Spotting Valuables & Valuing Every Item

When people think of “valuables”, they often imagine antiques, jewellery, or expensive artwork. But to us, value isn’t just about money – it’s about potential. If an item can be recycled, reused, or restored, then it has value.

At Angel House Clearance, we don’t just take everything away and dump it. We avoid items that cannot be sold, reused, or recycled – such as dirty mattresses, broken wardrobes, old sofas, or out-of-date food. Everything else is carefully sorted to find its best next use.

Every Item Has a Value

For us, the worth of an item isn’t its resale price but its recyclability. Thanks to our strong network of contacts, we can salvage and recycle a huge range of household goods. This allows our community store, The Angelical Den, to keep prices fair and competitive – even while other second-hand shops keep putting theirs up.

In fact, our clearance prices have stayed the same since the day we opened.

What Do Other Clearance Companies Do?

It’s a fair question: what happens to everything after a house clearance? Charities can only take a small amount, and they’re very selective. Unfortunately, many clearance firms send the rest straight to landfill across Newcastle, Durham, Gateshead, and Northumberland.

We’re different. Our recycling rate is in the high 90s – which is a rarity! In fact, it’s easier to tell you what we don’t recycle than what we do.

Recycling, Reusing & Giving Back

We follow the 4 Rs: Recycle, Restore, Reuse, Repeat.

We sell and donate usable items through our shop and local car boot sales in Hexham, Seaham, Blaydon, Whitley Bay, Team Valley, Gateshead, and Sedgefield – plus other North East fairs when they pop up.

When the shop is full, we donate quality goods to charities like Mind, Scope, and Cancer Research in Newcastle. We even check with them in advance to see if they need specific items.

We also give away a huge amount directly to the community around the Elswick area of Newcastle, and at local events across the North East.

Our shop is always bursting with stock – a jumble, an Aladdin’s cave (if Aladdin had been blindfolded!). Customers love the variety, and it keeps items in circulation instead of wasted.

Spotting Valuables

Over the years, we’ve become experts at quickly identifying what can be sold, recycled, or reused. Sometimes even we’re surprised.

For example, we once collected an old John Constable painting in poor condition. After it was damaged in the van, we nearly threw it away – but it turned out to be valuable. Experiences like this remind us why careful handling matters.

We’re proud to sell antiques and collectables at low prices to support local businesses and collectors. At the same time, we’re realistic: sometimes Ikea furniture needs more careful handling than a Victorian cabinet! Modern flat-pack often falls apart, while antiques are solid survivors.

Responsible Disposal

We do everything by the book – because it’s the right thing to do.

Licensed vans, tippers, and disposal sites with the correct permits.

100% compliance with UK waste regulations.

No shortcuts. Ever.

We’ve seen bad practices where companies still treat waste as they did decades ago, with no concern for the environment. Angel House Clearance was founded to do things differently: taking the best advice, following best practice, and always caring for our planet.

Why It Matters

Every item we handle once held memories – whether we know the story or not. Families know the meaning behind their belongings, and it’s our job to treat everything with dignity and compassion.

Too often we’ve seen companies throw away someone’s lifetime collection of knick-knacks, and it’s heartbreaking. We carefully pack and pass on even the smallest trinkets so they can continue to bring joy.

This is especially important in probate clearances, where emotions run high and multiple people are involved. Communication is key between families, solicitors, and representatives. We remain professional and impartial, handling items delicately and respecting every situation.

The Strangest Things We’ve Recycled

We’ve seen it all! Here are some of the more unusual items we’ve kept out of landfill:

Seeds – planted in friends’ and families’ gardens.

Coffee & tea grounds – added to soil on allotments.

Plants – revived and grown on.

Open bags of concrete & cement – passed to local sculptors.

Old paint tins – donated to community projects.

Moth-eaten blankets – given to drama groups as props.

Plant roots – reused when clearing and replanting areas.

Vintage broken cameras – sent to a local primary school for learning.

Random gnome heads & statue parts – a quirky favourite!

50+ damaged wig stands – repurposed for fancy dress costumes.

A dog! An amazing dog was left behind in a property so I adopted him.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do clearance companies just throw everything away?
Some do – but not us! Just look at the shelves in The Angelical Den for proof.

Can I keep items aside before a clearance?
Yes. We always recommend that family members remove personal or sentimental items first. We also work with clients overseas, couriering items to them or recovering sentimental belongings on their behalf.

Will you donate furniture to charity?
Absolutely. Wherever furniture can benefit others, we donate it to charities, community groups, and families in need.