Clearing out an inherited flat is not a one-day job, but it can be handled in three clearly separated steps: looking through, sorting into four piles, clearing out. We show what the movers take away, what the junk removal service takes, and in what order it is worth proceeding.
Clearing an inherited apartment is rarely a logistical question first and foremost. For most families the hard part is deciding what to keep and what not, and that takes time. This guide shows how it works in practice and where to draw the line between the three types of service.
We do not give legal advice and cannot help with the paperwork of probate proceedings; that is the domain of the notary and the lawyer. What we help with is the physical clearance.
If you would like to leave the clearance to us, you will find all the details on the Estate clearance page.
Junk removal, apartment clearance or estate clearance?
Three separate services, and the choice does not depend on the size of the apartment but on whether sorting is needed.
| Service | When you need it | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Junk removal | When you need itIt has already been decided what goes. We carry down and take away the designated junk. | Pricingindividual quote |
| Apartment clearance | When you need itThe entire apartment is cleared, nothing is to be kept. We hand it over swept clean. | Pricingfixed price after a survey |
| Estate clearance | When you need itSorting is needed: documents, photos, jewellery, family keepsakes. This is the bulk of the work. | Pricingfixed price after a survey |
Step 1: before you throw anything away
The most common mistake is rushing. At the bottom of an old wardrobe or between the pages of a book, you may find a deed, a savings book, an insurance policy or a photo that will be needed later. That is why the first round is always looking through things, not packing.
Places worth checking: document drawers and folders, papers left between books, the top shelves of built-in and freestanding wardrobes, bedside tables, coat pockets, and boxes in the cellar or attic. If there are several heirs, it is worth going through everything together, or at least photographing what turns up.
If the proceedings have not yet been closed and it is not clear who decides about the estate, it is worth waiting for them to close before clearing. Most families call us after probate, before the apartment is sold or let.
Step 2: four piles
Sorting goes smoothly when you think in categories rather than individual items. In practice, four piles work well.
- To keep: documents, photos, jewellery, cash, family keepsakes. These are set aside first, and we never take them away without consultation. If you wish, we deliver them to your address, or store them, until you decide.
- To sell or have valued: antique furniture, paintings, clocks, porcelain. It is worth having these looked at by an expert before anything happens to them; we have a separate page on transporting them.
- To donate: usable furniture, clothing, household items, bedding. We are happy to take these to a charity as well (for example the Hungarian Maltese Charity Service or the Red Cross), if you have agreed the handover with them in advance.
- Junk: anything that is no longer usable. This goes to an official waste processing centre.
What doesn't fit in any pile: hazardous materials. Paint, thinner, chemicals, gas cylinders and batteries cannot be transported by us; they can be dropped off at MOHU waste yards.
Step 3: clearance day
At the free on-site survey we look at the quantity of belongings, the stairwell, the lift and parking, and then give you a fixed price in writing. We usually clear the estate of an average apartment, including sorting, within one working day; for a larger family house with a cellar and attic, we plan for two days.
You don't need to be present if you don't want to be: after consultation we can do the job on our own. Many heirs are nevertheless there for the first few hours, while the items to be kept are set aside, and then leave. We adapt to the family's pace: if more time is needed for sorting, we won't rush you.
The end result: a swept apartment, free of junk and furniture, ready to hand over to the estate agent or the buyer. Deep cleaning is available on separate request, by arrangement.
How much does it cost to clear an inherited apartment?
For a full apartment and for estates we give a fixed price after the free survey. The amount depends on the size of the apartment, the quantity of belongings, the floor and the lift, and it includes sorting, carrying down, transport and proper disposal.
Frequently asked questions about clearing an inherited apartment
When can clearing an inherited apartment begin?
When the heirs are in agreement. Most families call us after probate has been closed, before the apartment is sold or let. If the property has to be handed over urgently, we can offer a date at short notice after the survey.
Do you help with the paperwork of probate proceedings?
No, that is outside our service, and we do not give legal advice either. Probate proceedings are the domain of the notary and the lawyer; we carry out the physical clearance.
What happens to the items to be kept?
Documents, photos, jewellery, cash and family keepsakes are set aside, and we never take them away without consultation. If you wish, we deliver them to your address or store them until you decide what to do with them.
Where do furniture and clothing that are still usable go?
We are happy to take furniture and clothing that are still usable to a charity as well (for example the Hungarian Maltese Charity Service or the Red Cross), if you have agreed the handover with them in advance. Anything not donated goes to an official waste processing centre.
Do I need to be present during the clearance?
Not necessarily; after consultation we can do the job on our own. Of course you can also be present, and many people are there for the first few hours while the items to be kept are set aside.
How long does a flat take?
We usually clear the estate of an average apartment, including sorting, within one working day. For a larger family house with a cellar and attic, we plan for two days.
In what condition do you hand over the apartment?
Swept clean, free of junk and furniture, ready to hand over to the estate agent or the buyer. Deep cleaning is available on separate request.
Sources
- magyarorszag.hu – probate proceedings (description of procedure)
- Herkules-Trans – Estate clearance
- Herkules-Trans – Junk removal prices
For the legal details of probate proceedings, please consult a notary or a lawyer. Sources checked on: 9 October 2026.