Police closed off Waitara Parade at Hurstville Grove about 2.30pm on Wednesday afternoon.

A spokesman for Australian Customs said officers were given the all clear to go back into the house to continue the search at 7pm.

"Items we were concerned about were found not to contain explosives,'' he said.

Customs seized a large number of documents and a computer from the property.

A number of items were also seized by NSW Police.

The Customs spokesman said the search was part of an ongoing investigation.

"We executed the warrant in relation to concerns over the possible importation of firearm parts,'' he said.

"We are still conducting inquiries in relation to that matter.''

He said they had spoken to the occupant of the house.

"We haven't taken him into custody but there are a number of inquiries by Customs yet to be completed,'' he said.

Residents from about 10 to 12 houses were evacuated with most people heading to neighbours' homes.

Joseph Maroun, who lives two doors down from the house that was searched, said he noticed police in the street when he left for work at 6.45am.

"They blocked it off and started evacuating people about 2.30pm,'' he said.

He said his three children were restless and hungry as they waited for the police tape to be lifted.

He said the house searched was occupied by a man, believed to be a security guard, who lived on his own.

Mr Maroun said the street was usually a quiet area.

"Everyone knows everyone'' he said.

In a separate case earlier this month Customs arrested a man, 54, at at a house in Kareela after finding a fully assembled 9mm semi-automatic pistol hidden inside a package at a Sydney airfreight depot sent from Tbilisi in the Republic of Georgia.

He is due to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on May 20.

Was your home evacuated yesterday? Tell us your story.