A community company built on the premise of offering employment to people often deemed unsuitable for regular work, has teamed up with Emmaus Colchester.
Get it Done, run by Kerry Ramsay, approached our Colchester team to quote for a house clearance on a vacant property, that she’d been asked to complete by an executor of a deceased person’s estate.
“I was keen to work in partnership with Emmaus and it was while I was browsing through one of your shops looking for items to upcycle that I noticed that you offer House Clearances.”
Kerry made contact with our House Clearance team and met team leader, Rob, at the property, where he gave her a quote for the work. After submitting the price to the executor of the estate, the quote was accepted, beating a national organisation by a considerable sum.
Rob explains the benefit of working with Emmaus over other house clearance companies:
We will recycle and reuse as much as we can out of a clearance, even pots and pans that we can’t sell will go to scrap metal, rather than landfill. Even old clothes that can’t be sold will be recycled as textile waste. Everything that we collect is disposed of correctly, and we have a waste carriage certificate for these items, such as fridges that contain dangerous gases and old televisions with cathode tubes. We also provide VAT receipts and our service is fully accountable from start to finish.”
Rob is keen to express the need to be sympathetic when dealing with people’s possessions:
We don’t go in and root through everything. We are courteous and will always ask to look in unopened cupboards. If we find anything of value, jewellery or money, will always let the family or executors know.”
The House Clearance team is often asked to go into a property when an elderly person is moving into a care home. Rob explains:
“Often someone is moving from a 3-4 bed family home down to a small room. There’s not much they can take with them, so we’ll go in after the family has taken momentoes. We try to make it as simple for people as we can, as we’re dealing with people’s possessions and memories.”
Kerry was delighted with how the collaboration went with Emmaus and was impressed with Rob and Chris who where there on the day – describing them as perfect ambassadors for Emmaus:
“They were fantastic – nothing was too much trouble for them. Rob and Chris were light hearted but completely sympathetic, even saving some old black and white family photos they came across as they thought the family members might like them. This kind of empathy and experience is exactly what I am looking for in my partners.”
The ethos behind Kerry’s business, Get it Done, is also a good fit with Emmaus:
“My community company offers flexible employment to people who are often considered unsuitable for regular jobs, usually due to their age. I wanted to be able to offer people the chance to choose their own hours so they could fit work around their own childcare, family or other part-time work commitments. I also pay the living wage and I believe in supporting other ethical businesses where possible.”
House Clearance Services
Emmaus offers two House Clearance services click here to find out more.