How long does a complete household clearance take?

Depending on the size of the flat, a household clearance usually takes one to three days. Smaller flats are often cleared in one day, while larger houses with a full cellar and loft need more time. After the survey we draw up a concrete schedule for you so that you know exactly when the premises can be handed over swept clean.

Who is legally allowed to clear an estate?

Only heirs or persons with power of attorney from the heirs should commission an estate clearance ; with several heirs, ideally with the written consent of all of them. A certificate of inheritance is not always necessary, for example with a notarial will and the record of its opening. Anyone still considering disclaiming should not dispose of anything beforehand (§§ 1943, 1944 BGB).

What happens to valuables in the estate?

Valuables such as jewellery, watches, art or collectors' items are sorted through in advance during the estate clearance and set aside for the heirs. For a valuation, experts or auction houses are the right people to contact. Only what the heirs have released is sold or disposed of. Record finds such as cash or savings books in a list that all heirs can view.

Do you also handle the disposal of bulky waste?

Yes. During the estate clearance we remove bulky waste and dispose of it separately; electrical appliances go to the recycling centre or back to the retailer, and hazardous substances such as paints or chemicals to the hazardous waste collection point. Which disposal costs are included in the fixed price is stated in the quote after the survey.

How does working with landlords work?

With a rented flat, the tenancy passes to the heirs; they can terminate it with the statutory notice period within one month of learning of the death (§ 564 BGB). You agree the handover date with the landlord or property management. We schedule the clearance so that the flat is empty and swept clean by then; the estate clearance ends with the handover report.

Can personal keepsakes be sorted out?

Yes, personal keepsakes such as photos, letters or family mementoes are sorted out separately in every estate clearance , labelled, packed and set aside for the relatives. On request we take them to heirs who live far away, for example by shared load . Ideally, a trusted person should be present when things are sorted through.

Do you also handle estate clearances outside Berlin?

We are based in Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21) and have no branches in other cities. For estates outside Berlin or for transporting heirlooms to other places, we plan the job like a long-distance move; whether that works we clarify by phone. Places with their own pages can be found under locations .

What is the difference between a house clearance and an estate clearance?

A house clearance usually just means removing and disposing of items. An estate clearance also involves sorting through documents, valuables and keepsakes, coordinating with the community of heirs and the deadlines under inheritance and tenancy law. It therefore needs more lead time and more sensitivity, and it only begins once it is clear who is entitled to decide on the estate.

Can I keep furniture from the estate?

Yes, the heirs decide which furniture or items are kept. These are separated out when things are sorted through and, on request, put into storage or taken to the desired place of residence as part of a private move . With several heirs, record the distribution in writing so that nobody asks later where a particular item went.

How quickly can an estate clearance start?

Often within a few days of the survey, depending on availability. But check the disclaimer period beforehand and whether all heirs have agreed; rushing the clearance can cost more than a month's rent. To arrange a survey, call us on 01625978461 ; we then set the clearance day to match the landlord's handover date.

How are items protected during clearance and transport?

For damage to items we transport as household goods, we are liable under the German Commercial Code: under § 451e HGB at €620 per cubic metre of loading space. For valuable heirlooms additional insurance makes sense; raise it before the estate clearance . Photos before the clearance help to document the condition; report visible damage no later than the day after delivery.

ESTATE

Clearing an Estate

Q: How much does an estate clearance cost?

The costs of an estate clearance depend on the size of the flat, the quantity, the floor, the condition and the disposal costs; flat-rate averages say little about the individual case. After a survey we give you a fixed price for clearance, transport and disposal. Proceeds from the sale of items belong to the heirs.

Clarify the inheritance, terminate the tenancy, sort through valuables, then clear: the right order for an estate clearance.

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FROM BERLIN-MOABIT

Estate clearance

Clearing an estate: clarify first, then clear

Calmly and in the right order

Unsere Firma is based in Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21), clears homes as agreed with the heirs and takes heirlooms to them.

Losing a relative is a stressful time, and the estate clearance takes additional strength. Even so, it is worth not clearing straight away: heirs can disclaim the inheritance within six weeks of learning of it (§ 1944 BGB). Anyone who sells or disposes of items from the estate beforehand risks this being treated as acceptance. So first clarify who inherits and whether the inheritance will be accepted.

With a rented flat, the tenancy passes to the heirs if nobody from the household takes it over; heirs and landlord can then terminate it with the statutory notice period within one month of learning of the death (§ 564 BGB). After that comes the household clearance: sorting through, distributing, selling, donating, disposing of. An inventory list with photos helps the community of heirs keep track.

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FIXED PRICE AFTER A SURVEY

PERSONAL CONSULTATION

Arrange a survey

Fixed price after a survey for clearance and transport

Call us on 01625978461 or request a survey online. After that we give you a fixed price for clearance, removal and disposal; whatever is to be kept we transport to the heirs on request. We are liable for damage to household goods under § 451e HGB, and additional insurance is available.

Quotes available individually based on workload, scheduling and the desired scope of services.

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BEFORE THE FIRST BOX

What should be clarified before the clearance

Inheritance, tenancy, valuables

In an estate clearance, grief and deadlines come together. Before the first box is packed, two questions should be settled: who is the heir – and do they want to accept the inheritance? And when does the tenancy end? We are based in Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21) and then take care of clearance, removal and disposal at a fixed price after a survey; we take keepsakes and furniture that are to be kept to the heirs. For places outside Berlin, take a look under locations.

Clarify the inheritance

A will, a certificate of inheritance (Erbschein) or a notarial will with the record of its opening shows who is the heir – and who has to agree to the clearance.

Consider disclaiming

A six-week deadline from the time of knowledge (§ 1944 BGB). Anyone who clears and sells items beforehand risks this counting as acceptance of the inheritance.

Terminate the tenancy

Heirs can terminate with the statutory notice period within one month of learning of the death (§ 564 BGB) – otherwise the rent keeps running.

Sort through first, then clear

Look for documents, savings books, jewellery and keepsakes before the clearance and secure them for the heirs – not afterwards in the skip.

SORTING THROUGH FIRST

Six steps of an estate clearance

In every estate clearance the rule is: sort through first, then clear. Documents, valuables and keepsakes are looked for beforehand and set aside for the heirs so that nothing important ends up in the skip.

Secure documents

Look for the will, insurance policies, bank statements, contracts and ID documents first; heirs need them for the probate court, banks and cancellations.

Agree among heirs

With several heirs, record in writing who gets what and what will be sold or disposed of – this prevents disputes within the community of heirs.

Inventory with photos

A list with photos of the most important items creates transparency for all heirs and helps with distribution later – even if not all heirs can be present when things are sorted through.

Have items valued

For jewellery, art or collections, a valuation by experts or auction houses is worthwhile before anything is sold.

Pass on instead of throwing away

Sell, give away or donate well-preserved furniture and household goods; only the rest goes for disposal as bulky waste or recyclables.

Hand over the flat

Hand over to the landlord empty, swept clean and with a handover report; record keys and meter readings, and cancel the utility contracts.

FOR HEIRLOOMS

Heirlooms for distant heirs

Shared load instead of your own lorry

With a shared load, individual heirlooms travel on a lorry that is heading towards the heirs anyway. You only pay for the loading space the items need. Label each item with the name and destination address and photograph it beforehand – especially if several heirs are receiving deliveries.

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CLEARING AND MOVING

Clearance,
transport, moving in

When a move follows the estate

Alongside the estate clearance there is often a move: an heir moves into the inherited flat, or furniture is to go to relatives in another city. For whole households there is the household clearance, and for transport the private move or our long-distance moves. Talk to us if both are to be planned together.

Deadlines first

A six-week disclaimer period and the right to terminate the tenancy within one month: these two deadlines determine when clearing can take place. Only once the heirs are established and have agreed does the clearance begin.

Sort through, distribute, clear

Whatever stays is labelled and packed; whatever is to be sold or donated is set aside; the rest goes for disposal. For the removal we need access and, in narrow streets, a parking restriction zone.

Costs in view

The price depends on the size of the flat, the quantity, the floor and the disposal costs. Proceeds from sales belong to the heirs. We give you the fixed price for clearance and transport after the survey; what it includes is set out explicitly in the quote so that the heirs can divide the costs among themselves.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about estate clearance

Deadlines, heirs, valuables, costs and landlords – answered briefly.

The costs of an estate clearance depend on the size of the flat, the quantity, the floor, the condition and the disposal costs; flat-rate averages say little about the individual case. After a survey we give you a fixed price for clearance, transport and disposal. Proceeds from the sale of items belong to the heirs.

How an estate clearance works

A structured estate clearance does not begin with clearing, but with the paperwork: the will, insurance policies, contracts and bank statements are looked for and secured. This is followed by a survey in which the scope, floor and access are assessed; we then give you a fixed price for clearance, transport and disposal. You set the date according to the disclaimer period and the end of the tenancy.

On the day of the clearance, items are sorted into keep, sell, donate and dispose of. Valuables and documents are kept separately for the community of heirs, and keepsakes are labelled and packed. Finally, the flat is handed over swept clean – with a handover report, keys and meter readings.

Inheritance, disclaimer, tenancy: the deadlines

Before an estate clearance begins, it should be clear who the heir is. Heirs can disclaim the inheritance within six weeks of learning that it has passed to them and on what grounds; if the deceased or the heir lived abroad, the period is six months (§ 1944 BGB). Once the inheritance has been accepted, disclaiming it is no longer possible (§ 1943 BGB). No items should be removed without the consent of all heirs; a certificate of inheritance is not always necessary, for example with a notarial will.

With a rented flat, the tenancy passes to the heirs if nobody from the household takes it over. Heirs and landlord can then terminate it extraordinarily with the statutory notice period within one month of learning of the death (§ 564 BGB). Anyone who misses this deadline continues to pay rent until the regular termination date.

Our moving prices at a glance

Service	Costs
1 room	from €375
2 rooms	from €584
3 rooms	from €899
4 rooms	from €1,269
House/villa	individual quote
Long-distance move	from €4.15/km

All prices are guide values. For an exact calculation, make use of our free survey.

What makes the difference in price?

Amount of household goods
Number of kilometres (from €4.15/km)
Floor without or with a lift
Need for a parking restriction zone
Furniture assembly and shared load as additional options

Our service for your move

Our services for your move

You can book these services individually or together with the clearance.

Private move – private move with heart and mind
Office move – office move without downtime
House clearance – house clearance, thorough and fair
Shared load – shared load, affordable and practical
Furniture transport – furniture transport with care
Move with assembly – move with assembly, fully organised

Estate in Berlin, heirs elsewhere

We are based in Berlin-Moabit (Stromstraße 21) and handle clearances and transports within Berlin and to other cities, for example when heirlooms are to go to relatives. Destinations with their own pages can be found in the locations overview, and routes from Berlin under long-distance moves.

House Clearance & Disposal

Beste Umzug Redaktion

September 9, 2026

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