A house clearance after a death starts with calm and overview: first establish who decides, then what the family wants to keep, and only then empty the home and hand it over. Following that order prevents disagreements and last-minute rush.
Who can decide about the contents?
Usually the heirs, sometimes represented by a notary or executor. Wait before giving away or removing anything until it is clear who is authorised. If in doubt, check with the notary first.
Step by step
- Find the important papers: will, insurance policies, bank matters, rental contract.
- Agree with the family who wants to keep which items, and set those aside.
- Establish when the home must be empty. For a rental home, the deadline is often in the rental contract or the landlord’s letter.
- Have everything else collected and removed.
- Clean the home and hand it over as agreed.
Rented or owned
With a rented home, the rent usually continues for a period after the death. Ask the landlord or housing corporation (woningcorporatie) by when the home must be empty and how they want it back: broom-clean (bezemschoon) or with additional work. With an owned home there is more time, but an estate agent often wants the home empty and tidy before the sale starts.
Practical tips
- Take photos of the home before anything changes.
- Keep one list of what may go and what stays, so everyone knows the same.
- Don’t plan the clearance too close to the handover date; small repairs or cleaning take time too.
How PANAN helps
PANAN clears homes in Maastricht, South Limburg and the Belgian border region, in consultation with the family, notary or landlord. Items that stay are set aside, the rest is removed, and if you like we clean the home and get it ready for handover. You have one point of contact for the whole process.