In a house clearance — often called a property clearing or estate liquidation — a team empties a property completely. This covers dismantling and hauling away furniture, sorting household goods, correctly separating recyclables (metal, wood, electrical, bulky waste) and proper disposal via the responsible collection points or recycling centres. Usable items can be donated or resold by arrangement, which reduces volume and therefore cost.
The process starts with a viewing to estimate the volume (usually in cubic metres or number of rooms) and effort. On clearance day a team arrives with a vehicle, carries items out, loads them and drives to disposal. Depending on the agreement, the property is then handed over broom-clean or a final cleaning follows. An average flat is usually cleared in a day; a packed attic or a hoarder's property can take longer.
A house clearance is needed for property liquidations after a death, when moving into a retirement or care home, when leaving a rented flat, when clearing cellars and attics, or when handing over commercial premises. Specialist firms also handle hoarder situations discreetly.
As a rough guide (no guarantee), billing in Switzerland is by volume or effort: roughly CHF 60 to 120 per hour for a two-person team, or flat rates of about CHF 300 to 800 per room. A complete flat clearance often costs CHF 1,500 to 4,000, depending on volume, floor, lift availability and disposal fees. Landfill and recycling fees are frequently added on top.
Make sure disposal fees are clearly stated in the quote and that the firm disposes properly and in an environmentally compliant way. A fixed price after a viewing protects against nasty surprises.