House, not flat — why the effort is greater
In a detached house the areas add up: living floors, cellar, attic, garage, garden shed and outdoor space. That means more volume, often several skips and usually two to four working days instead of one. Access matters too — a house with a narrow driveway or no lift in the stairwell raises the effort. An on-site visit is therefore almost always sensible for houses, so the fixed price holds.
Cellar, attic, garage and garden — the secondary spaces
This is exactly where the surprises appear. Cellars often hold paint, chemicals and waste oil (hazardous waste), attics decades of stored items, garages tyres, tools and scrap metal. The garden adds green waste, an old shed or lean-to. Clarify in your request whether these areas are included in the price — reputable firms list them individually rather than promising a blanket 'all inclusive'.
What a house clearance costs (guide figures 2026)
As a rough orientation for an averagely furnished detached house: fixed-price guide figure CHF 4,000–9,000, excl. VAT 8.1%, depending on volume, condition and access. A fully packed cellar or attic, hazardous waste or an oil tank can raise the price. Usable, well-kept furniture lowers it via value offsetting. The price only becomes binding after an on-site visit — the guide figures do not replace a quote.
Value offsetting and special cases
Well-preserved furniture, antiques or tools can be credited and reduce the bill. Special cases in older houses: an oil tank must be professionally emptied and decommissioned, and material from before 1990 may contain asbestos (Eternit, old floor coverings) and belongs in a specialist inspection. Mention such points in your request — then only firms equipped for them will quote.
How comparing with Offerio works
You describe the property once — size, rooms, condition, timeframe — and receive up to five quotes from vetted firms serving the region. You compare price, service and date and place the order yourself. Free and non-binding, without your number landing at dozens of firms.
Frequently asked questions
- What does a complete house clearance cost?
- As a guide figure for an average detached house, CHF 4,000–9,000 (excl. VAT 8.1%), depending on volume, condition, hazardous waste and access. The binding fixed price is set after an on-site visit.
- Are cellar, attic and garage included in the price?
- Only if they are explicitly listed in the quote. Secondary spaces often create the largest volume — have them quoted individually rather than relying on a blanket 'all inclusive'.
- What happens to an old oil tank?
- An oil tank must be professionally emptied, cleaned and decommissioned — a specialist job with its own rules. State an existing tank in your request so it is included in the quote.
- Do I need an asbestos check for a house built before 1990?
- Material from before 1990 (Eternit, certain floor coverings, lightweight panels) may contain asbestos. Where suspected, an inspection is needed before clearing — reputable firms will flag this.
- What if no quote fits my budget?
- You are under no obligation. You can adjust the request — for example a partial clearance instead of a full one — or handle some areas yourself and outsource only the rest.