Probate Valuations & Deceased Estate Clearance in Southend-on-Sea and Essex
When the time comes to deal with someone’s estate, you shouldn’t have to work it out alone. Confidential, HMRC-compliant probate valuations, house clearance and auction sales — trusted by families, executors and solicitors across Essex since 1989.
Three unhurried steps, at your pace
A confidential conversation
Call or write to us. No obligation, no pressure — just clear advice about what’s involved and what happens next.
A probate valuation, on your terms
We visit the property at a time that suits you and provide a written, HMRC-compliant valuation of the contents — jewellery, silver, furniture, art and collections.
A sale or clearance, handled with care
Whether items go into our fortnightly auctions or the house needs clearing, we take care of the details so you don’t have to think about them twice.
“We treat every house, and every family, exactly as we’d want our own to be treated.”
No obligation
Initial advice and conversations are always free, whether or not you go on to instruct us.
Whole-estate service
Jewellery, silver, furniture, coins and collections — valued and, where useful, sold together.
HMRC-compliant valuations
Written probate valuations for inheritance tax and estate administration that solicitors and executors can rely on. See all our valuation services.
What families have told us.
“I would like to thank Trevor & the team for their expert service. They were professional in all areas and treated everything with understanding sympathy and respect. They carried out the clearance of my late fathers property with dignity and pride. I am truly grateful for the service they provided and would highly recommend this team. Thank you guys your are amazing.”
“I would like to thank Grant and his team for the outstanding job they undertook of my late father’s house. This was a partial clearance so the house was left with a few pieces of furniture etc ready for sale. They did an amazing clearance and then ‘dressed’ the house as they saw fit down to organising similar paintings/pictures on the walls to moving furniture from one room to another. Thank you so much for a brilliant job and for leaving the house so clean and tidy. We were very very impressed. Thank you.”
“I would like to thank the whole team at Chalkwell Auctions for all their hard work with my late father's auctions. The whole process was carried out from beginning to end with dignity, compassion and respect. I am truly grateful to you all.”
Probate valuations, explained simply.
What is a probate valuation?
A probate valuation is a written assessment of the open market value of a deceased person’s belongings — furniture, jewellery, silver, paintings, collections and general household contents — as at the date of death. Executors need it to complete HMRC’s inheritance tax forms (household and personal goods are reported on form IHT407) and to administer the estate fairly.
How much does a probate valuation cost?
A written probate valuation from Chalkwell Auctions is £100 + VAT. Initial advice and conversations are always free, whether or not you go on to instruct us.
Do you visit the property?
Yes. We visit properties throughout Southend-on-Sea, Essex and the wider South East at a time that suits you, and assess and catalogue the contents on site.
Can you also clear the house and sell the contents?
Yes. We offer full or partial house clearance and can sell suitable items through our fortnightly auctions in Southend-on-Sea, so the whole estate can be dealt with by one team.
Do you work directly with solicitors and executors?
Yes. We regularly act for solicitors, executors and administrators, and can deal directly with the solicitor handling the estate if you prefer.
Is the valuation accepted by HMRC?
Our written probate valuations are prepared on an open market value basis in line with HMRC requirements and are relied on by solicitors and executors for inheritance tax and estate administration purposes.
Probate valuations across Essex and the South East
Our saleroom is at 2 Baron Court, Chandlers Way, Southend-on-Sea, and we carry out probate valuations and house clearances throughout Essex and East London, including:
- Southend-on-Sea
- Leigh-on-Sea
- Westcliff-on-Sea
- Shoeburyness
- Rochford
- Rayleigh
- Hockley
- Benfleet
- Canvey Island
- Basildon
- Billericay
- Brentwood
- Upminster
- Hornchurch
- Romford
- Ilford
- Chelmsford
- Maldon
- Colchester
Further afield? Get in touch — we regularly travel across the South East for larger estates.
A short call is usually all it takes to feel less alone with it.
01702 613260Chalkwell Auctions · 2 Baron Court, Chandlers Way, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS2 5SE · info@chalkwellauctions.co.uk