Costs & billing
Written Quote
Also known as: quotation · cost estimate · Offerte · Kostenvoranschlag
A written quote (“Offerte”) is a clearance company's written offer stating the scope of work and the price. A serious quote follows an on-site viewing, is free and non-binding, and lists every service included as well as everything explicitly excluded.
What belongs in a good quote
A usable quote states: the exact address and the rooms included, cellar, attic compartment and ancillary spaces among them; the estimated volume; the billing method — fixed price or time and materials; whether disposal fees are included; whether cleaning is part of it and to what standard; the date and expected duration; the payment terms; and how long the quote remains valid.
Equally important is what is expressly not included. Hazardous waste above a certain quantity, dismantling work, a furniture lift or skip hire should be named — either as included or as an extra item with a price.
Warning signs when comparing quotes
Be careful with: quotes that promise a binding price without a viewing; prices strikingly below other providers; cash payment without a receipt; a missing company address or commercial register entry (“Handelsregister”, the Swiss company register where any legitimate firm is listed); pressure to sign immediately; and the claim that everything will be credited back without naming a single item.
A price well below the market often fails to cover the disposal fees. That ends either in an additional invoice or in material being dumped illegally — for which you, as the client who commissioned the work, can be held responsible.
How many quotes are worth getting
Two to three. More rarely adds insight, costs time and means several viewing appointments. When comparing, make sure the quotes cover the same scope — the most frequent comparison error is holding a quote that includes final cleaning against one that does not.
A real-world example
Three quotes come in for an apartment clearance in Schlieren: CHF 1,450, CHF 2,250 and CHF 2,400. On close inspection the cheapest turns out to exclude the cellar compartment and the disposal fees, and to bill the cleaning separately. Recalculated on the same scope it comes to CHF 2,600 — above the other two.
Services that cover this
Frequently asked questions about Written Quote
Would you like a quote?
Free on-site assessment, a fixed price, and final cleaning with a handover guarantee (Abgabegarantie) — we stand behind the result at the official handover inspection.
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