House from the eighties - money pit?

No expert, no second walkthrough. You also need to have something in hand for price negotiations. If the expert finds nothing serious – all the better, then you can go on the offensive.

The roofer’s concerns were immediately dismissed by the real estate agent, but a "real" expert will probably give a completely different impression.

For a second walkthrough, I would make the condition that the furniture be moved away from the walls.

If we really hire an expert for this house (hiring one once we find something is out of the question), I assume they really can’t work otherwise, especially since there are several huge cabinets on every floor.

I think it’s outrageous nowadays to put a property full of old junk into an offer. Greetings to the real estate agent—if he thinks this house is a sure thing, then he should reject your offer....

I agree.
I also don’t understand the sales strategy. The woman no longer lives there, now has a small apartment in a bigger city and apparently refurnished it. The house is basically out of sight, out of mind.
She plans to have the furniture picked up by a social thrift store or something like that. Why doesn’t she just do that?
Or at least clean up? There are piles of books and other stuff lying around, the bedroom is still fully furnished.
Based on her profession and demeanor, I assume she doesn’t really need the money right now and probably trusts that this is really a sure thing.
Of course, that frightens us off because it’s unprofessional and terribly inconvenient. The agent has no key, so for every viewing we have to find a time when everyone is available.
(Sorry, I know you should just say under these circumstances we won’t buy and that’s it, but I had to vent a little.)

Is there an offer online? Do you have an ID number or the agent’s name???

The agent took the house off the internet and it’s no longer on his site either.
For two weeks now, although it’s still for sale.
Do you have any idea why?

The agent took the house from the internet and it’s no longer on his page. It has been gone for two weeks now, even though it’s still for sale. Do you have any idea why?

Because it probably burned down. It was listed for too long... and now you’re here, interested and getting scared when it’s no longer listed. Just don’t react!

She plans to have the furniture picked up by a social thrift store or something similar. Why doesn’t she just do it?

They don’t take that old junk anymore either. Nothing old and nothing bulky. At least that’s how it is here. Better a Möbel Roller sofa than an oldie, because they won’t get rid of the old stuff themselves.

Based on her profession and demeanor, I assume she doesn’t urgently need the money right now and probably trusts that it will sell easily.

Well, then I can only give one tip: hang in there!

Who phrased it well here? She has to sell that one house, you can have one of many...

I think you misunderstood each other: You probably interpreted that a new house should be possible for 280k including the land; but she probably meant a finished house with the prefabricated house, namely this one, and with 180k for the land with the finished house and 100k for modernization totaling 280k for the house "afterwards".

I would forget about the house quickly, in the 80s even more houses were built; many with an open fireplace, and also many where you can lovingly overlook brown tiles. This chance will surely come again, just in better.

There is also another warning sign: vacancy damages any building substance. Vacancy and still full of junk is an indication of many surprises regarding the substance. But you don't have to actively part with this house: in such cases the price expectations remain pretty reliably incompatible.

The joke is good. No layman can be more unprofessional than a realtor. If a realtor type person had brains, he would have become a notary. So much for remembering

Nobody says that the realtor knows the trade. What many can do, however, is chatter until you forget what it was about. Yes, realtor and notary, totally comparable [emoji1] but I understand what you mean.

One more question to the OP: for how much € are comparable houses listed in your area? That at least gives a ROUGH indication. Because really comparable ones are rare.

Yes, you can really only say that roughly. So, there is a prefab house from the 70s in the same village, detached, offered for 135K. However, energy efficiency class H. I would vaguely say that the somewhat older semi-detached and terraced houses are between 150K and 200K, in need of renovation very old houses around 100K. Newer terraced or semi-detached houses are also available for 230 to 250K, but usually have almost no garden. Detached, newer houses around 300K and up.

Well, then I can only give the tip: hang in there! Who put it aptly here? She has to sell that one house, you can have one of many...

Right. Thank you for the support! I have the impression that the agent and the owner are just waiting as long as it takes until they find a fool to whom they can pawn off the house for the price. But as you already say, such properties keep coming up.

Yes, many want to take advantage of the market situation overall. Too bad that you end up bidding. But if you are still interested, I would go ahead with the expert. And then just offer a reasonable price. According to the description, I would probably be around 140k€. If they refuse: so what? Maybe in two months you’ll get a call to ask if you’re still interested. Or the broker pressures the owner because he wants to earn money. Because with each passing week, the property loses more value. If you have another property in mind, come back again. Here you’ll find a good mix of expertise, experience, and stubbornness [emoji12]