Have the house inspected by a professional / expert?

Hello dear home builders / renovators / restorers!

We are looking for a house in our town.
At the moment, we are renting half a house. (Only separated from the neighbor by a partition wall.)

We renovated and moved into our living area 2 years ago.
(Wallpapers, tiles, ceilings)
So our living area is finished.

The neighbor's part only partially, as the basement rooms (old laundry room, etc.) are not used and have the charm of the 70s / 80s.

On Sunday, we have the first meeting with the landlady (with whom we get along well) to clarify initial questions.

Now to my concern:

Does it make sense to contact a professional / building expert to have the property thoroughly checked?
We are not unskilled craftsmen and want / can renovate quite a bit ourselves.
But whether the purchase price corresponds to the condition of the property, we dare not judge.

Who can one / should one turn to for help?
Is this even done?
How did you proceed?

Best regards
SaTo12

Good evening,

Does it make sense to contact a professional / building surveyor and have the property thoroughly checked?

In any case!

But whether the purchase price corresponds to the condition of the property, we dare not judge.

A surveyor specializing in masonry in existing buildings knows that.

Who can / should you call for help?
Is this even done?

Do "people" do that? It would be the right and safer thing to do!

You only look at the walls, maybe see if the insulation below the rafters is still okay; but that’s probably it. Because, for example, not every damp glass element is necessarily broken ;)

First, talk to the landlord alone on Sunday and listen to what she has to tell you. If a house purchase is still interesting for you then, tell her that you would like to have the building fabric checked by an expert so that you can better estimate the "costs of renovation". Explain to the landlord that this procedure has nothing to do with distrust, and I am sure—unless she can provide seamless proof of maintenance work on the house over the past years—she will understand your request.

In NRW, a surveyor would probably cost around €4-600 for an afternoon including documentation. In your region probably less. Even if not, it would be well-invested money, which you can easily recoup through EL during the renovation ;)

Best regards from the road

Good morning,

Thank you very much for your detailed answer.
You have already answered my next question about the costs of an expert.
Here it is certainly cheaper....I am calculating with €300.

If we are really still interested in the house after the conversation with the landlord, then it makes sense to appoint an expert. The costs will then be included in the purchase price negotiation ;)

Can the expert also say something about the heating systems? Probably not :D for that I will consult the professional.

Thank you!

Good day,

If we are really still interested in the house, after the conversation with the landlord, then it makes sense to order an expert. The costs will then be included in the purchase price negotiation.

Or something like that :D

The problem that arises when a layperson inspects an existing property – I include myself here, by the way – is that we only notice the outward appearances. However, these can actually only be relevant in a cosmetic sense. Everything that is hidden from our eyes is important to know, as it usually requires the highest investment during renovation. In this respect, I think it’s good that you are wise enough in your own interest and will purchase expertise – provided the first conversation goes in your favor!

I deliberately recommended an expert, because they – if they specialize in existing properties – deal with the same issues day in and day out; they stay up to date. Certainly, you could also consult an architect; on the other hand, I like to have "something in hand," which an architect will probably lack in the vast majority of cases. Architects, like experts, are “only” human, and humans make mistakes. In that case, in my opinion, it is very good to have written documentation in hand, which in the worst case can be used as evidence for the liability of the issuer of the assessment.

Can the expert also say something about the heating systems? Probably not :D then I will consult a professional.

He will surely tell you something about the system and its piping, for example, how long it can still be operated, etc. For the interior, the professional should then take a look on site ;)

Rhenish greetings

The problem that arises when a layperson inspects an existing property - I include myself here btw. - is that we only notice the outward appearances. However, these can actually only be relevant from a cosmetic point of view. Everything that is hidden from our eyes is interesting to know, as it usually requires the highest investment during a renovation.

That is exactly my main thought.

I would rather invest a few hundred € now and know where I stand,
so I can possibly exclude the biggest mistake of my life or get confirmation for a successful retirement investment :cool:

I already have the documents of the house in front of me. They include construction plans, property records, land register excerpt or excerpt from the notary (when the house was inherited in 2004), invoice for heating purchase/installation, conservatory invoice.

1. Does the expert need these documents? Am I allowed to hand them over to him?
2. Should I inform the landlady on Sunday that we want to bring an expert on board? If yes, why?
3. Am I allowed to show her the documents/evaluation in my presence, but it would be unwise to leave them with her for a period of time? (She could use them for herself if we decide not to buy or are no longer allowed to, etc.) right?
4. Does the evaluation serve as a basis for negotiation? Does the expert give me a "ballpark figure" of what the property should cost? For example (purely fictional) seller wants 100,000€ - expert indicates due to the condition (no more than 80,000€ because of the roof, due to mold or similar)

Thank you very much for your effort,

SaTo12

Good evening,

I almost think you and I are having something like a private conversation here :D

1. Does the expert need these documents?

I would show him the invoice for the heating and conservatory as well as the building plans; personal information from the land register is, in my opinion, none of his business and you should not hand it over either. They were given to you in confidence.

May I hand these over to him?

I hardly believe he will go around hawking invoices.

2. Should I inform the landlord on Sunday that we want to bring an expert on board? If yes, why?

Yes, why not? I always find open and honest communication better than secrecy.

3. May I show her the documents / evaluation in my presence, but it would be foolish to leave them with her for a period of time. (She could use them for herself if we decide not to buy / are not allowed to, etc.) right?

You have to show them to her once it comes to concrete negotiations, right? Whether you leave them, you must decide yourself; I see no reason to do so.

4. Does the evaluation serve as a basis for negotiation? Will the expert give me a "ballpark figure" of what the property may cost? For example (purely fictional) seller wants €100,000 – expert states due to the condition (no more than €80,000 because of the roof, mold, or similar)

An expert first conducts an inspection with you – and preferably the current owner – and then prepares a report. This describes the current value of the property as well as the necessary renovation work including estimated costs.

Everything beyond "normal" renovation work I would already use as a bargaining chip. Whether it pays off for you, you will find out quite quickly based on the seller’s reaction. Just don’t forget that you have no right to a price reduction; the seller alone sets that. If she doesn’t like your offer, the report can speak as much as it wants for your position, she will always decide based on her own needs ;)

Rhenish greetings