At a glance
- The family chooses first; we clear what is left, in one appointment.
- Papers, photos, keys and valuables we find are set aside for the heirs.
- Usable furniture goes to reuse wherever possible.
- One fixed price, agreed with the heir or the person handling the estate.
- Photos and the price by message, phone or email, also when the heirs live abroad.
What is an estate clearance?
An estate clearance is the complete emptying of a deceased person's home, after the heirs have taken the items they want to keep. The same applies when a parent moves into a care home and the house or flat has to be handed back or sold.
The work itself is a full house clearance. What differs is the pace and the care: more sorting, more small items, and more things that matter to the family.
When should an estate in Antwerpen be cleared?
Clear the estate after the heirs have agreed what happens to the contents, and before the deadline that applies to the home. For a rented home that deadline is the end of the lease and the move-out inspection. For a home that is being sold, it is usually the signing of the deed at the notary.
If heirs disagree about specific items, keep those apart in one room or mark them clearly. We clear everything else and leave that room until you give the go-ahead.
What happens to papers, photos and valuables?
Personal papers, photo albums, letters, keys, jewellery and cash that we come across are set aside in a box for the family. They never go to reuse or to the recycling park.
In older Antwerpen homes such things turn up in unexpected places: in the drawers of a sideboard, behind books, in suitcases in the attic. The box is handed to the person who gave us the job. The full flow of what leaves the house is explained in what happens to your belongings.
Can the heirs live abroad?
Yes. Many estate clearances in Antwerpen are arranged by children who live elsewhere in Belgium or abroad. Photos, questions and the fixed price go by WhatsApp, phone or email, so the job can be agreed without a visit to Antwerpen first.
Estate clearance when a parent moves into a care home
When a parent moves into a residential care home, part of the furniture goes along to the new room: a chair, a cabinet, photos, a television. Move those first. We plan the clearance after the move, so nothing that should go along disappears by mistake.
The rest of the home is cleared in one day and handed back broom-clean, ready for the landlord or the sale.
What does an estate clearance in Antwerpen cost?
An estate clearance costs the same as any house clearance: €900 to €2,500 for a whole home in Antwerpen, depending on the volume, the access and the amount of sorting. Homes where one person lived for a long time are usually fuller than average, so photograph every cupboard, the cellar and the attic.
You receive one fixed price in advance; see house clearance cost in Antwerpen.
Frequently asked questions
Who can give you the job for an estate clearance?
The heir or the person the heirs appointed to handle the estate. If several heirs are involved, make sure they agree before the clearance date, because what leaves the house cannot be brought back.
Do you value or buy antiques from the estate?
No. We do not buy or value goods. If you think there is something of value, have it appraised and sold before the clearance.
Can you also clear the room in the care home later?
Only together with a larger job. A single room on its own is not something we take on.