Bringing apartments back to life after the occupant's death

By Olivia Konieczny Nov 24, 2011, 2:06 GMT

Berlin - Christian Heistermann and his team work in the unusual business of clearing up apartments and houses after a person's death.

For many, the sometimes macabre and unpleasant task is too difficult to contemplate and what this group of professionals often experience has also left its emotional mark.

'Oh my God, I've never seen anything like this before,' says Christopher Grzemba as he surveys blood-stained tissues, a couch covered by a woolen blanket, a shirt and a crumpled up handkerchief.

There are some specks of blood on the floor and everything is stained brown by dried faeces. Not surprisingly, the 28-year-old is glad he is wearing a white protective suit, blue overshoes and rubber gloves.

This is Grzemba's first job in the business of removing all traces of a dead person's presence from their former home and his task is to disinfect, empty and clean the apartment so that is fit for human habitation once again.

The Berlin-based company's customers are private individuals and housing agents and today the four-man team is clearing out a 25-square-metre ground floor apartment in a Berlin retirement home.

Denny Guenther only started with the firm two days ago and blood drains from the 20-year-old's face as he surveys the scene in the living room. 'There's hair in the bathroom,' he says, referring to the room he has just left. 'Lots of hair.'

Patrick Hofmann draws the yellowed curtains and opens the window to let in some much-needed fresh air. The 23-year-old knows the routine better than his other two colleagues as he has been employed in the business for over a year now.

The men aren't wearing protective masks today as the smell of putrefaction isn't too overwhelming because the dead body only lay in the apartment for a short time, company boss Heistermann explains.

Heistermann set up his company 20 years ago and today the 42-year-old is responsible for around 50 employees, most of whom are men. He quickly takes a couple of photos of the scene with his iPhone before his men start clearing the apartment.

Everything moves fast because the company is only getting 300 euros (410 dollars) for this particular job. 'I can't afford for someone to just come in here and browse,' he says.

Chris and Denny are still slightly stunned by what they are witnessing in their new job but the pair want to impress their boss and begin the process of putting rubbish and any rotting food into plastic bags.

Hofmann finds a leather wallet containing nearly 1,500 euros on the couch and puts it on a shelf where there are also articles of clothing that belonged to the deceased.

'Personal belongings and valuables always remain at the scene,' says Heistermann. These are always looked after by executors or relatives and loved ones. 'We only deal with the things that aren't wanted,' he explains. 'We leave the belongings they want left behind. Someone has to do this job.'

Denny and Chris carry all the furniture, including the stained couch, out of the apartment and place it in a removal truck parked outside. The flat's last resident was an old man suffering from lip cancer who refused to let anyone in to see him during the last five days of his life, reveals Heistermann.

'You can see here what route he used to take from the couch to the toilet and galley kitchen,' he says as he points to the worn parts of the carpet.

A curious neighbour appears and wants to have a look around but Heistermann refuses as he feels it inappropriate that a dirty apartment should be last image of any dead person.

Once the apartment has been cleared of most of its contents, it is subjected to a period of intense cleaning and almost looks normal once again. The men carry their equipment to the truck before taking off their protective suits and gloves.

Heistermann closes the apartment door and commends his team for a job well done. 'What's going on here?' a passerby asks as the men relax on a grass verge outside the apartment block. 'Nothing, just doing a spot of work here,' Heistermann replies.

Denny and Chris stroll over to a nearby service station for a coffee. Both are glad the day's work is over and they make their way home for a long shower.