Clearing out a house is one of those jobs nobody can price over the phone, and that is frustrating when you are already dealing with an estate, a move into care or a rented flat that has to be handed back by a set date. The cost is not a mystery, though. It comes down to five things you can check yourself before you ring anyone. This guide runs through them, gives an indication per property type, and points at where the real savings sit.
One thing to watch first. Be wary of any company that names a "fixed price" over the phone without having seen the property. A number that arrives before anyone has walked the rooms is a guess, and guesses get corrected on the invoice. Below is what actually drives the figure.
The five things that set the price
1. Size and type of property
A studio is empty in a morning. A family home with a loft, a shed and a garden is a different job altogether. Floor area and the number of rooms decide how many people are needed and for how long, and that is the single biggest item on the bill.
2. How much is in there, and what kind
A half empty house costs less than a full one. The kind of contents counts as much as the volume: heavy furniture, a packed shed or a cellar full of stored boxes all take more handling than a sparsely furnished flat with a few pieces in it.
3. Access
Fourth floor without a lift takes longer than a ground floor with the van at the door. Parking, stairs and the walking distance from the front door to the van all feed straight back into the hours.
4. Disposal and processing
Waste has to be separated and part of it has to be paid for at the tip. Anything that can be donated or reused comes off that bill instead, which is why we look at what can be saved before we look at what has to go.
5. How the property is handed over
Just empty, or empty and broom clean and ready to relet? A rented property usually asks for extra work: staples out, holes filled, sometimes a return to the original state. We can take that on, but it moves the price.
What a clearance costs per property type
The figures below are indicative. They are there to give you a sense of the order of magnitude, nothing more. Your own price depends on the five factors above and we only put it in writing after a free viewing.
| Property type | What plays a part | Indication |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / small flat | Limited contents, empty quickly | from €350 |
| Flat (2 to 3 rooms) | Average contents, lift if there is one | €500 - €900 |
| Family home | More rooms, loft, shed | €900 - €1.800 |
| Full house / heavy storage | A lot to dispose of, longer run | quote on request |
Always ask whether tip fees, transport and the broom clean handover are included. A low "from" price that leaves those out tends to end up dearer than a higher one that covers everything. With DURA you get one fixed total, all in.
Where you can genuinely save
- Sell or give away anything of value yourself. Furniture, white goods and bikes still fetch money on Marktplaats, and whatever leaves that way is no longer something you pay to dispose of.
- Sort out parking and loading space. If the van can stand at the door, that is hours off the job.
- Ask more than one company and compare on what is included, not on the bottom line.
- Pick a company that reuses. Every item donated instead of tipped keeps the disposal costs down and keeps usable things out of the container.
Why a fixed price beats an hourly rate
Some companies charge by the hour. It sounds flexible until the final invoice lands and you find out what flexible cost. DURA works with a fixed price agreed after a free viewing. We walk the property with you, put a clear quote in writing, and that price holds even when the work runs longer than we thought. Nothing to settle up afterwards.
Want to know what your clearance costs?
We come out across Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe at no charge, look at the job and put a fixed price in writing. No obligation either way.