How do you compare a house clearance quote?
Two quotes for the same property can show very different totals, and a quote that looked complete can still be revised on the day of the job. This guide explains what a reliable quote should include, why prices vary so much, how to get an accurate remote estimate, and how to compare several offers without getting it wrong.
Getting a quote for a house clearance is easy. Knowing whether it's reliable, and how to compare it with another, is much harder. Two companies can quote very different prices for the same property, and a quote that looked complete can still be revised on the day of the job if the real volume, the access, or the removal fees weren't correctly accounted for.
That difference is almost never random: it comes from what's actually included in the price, and from the quality of the information provided before the quote was drawn up. A more expensive quote can be the fairer one if it covers the full scope of work; a very low quote can end up costing more once extras are added on site.
This guide brings together everything worth knowing before accepting a quote: what a proper quote should include, why two quotes for the same property can differ so much, how to get an accurate estimate without a visit using photos, and how to compare several quotes you've received. To understand in detail what affects the price of a house clearance before you even request a quote, our guide on how much a house clearance costs covers every factor.
Price alone tells you nothing — the content is what matters
A €900 quote and a €1,400 quote for the same property aren't necessarily impossible to compare: one might include the cellar, sorting and removal, the other might not. Comparing a quote always starts with understanding what it actually covers.
The basis of the quote
What a reliable quote should include
Before comparing two quotes, you first need to be able to recognise a proper one. A good quote isn't just a figure — it's based on a clear understanding of the property and states what's planned, what's included, and what could cause the price to change.
Complete photos or a visit
The quote needs to be based on a real view of the volume: main rooms, cellar, attic, garage, access points and heavy items — not a rough guess made with no information at all.
Every area to be cleared
House, flat, cellar, attic, garage, outbuilding or garden — every space needs to be mentioned. An incomplete quote might look cheaper, but it risks going up once the forgotten areas come to light.
Access and parking
The floor level, lift, stairs, a narrow street or the distance to the truck all significantly affect the working time and need to be accounted for from the outset.
Sorting and disposal
A good quote states whether sorting, transport, disposal fees and recycling are included in the price, or billed separately.
Items of potential value
Antique furniture, jewellery, watches, paintings or collectibles can reduce the final amount if they're flagged before the quote is drawn up.
A clear explanation of the limits
A proper quote explains what isn't included and what could change the price: a larger volume than expected, access that wasn't mentioned, or unusual items.
Comparison
Why two quotes for the same property can differ so much
A house clearance quote depends above all on the real work involved. But the gap between two quotes mostly comes down to what each company chooses to include — or leave out — of its calculation.
What volume is actually included
One quote might cover only the main rooms, while another also includes the cellar, attic, garage or garden. At first glance the totals look different, but the scope isn't the same.
Removal and processing fees
Some quotes include removal, sorting and recycling fees; others add them afterwards. That's often where the unpleasant surprises show up.
How difficult the access is
A floor with no lift, narrow stairs, a street that's hard to park on, or a long distance to the truck all significantly increase handling time.
How many people are on the job
A two-person team can't work as fast as a team of four. The price also depends on the labour needed to clear the property within the deadline.
Items of potential value
Some quotes take antique furniture, jewellery or resellable items into account; others make no deduction at all.
How professional the intervention is
A very low quote can sometimes hide a poorly organised job, without proper sorting, without transparency, or with costs added after the fact.
A common example: a two-bedroom flat with a cellar, a few heavy pieces of furniture and lift access. One company might quote a low price without counting the cellar or removal fees; another might propose a higher amount that includes labour, sorting, transport and full removal. The quote that looks more expensive at first can then be the fairer one, because it reflects the real work involved — while the cheaper one risks costing more once extras appear on site.
Remote quote
How to get an accurate remote quote using photos
For most house clearances, a quote drawn up remotely from complete photos — plus a short video for complex spaces such as a cluttered cellar or attic — is just as accurate as a physical visit. That's particularly useful for an inheritance handled remotely, a tight deadline before the key handover, or comparing several quotes on the same basis without arranging multiple visits.
A general view of every room to be cleared, with the lights on.
Photos of the cellar, attic, garage and outbuildings.
Heavy items: wardrobes, sofas, appliances, pianos.
Access points: stairs, lift, corridors, building entrance.
Available parking, or the distance between the property and the truck.
Antiques, jewellery, paintings or quality furniture, from several angles.
Very cluttered or hard-to-reach areas.
A short video for complex or heavily cluttered spaces.
A quote based on complete photos usually reaches the same level of accuracy as a physical visit, because the three factors that determine the price — volume, access and handling time — can be read clearly from well-taken images. A targeted visit is still recommended in cases of real doubt: items that need authenticating, particularly complex access, or a very large volume that's hard to judge from images.
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Method
How to compare two quotes you've received
To compare two quotes, never look at the final total alone. Compare, line by line, what's included, using this checklist.
Does the quote specify every room to be cleared?
Are the cellar, attic, garage or outbuildings included?
Are removal and recycling fees included?
Are the number of workers and the estimated time realistic?
Has the floor level, lift and parking been taken into account?
Are heavy or unusual items mentioned?
Are items of value deducted or valued separately?
Does the quote clearly state what could change the price?
Warning signs to watch for
Certain signs should prompt you to ask for more detail before accepting a quote. They don't always mean the company is bad, but they suggest the quote may be too vague to compare seriously.
A price given with no photos, no visit, and no precise questions.
No mention of disposal or recycling fees.
The cellar, attic or garage left out even though they need to be cleared.
No questions about the floor level, the lift, or parking.
A promise of a free clearance with no valuation of the items.
A very vague verbal quote, with nothing in writing.
Possible extra charges that are never explained.
An abnormally low price with no detail on what's included.
To avoid
The most common mistakes when comparing quotes
Most unpleasant surprises come from a comparison made too quickly, rather than an estimating problem. Here are the mistakes that come up most often.
Comparing only the final total without checking the scope of each quote.
Choosing the cheapest quote without knowing what it leaves out.
Sending incomplete photos to each company, then comparing quotes based on different information.
Forgetting to mention the cellar, attic or garage in the initial request.
Not asking whether removal and recycling fees are included.
Accepting a verbal quote with nothing in writing.
Not flagging items of value before receiving the quote.
Waiting until the last minute to compare several offers.
The quote is only one of several criteria to weigh up. Our guide on how to choose a reliable house clearance company covers the other points to check before signing: reviews, insurance, transparency and how professional the intervention is.
Checklist before accepting a quote
This checklist covers the points to check before giving a company your final go-ahead.
Every room and area to be cleared is mentioned: cellar, attic, garage, outbuildings.
The floor level, lift and parking have been taken into account.
Removal, sorting and recycling fees are clearly stated.
Heavy or unusual items have been flagged and included in the quote.
Items of value were shown before the quote was drawn up.
The quote explains what isn't included in the stated price.
The desired timeframe has been communicated: urgent, key handover, inheritance.
The quote is in writing, not just given verbally over the phone.
Several quotes have been compared on the same scope.
The conditions that could change the price are understood.
This checklist focuses on the quote itself. For the full organisation of the clearance, from the first sort to the key handover, our complete house clearance checklist covers every step of the timeline.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about house clearance quotes
How do you get a reliable quote for a house clearance?
Send complete photos of the property, the access points, the cellar, the attic, the garage and any heavy items. Also state the floor level, the lift, parking, the deadline, and what needs to be kept.
Why can two quotes for the same property be so different?
Because they don't always cover the same work. One quote might include the cellar, sorting, removal and heavy items, while another only takes the main rooms into account.
Should you always choose the cheapest quote?
Not necessarily. A cheaper quote can be a good deal if it's clear and complete, but if it's vague, it might hide extra costs or a less thorough intervention.
Can a quote be drawn up from photos alone?
Yes, in most cases, as long as the photos show the whole property: main rooms, cellar, attic, garage and access points. A visit remains useful for the most complex or uncertain situations.
How many photos should you send for an accurate quote?
There's no fixed number — the goal is to cover every room, every secondary space and every access point. A simple property might need around fifteen photos; one with a cellar, attic and garage will need considerably more.
What should a proper quote include?
It should specify the areas to be cleared, labour, transport, sorting, disposal fees, items of value, known access constraints, and any limits to the quote.
How do you compare two quotes you've received?
Compare what's included, not just the total: the areas covered, disposal fees, access, the labour planned, and any allowance for items of value.
Can items of value reduce the amount of the quote?
Yes. Antique furniture, jewellery, watches, paintings, silverware or collectibles can sometimes reduce the final price if they're flagged before the quote.
Can a quote change on the day of the intervention?
That can happen if the real volume turns out larger than expected, or if an area wasn't mentioned. That's why a complete photo file from the outset significantly limits this risk.
Is the quote free with Macha Vide Maison?
Yes. You can send photos or request a visit to receive a clear estimate tailored to your situation.
Areas we serve
House clearance quotes in Brussels and the surrounding area
Macha Vide Maison handles house clearances, inheritances, flats, cellars, attics, garages and full clearances in Brussels, Walloon Brabant and Flemish Brabant. We draw up clear quotes, tailored to the real volume, the access points and the items present.
Free quote
Received several quotes and still not sure?
Send a few photos of the property, the cellar, the attic, the access points and the items present. We'll give you a transparent estimate tailored to your situation.