House purchase - Experiences with open bidding process?

yes, nowadays it is difficult to deduct amounts for renovating an intact, but no longer quite up-to-date bathroom. Others don’t do that and get the contract.

We have bathrooms from 2000. It’s okay and you don’t have to immediately turn away in disgust. Just normal standard. If we had listed and deducted everything in detail now, we wouldn’t have been at the notary at the beginning of July, but one of the other interested parties who were already impatiently tapping their hooves on the sidelines.

And this now seems to affect not only the sought-after locations in the commuter belts of the TOP 5 metropolises (like with us)...

That's also a point you have to be clear about when you bid. Can I or do I want to initially forgo the cosmetic repairs? Am I able to save up extra for these things alongside everything else and tackle them later? For us, it was like this: at 280, we said... everything's all good... After that, we mentally crossed out the kitchen and planned to replace it with a used one. At 295, we would have been in a range that would have affected the renewal of the heating system (oil, built in 1994, still running). I didn't want that after all...

The fact that the cities and municipalities exploit this and fill their pockets is absolutely incomprehensible.

Well, on the one hand, I do find it understandable that economic considerations are made even at the local level. On the other hand, as a municipality, one should perhaps also pay more attention to the social aspects – and I know some communities where this is done, even in Hesse. Which option one gets will probably be decided (also) at the ballot box.

Which variant one gets will probably also be decided at the ballot box.

But that doesn't help the interested parties who only become eligible to vote after the purchase and move :D

I can recommend everyone to take another look at the missed houses after 1-2 years.

For what purpose?

Here (Hessen), it is unfortunately now the case that plots offered by cities/municipalities are only sold to the highest bidder. This point system, according to which plots were once allocated, apparently no longer exists. [...] That the cities and municipalities are taking advantage of this and lining their pockets is absolutely incomprehensible.

Point systems that punish having properly deregistered from your parents' house in the middle of nowhere as a student are not really practical. There are certainly ways to still consider middle-income earners if you want to go the highest-bid route. It is only incomprehensible if you are not familiar with municipal budget law. Often, it is not even avoidable.

For what purpose?

To see what people are actually willing and ready to invest in renovations for properties. This often differs greatly from one's own expectations and helps to understand why one might not have received the contract and what others are able to spend. The purpose is to get a more realistic picture of the situation.