Clearance pricing: three options and a free quote

Free visit, free no-obligation written quote, estimate possible from photos. The price in the quote is the price you pay.

How much does a house clearance cost? Price guide →

Three options based on the value of your belongings

During the visit or from photos, we compare the value of reusable or resellable items with the cost of the clearance. The result determines which of our three options applies, stated clearly in the quote.

1. Free clearance

The value of the furniture, appliances or items we can put back into circulation covers the cost of the clearance: you pay nothing. This is often the case for a well-furnished home with furniture in good condition or sought-after items.

2. We pay you

The value of the belongings exceeds the cost of the clearance: we pay you the difference. Think of a house with antique furniture, collectables or recent equipment in good condition.

3. You pay

There are few or no items of value: you pay a fixed price on quotation. That price depends on the volume, access, sorting, any cleaning and the deadline. The value of reusable items, however modest, is deducted from the price.

In all three cases, sorting works the same way: anything still usable is resold or donated to social enterprises, and the rest goes to suitable recycling channels.

What affects the price (and why)

When there is an amount left to pay, it is the contents and the job conditions that set the price, not the square metres. Here are the factors, explained honestly:

1. Volume

This is the main factor. As a rough guide, a furnished studio is around 10 m³ and a well-filled family house 50 to 60 m³, sometimes more with a full basement, attic and garage. The larger the volume, the more labour, van trips and processing fees.

2. Access

A fourth floor with no lift takes far longer than a ground floor with the van outside the door. A narrow staircase, a long walk to the van or no parking all add labour time. Sometimes a furniture lift is faster and therefore cheaper.

3. Sorting

Solid furniture, a piano, tiles or rubble are heavy and cost more to remove than boxes. A heavily hoarded or unsanitary home calls for protective equipment and careful sorting. Conversely, the more reusable items there are, the less waste needs processing.

4. Any cleaning

The base price includes a final sweep. A full end-of-tenancy clean or disinfection can be added on request, always listed separately in the quote.

5. Deadline

An urgent job, or one in the evening or at the weekend, needs a team outside the normal schedule and may carry a surcharge, stated upfront in the quote.

What the quote includes

Our quote is an all-inclusive price for the work described, with 21% VAT included.

• The site visit and written quote, free and with no obligation
• The team's labour and the van
• Dismantling furniture (wardrobes, beds, shelving)
• Protection of floors and communal areas
• On-site sorting, resale or donation of reusable items, and recycling
• Processing fees for non-hazardous waste
• A final sweep of the property

What may be added, always listed separately: a full end-of-tenancy clean, a furniture lift, the municipal fee for reserving parking, and processing of special waste (chemicals, tyres, large amounts of rubble). We never handle asbestos: it must be removed by a certified contractor.

How we assess the value of your belongings

We use the value the items can realistically fetch on the second-hand market, and that value is written in the quote. During the visit, or from your photos, we identify the furniture, appliances, tableware, lighting, antiques or collectables that can be resold or reused.

Their value is deducted from the cost of the clearance. That calculation is what makes the clearance free, means we pay you the difference, or lowers the price you pay. Items with no market value but still usable are donated to social enterprises; the rest is sorted by material and recycled.

Before we arrive, set aside everything you want to keep. For a particularly valuable piece (artwork, jewellery, instrument), you can also ask an independent expert for an opinion.

Example situations

These examples show how we reason; only the quote after a visit or photos is binding.

Example 1: furnished flat, recent furniture in good condition

Around 20 m³, second floor with a lift. The sofa, wardrobes and appliances can be resold: their value covers the work. Likely option: free clearance.

Example 2: family home with antique furniture, estate clearance

Around 50 to 60 m³ over three floors, with antique furniture, tableware and collectables. The value of the belongings exceeds the cost of the job, which usually takes 1 to 3 days. Likely option: we pay you the difference.

Example 3: cluttered basement and attic

A few cubic metres of boxes, damaged old furniture and worn items, in a basement reached by a narrow staircase. Little to resell. Likely option: you pay a fixed price on quotation.

Free visit, free quote or estimate from photos

The quickest way to find out your option is a site visit, which is free and usually arranged within 48 hours, or a few photos of each room sent via WhatsApp or the form. Tell us the address or postcode, the floor, whether there is a lift, what you are keeping and your preferred date.

You then receive a free, no-obligation written quote stating the option, the estimated volume and any extras. The final price is set in that quote and does not change on the day of the clearance. After the job, you receive a proper invoice, useful for the estate file in particular.

To learn more, read our complete guide to house clearance costs.