable furniture and clothes for charity keeps the skip for things that really are rubbish.
Saturday: The Heavy Work
Start with the biggest items while you have energy. Sofas, wardrobes, beds, old carpets, and large pieces of furniture go in first, and they should go in flat or broken down. Placing heavy items at the bottom and filling gaps with smaller things makes better use of the space.
Move on to the loft and garage next, since these usually hold the most forgotten items.
Sunday: Finish and Check
Use Sunday for the final rooms, the garden and any odds and ends. Do a last walk-through of every room, cupboard and outbuilding before you call it done. When the skip is full, phone the team to arrange collection.
If you finish early, collection can usually be arranged sooner, so there is no need to wait out the full hire period.
Where to Put the Skip
The easiest place is your driveway, as long as the skip can be delivered without blocking gates or hitting overhead cables. Measure the space first. A 12 yard skip is around 3.4 m long and 1.8 m wide, and the lorry needs room to manoeuvre.
If there is no drive, the skip can go on the public road, and that needs a permit from Bexley Council. RMS arranges this for you, so say at the time of booking that the skip will be roadside. Many streets around Erith and Northumberland Heath are narrow with parked cars on both sides, so it is worth thinking about size and placement together.
When Space Is Very Tight
A wait and load service is useful when the skip cannot stay on the street. The driver waits while you fill it and takes the waste away straight afterwards. It suits smaller jobs, such as a garage or one room, where everything is ready to go in quickly.
What Can and Cannot Go in the Skip
Most household and building waste is accepted. That covers general rubbish, furniture, wood, soil, bricks, rubble, tiles, garden waste and packaging, and mixed loads are fine.
Some items are restricted for safety and legal reasons. These include asbestos, tyres, batteries, electrical appliances, gas cylinders, chemicals, oils, paint and fridges. Old televisions, freezers and washing machines count as electrical items, so arrange separate disposal for those before the skip arrives.
Mattresses and upholstered furniture can be treated differently, so ask before loading them. Keep waste level with the sides, since an overfilled skip cannot be collected.
Booking Skip Hire in Erith for a House Sale
Booking skip hire in Erith takes a few minutes once you know what you are clearing. The team will usually ask for:
- Your postcode, whether DA8 or DA18, and where the skip will sit
- The size you have in mind, or a short description of the property
- Your preferred delivery date
- Whether the skip will be on the drive or on the road
Once the skip arrives, you load it at your own pace within the hire period. If you need longer, call before the 14 days end and ask about an extension.
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