How do you assess this house? How much budget will be necessary?

It gets more and more dubious here from week to week.

These are the kind of things that usually always happen to others, but not to oneself.

We’ve been through quite a lot as well. There were plots listed in the [Exposé] as 800m2 and in reality only 300. A house suddenly had only 3 rooms instead of 5. Yes, it ONCE HAD 5 rooms! Aha! But the fact that buyers wouldn’t tear out the freshly and top renovated bathroom to regain the original 2 rooms didn’t interest the agent. 5 rooms just sounded better than 3. Yeah, stupidly enough, we have 2 kids and need at least 4 rooms^^. So, unfortunately, this is normal.

I’m curious what you’ll report from today’s viewing!!

So, the viewing took place and the sobering reality is back..

The plot is very uneven, and the house is located far back on the property, so the current terrace area is quite small and already borders the neighbor's plot, which adjoins that part. To place the house at the front building line, a lot of earthworks would have to be done because it is also an extreme slope.

In addition, everything is somehow connected, even the stones of the garden design run completely through both sides (the plot of the sold house). You can tell that it all used to belong to one family.

Also, the terraces of both houses are close to each other, hardly any difference from our current house.

The house itself was probably built around 1940/50. Rather small, but exactly what was built in it the real estate agent could not tell us and also not the price that will ultimately be set for the plot. She estimated it would probably be around 75-80k. The office needs to research this precisely due to the changed situation.

the bottom line: we are staying away from it..

Hm, but is the earthworks really that bad? I mean, if the plot is otherwise good in terms of size and location... that wouldn't be a reason for me to object. You only do that once, after that it's done. Earthworks will come up anyway with the new construction, no matter where you build. Sure, more on a slope than on flat land, but you can use extensive earthworks for garden design right away, I think.

By the way, using an old basement is often not possible as far as I know. Many conditions have to be right to do that. The old house was built during the war or shortly after; you always have to look closely. I would simply tear down the house and build the new one in a different spot... you surely don't want it right next to the other house if you can have it somewhere else.

Hm, but is it really that bad with the earthworks? I mean, if the plot otherwise fits well in terms of size and location... that would not be a reason for me to stop. You only do it once, after that it's done. Earthworks come anyway with the new construction, no matter where you build. Sure, more on a slope than in flatland, but you can use extensive earthworks right away for garden design, I think.

Using an old cellar is often not possible, as far as I know. Many conditions have to be right to be able to do that. The old house was built during the war or shortly after; you always have to look closely there anyway. I would simply demolish the house and build the new one in another spot... you don't necessarily want it right next to the other house if you can have it otherwise.

The plot is really extremely hilly and very slope-heavy.

That would almost not be a problem either, but the agent later informed us that the price does not change!!!

149k for 397 sqm.... Never!

Then I would also keep my distance at your prevailing prices. 375 per square meter is simply unrealistic for you (at least that was the impression I got when I looked once), especially since demolition costs and a lot of earthworks would be added.