Inherited house - and now?

Yes, the interested parties just come by, without it even being offered for sale...

Depending on the neighborhood in Essen, not so unusual; asking doesn't cost anything

Rhine greetings from on the road

In your renovation considerations, the following approach is standard for a realistic and reliable renovation planning by an independent planning office: building condition analysis (assessment of the building fabric, identification of building damages, mostly moisture damage), building survey including the creation of current floor plans, determination of the renovation and repair effort with cost estimation, possibly a preliminary design for conversion, extension, and repurposing projects by the client, clarification of the building and planning law situation for these projects, planning and realization of the construction project based on the [HOAI (Honorarordnung für Architekten und Ingenieure)] including tendering and construction management. The renovation measures should be planned and carried out in the context of the entire building (building damage remediation, energy-efficient renovation, modernization, renewal of building services, etc.)

In your case, a detailed building survey is a basic prerequisite for as realistic a cost estimation and financing plan as possible. If no development plan exists, as in your case, §34 of the Building Code applies: a building inquiry must be made. The planned construction measure must be adapted to the type and scope of development customary for the surroundings. For the renovation and construction measures, you need an independent planner/architect. In any case, it is advisable to avoid a renovation as an uncoordinated collection of individual craftsmen’s measures conceived by the executing companies themselves.

. If no development plan exists, as in your case, §34 of the Building Code applies: a preliminary building inquiry must be submitted. The planned construction measure must be aligned with the type and extent of the development customary in the surroundings.

Interesting statement..

On what basis is the obligation to submit a preliminary building inquiry founded?

Last year, we also demolished an older house and newly developed the property. Apart from a "normal" building permit, no other official inquiry was required.

Before submitting the building application, we had a detailed conversation with the head of the building authority in which we described our ideas for the new building and received many very valuable tips for our construction project.

§34 also applied to us, which gave us significantly greater freedom of design than in most new development areas.

A formal (and chargeable) preliminary building inquiry was never required.

For the renovation and construction measures, you need an independent planner/architect. It is definitely advisable not to undertake a renovation as an uncoordinated collection of individual craft measures conceived by the executing companies themselves.

On the other hand, I can fully agree with this statement.

Regards,

Dirk

Tenant in your own house? That can work well, but it doesn't have to. For that, there would need to be two entrances or a shared hallway. A renovation can cost a lot of money. There are things that can be postponed. And there are things that absolutely must be done immediately. If you have enough time and the right help, you can do a lot of work yourself. That takes a lot of energy and nerves and saves quite a bit of money. But the materials still have to be bought, as well as the necessary tools. I would, in your place, simply get quotes for both and get a feel for the prices. They don't have to be detailed quotes, just rough estimates for now.

The neighbor's dormer is partly on your roof?! Could become interesting in case of demolition, sale, etc. ... .

Good day,

We would be very grateful for ideas of all (!) kinds. Things like, do you need a basement, do you build an additional rentable apartment as retirement provision, or – the opposite – can one omit a floor because it would then become cheaper, …
Oh, I forgot to mention that? We want to live there ourselves!

The property is a two-story terraced house; the basement is probably underpinned? The crucial question is therefore primarily what wishes you have regarding the achievable living area. Only after that can a decision pro/contra separate residential unit be answered. Furthermore, the question arises concerning the number of permitted residential units. In this context: how large is the current floor area of the terraced house? x-width x x-depth?

I do not see a BVA – contrary to the architect in the group – a close coordination with the building authority should suffice. However, in your place, I would clarify whether the neighbor has built over the dormer in the attic; the recording looks strongly like it. If so, and if you want to build new again, it might be interesting to solve this.

Otherwise, "W.Pickard" is right regarding a possible renovation – and the same process up to that point; as well as your architect concerning the costs. Although I think 300,000 euros is still ambitious ... for a new building; for a renovation it might still work.

Based on your previous description, however, I would advise demolition/sale. Even if you have the property professionally renovated, the building fabric remains old.

Rhine greetings