Just before agreeing to purchase a condominium unit - Questions and doubts

It is also interesting to read all the topics around the WEG regarding rights & duties, administration, etc. I have to say, I currently find it hard to bring myself to spend over half a million euros on something like this – for an apartment! For an APARTMENT – you have to let that sink in. Of course, that doesn’t help me, but the stakes nowadays are definitely not low.

Right, you put down half a million for an apartment, but a house as an alternative certainly costs 200k more and is unfortunately not feasible. But before I have fewer rights as a tenant, I’d rather buy something. As long as you don’t renovate the house, everything is fine with a [WEG].

Don't go on the defensive right away. These are just my thoughts. I understand that the issue is settled for you.

Just to clarify: not fewer rights, but considerably more obligations. And a WEG concerns more than just "house renovation" needs. But I didn't want to discuss that, just wanted to get it off my chest. For my psyche and stuff...

No problem, don’t get defensive. I completely understand you. Unfortunately, this is due to the extreme seller’s market. You can keep getting upset forever, but unfortunately, very little will change. However, the municipalities are partly to blame for the prices, as the land prices directly from the city are also beyond belief. Two years ago, you paid €420/sqm for a piece of land directly from the city (it was a small village here). How is that supposed to be affordable for the middle class?

You are right.

If your decision is now relatively firm, I would focus on the following things:

[*]inform yourself about WEG
[*]possibly exert initial influence in the search for a manager, get to know the other buyers, etc. Often a manager is already proposed in the purchase contract or something like that... I haven’t bought an apartment yet, but that’s what I mean.
[*]From the beginning, have reserve funds built up in the WEG. Nothing is worse than when a first major measure is due in 5 years and money has to be collected first. This often also prevents the execution. So definitely calculate with 1 Euro/sqm and month. If there is enough money, you can also decide at the annual meeting after 3 or 4 years to halve the levy for one or two years. But first, there is a pot.
[*]What do the other buyers intend to do? Live there themselves or rent out? If renting out, I would probably make sure that the stairwell cleaning etc. is centrally commissioned by the WEG. Then you have influence; delinquent tenants regarding this always have to be reminded by a landlord not living there and you get annoyed... you live in a ground floor apartment. And those who rent out their apartment can pass the costs on to the tenant and maybe also avoid trouble.
[*]During the construction phase, check for yourselves if you have everything, e.g. for your terrace... outdoor socket, outdoor water connection (watering plants)... possibly the option to connect a rain barrel to a rain gutter planned anyway. Maybe also a LAN socket outside.
[*]Also inside... check where sockets etc. should still be placed.
[*]Are all the power connections in basement rooms etc. assigned to the rental units?
[*]Consider what would be important to you so that it is included by the WEG in a kind of house rules. For example, also check the stairwells... what if several families will have strollers... can they also be accommodated compatibly in the hallway in general, etc. What about bicycle storage, etc.
[*]What do you do with shoes in the hallway? Maybe it would be sensible to consider built-in shoe cabinets in the hallway integrated by the builder...

There are points here that you can definitely smile at, but these are points that often cause disputes in an apartment building. And my experience is that the best way through is when you actively shape things yourself and are not shaped.

Good start, maybe some tips from experienced condo owners on top would be nice?