Geneva · 46.20°N 6.14°E · Bd de la Tour 14, 1205
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Clearing a home after a death, in Geneva

Losing someone and then having to empty their home is rarely just a practical matter. We work discreetly, at your pace, and we document everything for the heirs.

Call 079 232 22 21
Cantonal PCTN licenceFree on-site quoteWithin 24–48hLicensed disposal · fees includedDisposal certificate
Under Swiss law an estate should not be emptied immediately after a death. Heirs have a period — in principle three months — in which to renounce the succession, and disposing of the deceased's belongings can be treated as tacit acceptance of it, debts included. The lease also passes to the heirs and continues to run until it is formally terminated. In practice, sort and keep every document straight away, settle your position with the notary or the Justice de paix, agree an exit-inspection date with the letting agency, and clear the property once those are fixed. We can produce a photographic inventory with valuations beforehand, so heirs abroad can decide remotely.

Do not empty the property too early

It is the most natural reaction and the most expensive mistake. Two separate problems follow from clearing a home before the legal position is settled.

The legal one. Swiss inheritance law gives heirs a period, in principle three months, to renounce a succession — which matters when the estate turns out to carry debts. Selling, removing or otherwise disposing of the deceased's property can be treated as interference amounting to tacit acceptance. By the time the debts surface, it may be too late to refuse.

The practical one. A property emptied in a rush loses its paperwork: insurance policies, bank correspondence, pension records, share certificates, deeds. These are exactly what the notary will need, and they cannot be recovered.

The rule is simple: sort the papers immediately, clear the property later.

This is practical orientation from our fieldwork in Geneva, not legal advice. Succession deadlines are strict — have them confirmed by the notary handling the file or by the Justice de paix.

Heirs abroad: inventory first

In most estates we handle in Geneva the heirs do not all live here, and some cannot travel at all. Clearing the property then becomes a question of trust between family members, which is where disputes start.

We resolve it by inventorying before anything moves. Every item with a market value is photographed, described — nature, material, approximate period, condition, any marks or signatures — and given a valuation range, distinguishing immediate buy-back value from potential open-market value. The document goes to every heir, and to the notary if you wish.

Each heir can then decide remotely what is kept, sold or bought back, and whoever is managing on the ground has a written record of what left the property and at what price.

Working with notaries and letting agencies

We work regularly with Geneva notaries' offices and letting agencies. Quotes, inventories, buy-back statements and disposal certificates can be sent directly to the notary handling the file.

Where a lease is running and the return date is tight, we can normally intervene within 24 to 48 hours — without an urgency surcharge — and follow the clearance immediately with the end-of-tenancy cleaning, so the property is ready for the exit inspection.

Discretion, and what is never thrown away

Unmarked vehicle, a small consistent team, no subcontracting, no comment to neighbours. We do not discuss what we see in clients' homes, and we never use photographs of a job without written consent.

Every document, photograph, letter and personal paper found on site is boxed and handed to the family. It is included in the price and it is not optional.

Frequently asked questions

Can we empty the property before accepting the estate?
It is not advisable. Disposing of the deceased's belongings may be treated as tacit acceptance of the succession, debts included, and could remove your ability to renounce it. Secure and keep all documents immediately, but settle your position with the notary or the Justice de paix before having the property cleared.
Who pays for an estate clearance?
It is a charge on the estate, normally settled by the heirs jointly or through the notary. Where the home contains items of value, the buy-back is deducted from the quote and reduces that charge — sometimes to nothing.
Can you provide a valuation for the heirs and the notary?
Yes. We produce a photographic inventory with valuation ranges, room by room, which can be sent to all heirs and to the notary. It can be commissioned on its own, without a clearance.
Is your valuation legally binding?
No. We are dealers, not sworn experts or auctioneers: our valuations reflect prices actually achieved in the market. For a legally binding appraisal, or for a piece of exceptional value, we will tell you so and point you towards a qualified expert.
What happens to family photographs and papers?
They are boxed and returned to the family, without exception and at no extra charge. Nothing personal is disposed of.

Other clearance services in Geneva

Let's talk — no obligation

One call is enough for a free on-site visit and a written quote.

079 232 22 21

info@debarr.as

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