Building inspection before purchase not possible – too risky?

Dear community,

my wife and I want to purchase a plot of land that perfectly suits our needs. Unfortunately, it is not possible to conduct a soil survey before the purchase (existing building in the way). According to the contamination report from the municipality, there is neither a contamination nor a munitions suspicion. There is a house (existing building) from the 1920s on the property. On the left and right of the plot there are also houses (it is a purely residential area). Would you say that there is a significant risk of additional costs due to the soil condition? If so, how high could these costs be? Construction is planned on an area of about 100 sqm, with two floors planned.

I would greatly appreciate your assessments!

1. Old stock on it = you can probably build there 2. There are neighbors = crazy idea to simply ask about the soil conditions My assessment: normal costs

1. Old building stock on it = so you can probably build
2. There are neighbors = Crazy idea to simply ask about the soil condition

My assessment: normal costs

Thanks to you! We have actually already asked the two neighbors, they said everything was wonderful

You can have the drillings for the [Bodengutachten] done right next to the existing house. It was the same for us.

My wife and I want to purchase a plot of land that perfectly suits our needs. Unfortunately, it is not possible to carry out a geotechnical survey before the purchase (existing building in the way). [...] There is a house (existing building) from the 1920s on it. On the left and right of the plot, there are also houses [...].

You can simply have the boreholes for the geotechnical survey made right next to the existing house.

Of course, the boreholes should not be placed in the fill funnel (excavation pit with working space of the cellar of the existing building), because they would naturally be of questionable significance there. But basically, I would say that an existing building does not complicate a geotechnical survey but rather replaces it: the settlement cracks of a hundred-year-old house are practically a geotechnical survey themselves, with the result of the expert report [hheh]. Possibly, essential parts of the substance are still suitable for further use – that was not a bad construction period.

According to the contamination report from the municipality, there is neither suspected contamination nor suspected unexploded ordnance. [...] Would you say that there is a significant risk of additional costs due to the soil condition?

Unexploded ordnance (and Roman or Celtic finds) are on a completely different level than compressive strength and permeability.

The question is, what do you (still) want to achieve with the [Baugrundgutachten] when there is already a house on it?! My opinion: You don’t always have to follow the red thread if the path is caught elsewhere :cool: In this sense: good luck with the land purchase :D