Assessment/Questions about buying a house

Hello everyone,

my wife and I are planning to buy a house. After about 10 viewings, we have now found a property that we like on the one hand and is also within our budget.

The house we would like to move into was built in 2003, 140 sqm living space, 4 rooms + large storage room + utility room + huge attic, no basement, 650 sqm plot. Inside everything is okay so far - typical case of a divorce property.

The catch is that this house is attached to an old semi-detached house, and this semi-detached house would be included. This house is from 1900 and I think everything has to be torn out, electrical wiring, pipes. I’m not sure about the insulation yet. The current owner is a master mason himself and wanted to convert the semi-detached house into a holiday apartment and had already started. Oh yes, there are new windows installed.

The whole thing should cost 155,000, we have 120k equity ourselves and an income of about 3500 + about 190 € homeowner’s association fees, although my wife is currently only working on a 450€ mini-job.

My question is, do you know what the building fabric of houses from 1900 is like? The current owner said the fabric is good, he calculated about 20,000 investment for himself, while he does almost everything himself. I myself have been a student for too long and have no idea about this, not that I have two left hands, but I just have never done it before.

The old semi-detached house worries me. Money pit, just leave it as it is and eventually tear it down when it’s completely dilapidated or tear it down right away!?

Would be grateful for tips.

Regards Daniel

Difficult to send in an expert who can professionally examine the whole thing? At least you have a great financial starting position

Urgently have someone with expertise take a look, and not because of the attached ruin! It’s obviously worthless unless you can drown it beautifully for 20,000€.
155,000€ sounds very, very, very little for the "main house" including the property. Who knows what Mr. Maurer has tinkered with there. Be sure to have it checked!

Wow, the answers came quickly.

Yes, I know, the "esteemed Mr. Maurer" could tell me the story of the dead horse and I probably wouldn't even notice.

MMH the more I think about it, is the divorce even true? It could also be that something really fishy is going on.

I would say for the region the price is about 50,000 too low, he already has interested parties.

But that's a good and neutral point to question the whole story. I already contacted two experts today (I read that one should use a publicly appointed expert for something like this.

Perhaps a question about that: Is there anything to consider with the experts? Prices? etc...

Announce another inspection with a building surveyor right away. It could be that you can save the fee then. Much too cheap and already on the market for a "longer" time ... there must be reasons for that

well, not for long, I've been following the relevant pages for a while now. We've only been live for a week. small update: thanks to Facebook stalking, the story about the separation/divorce is true. I've already thought about announcing it offensively, then he might say let's leave it. One reason will definitely be the ruin. That means without the old semi-detached house he would get rid of it faster than with it.