Emptying house after death: info and costs

Clearing a house after a death is often a difficult task, both emotionally and practically. There is a lot to deal with in such a situation, and it can be overwhelming. It can be nice to leave the house clearance of the deceased to a professional. This is something we are often called upon to do. We try to help you navigate through this difficult time and make the house clearance as smooth and stress-free as possible.

House clearance in the region

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What does a house clearance after death cost?

The cost of a house clearance after death depends on several factors. Consider, for example, the size of the home, the amount of contents to be removed, and any additional services such as cleaning, floor removal, or minor repairs.

Below is a price table with estimates for each type of home. On average, the cost of clearing senior living rooms is between €250 and €450. For clearing a small home with 1 to 2 rooms, the cost averages between €250 and €650. Single-family homes clearance costs average between €700 and €1600 and for large homes (with more than 3 bedrooms) clearance costs average between €850 and €2000.

Type woningGemiddelde kosten woningontruiming
Senioren kamer€250 tot €450
Kleine woning (1 tot 2 kamers)€250 tot €650
Eengezinswoning€700 tot €1600
Grote woning (meer dan 3 slaapkamers)€850 tot €2000

Please note that these are estimates and may differ from the actual total amount. We like to be transparent about our prices so there are no surprises. Would you like a more specific estimate? Request a tailor-made offer to. Want to read more about what factors affect these costs and how to save on them? Then read our blog article: What does a house emptying after death cost?

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Free house clearance after passing

You may hear that a post-death house clearance can also be done for free. Unfortunately, this is not often possible in practice. It does happen frequently that part of the costs can be covered by the sale of valuables. However, completely free house clearance is not often possible. There are often still costs to be incurred for cleaning and possible repairs. There are also personnel costs for the employees who do the heavy lifting. Our tip: By selling valuables yourself, you can often cover part, or sometimes even all, of the clearance costs.

Urgent house clearance after death

We often arrange an emergency clearance within 24 hours. Especially when the deceased person in question lives in a nursing or care center, the house clearance must be done on short notice. Whatever the circumstances, we at JHC House Clearance understand exactly what needs to be done.

Expert help with house clearance
House clearance in exchange for contents

Who is responsible for a house clearance after death?

Upon the death of a loved one, the responsibility for vacating the home and covering incidental expenses usually rests with the heirs. If a will has not been drawn up, the law provides a specific arrangement whereby only the spouse, registered partner and blood relatives are considered heirs. In the event that your loved one did draw up a will, it will define precisely who the designated heirs are. Need more information? Then read our article: Emptying house after death – Who is responsible?

Clearing out house after death? We are happy to help. Please contact Joey.

Clearing a house after death is quite a challenge. Hiring help can be desirable. We, from JHC House Clearance know how to handle this professionally.

Would you like to know more about our services in Eindhoven? Don’t hesitate any longer and request a no-obligation quote today!

House clearance in the region

Saving tips for clearing a house after death

You can sometimes save a little on the cost of house clearance by doing some preliminary work in advance. Here are some things you can already do yourself:

  • Pre-sort – Pre-sort your belongings by what should be kept, donated or discarded. This saves time during the clearance process.
  • Remove small items yourself – If necessary, see if you can already dispose of some smaller items yourself, this in turn saves the house de-clutterers time.
  • Sell or donate: Consider selling or donating furniture or other items. Not only does this reduce the amount of household contents to be removed, but it can also offset some of the costs (consider the Salvation Army, for example; we often work with them as well).
  • Recycling and waste disposal – By taking responsibility for separating and disposing of recyclable material or waste yourself, you can save on waste disposal costs.

How does the application process for clearing a house after death?

Although the work and time available for house clearance can vary, we have a set procedure for requesting house clearance. This way, you know exactly what to expect. By following 4 simple steps, we can guarantee that the house clearance will be smooth and hassle-free.

Get in touch - Talk directly to Joey

First, we will answer all your questions and schedule an appointment to view the property.

We visit your property

The home visit is completely non-binding and allows us to discuss with you what the options are.

Within 24 hours you will receive a fixed price quote

Based on the agreements made during the visit. We always work with a fixed price, so you will not be faced with unpleasant surprises afterwards.

We are ready for all your questions

Only when you are completely reassured about what to expect will you give your approval on the quote and we will start the house clearance.

How does a house clearance after death take place?

Thanks to our experience in these situations, we strive to make the entire process as simple and clear as possible for you. Any death of an acquaintance or family member is a profound event, and in these situations it is valuable to be able to rely on someone with experience and knowledge.

Step 1 – Inventory of contents.

First, we will visit with you to look at the size of the contents and discuss what needs to be done. Often large items are already divided by inheritance and we will only look at remaining items. You will indicate to us what should be kept and what may be done with the remaining items.

After this conversation, we determine what it will cost to vacate the home. Are you satisfied with the quote? Then we will get to work as soon as possible!

Step 2 – Sorting the household contents.

Before we get started with the eviction, we sort through the contents. These items are divided into the following categories:

  • Retain – items you want to keep or store think admin pieces, heirlooms or other valuable possessions
    Sell – possessions in good condition can be sold
  • Donate – consider donating inbedo that you do not want to keep, but is still in nice condition, to the thrift store, for example
  • Discarding – anything you do not retain, donate or discard will be thrown away

Step 3 – Clearing the house

After we have determined the destinations for the contents, it is time for the actual house clearance. We take the belongings to the agreed upon locations, such as purchasing, landfill, storage or other agreed upon locations

If floor covering, carpets or mattresses can no longer be cleaned, we will remove them from the home.

Step 4 – Completion of the property

In addition, we can completely vacate the property and deliver it broom clean to the landlord or real estate agent who wants to sell the house. Thanks to our experience in these situations, we strive to make the whole process as simple and clear as possible for you.

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Frequently asked questions about clearing a house after death

What happens to contents after death?

The heirs are responsible for the household contents. Often the valuable pieces are divided between them and part is taken away. You can also, for example, sell a portion and have us pick up the rest. We can give items a second life, recycle them or dispose of them responsibly.

The cost of emptying a house after a death depends on the size of the house and the size of the contents. On average, d he cost of clearing senior living rooms between €250 and €450. For clearing a small home with 1 to 2 rooms, the cost averages between €250 and €650. Single-family homes clearance costs average between €700 and €1600 and for large homes (with more than 3 bedrooms) clearance costs average between €850 and €2000.

We recommend getting in touch via our contact form, so we can send an estimate of the cost.

After death, the heirs usually have an 8-month period to sell the house. After these 8 months, you will receive a tax assessment for the property. If the tax amount is low enough, you can consider deferring payment for 1 year.

If you need more time to make an informed decision, it may be wise to rent out the house. This provides the flexibility to make a final decision later.

If your loved one has died and was living in a rental property, it is important not to wait too long to take action. This is because the rent of this property will continue until you, the heir, terminate it. This, of course, is a waste of additional expenses.

Handing over a rental property consists of several stages: the termination of the lease, the pre-inspection and the final inspection. You can read how best to handle all of these in our article: How should I deliver my rental property?