Renovation needs for a house built in 1939: How much will the renovation approximately cost?

2025-08-06 11:48:58

Thank you very much for your assessment. Then I will bury this project with a small tear in my eye and start looking for a new property with little or no need for renovation.

Don’t give up right away. Maybe the ultimate affordable advice for this property will still come. But with this amount, it’s really worth checking in parallel whether some things that seem expensive at first glance might actually be found more reasonably for the same invested money. You don’t have that much time with three children plus work. And you don’t want a permanent construction site for expensive money. But beware: the numbers in the exposés can be misleading and often do not reflect all the costs that arise. Especially new buildings should be checked for additional costs and expensive ancillary construction costs.

2025-08-06 15:17:11

I cannot identify the house in the aerial photo, the exterior shots are too sparse, and the construction style "massiv" is not really recognizable. The traced floor plans are not suitable as a basis for valuable input. "To appeal to a skilled buyer" is realtor speak for "this house is looking for a qualified laborer as a new owner," because despite the well-maintained surface, practically everything needs to be addressed. It is absolutely unsuitable for DIY wallpaperers. Good luck with the further search!

2025-08-06 15:26:06

Calculate the land value and see how much of the purchase price remains for the house. Then you have an estimate of how much also needs to be renovated.

Spoiler: a negative value means that the purchase price equals the land value minus demolition costs…

2025-08-06 15:43:49

The attic was very likely converted without a building permit - the classic case in Germany. A "space-saving staircase" is not a legally required staircase with a minimum clear width of 80cm (=90-100cm clear stair width) and probably cannot be installed in this location either. Then the second emergency exit is also likely missing, etc.

In short: before you continue to be interested in this property, you should carry out a property purchase consultation with an architect, during which this and a multitude of other points are examined in detail. Ask to see the original building permit documents for the property (file number + green stamp). If these are missing, only partially available, and cannot be viewed in the district building authority's archive, the property has at least one problem.

2025-08-07 08:19:00

Calculate the land value and see how much of the purchase price remains for the house. Then you will have an estimate of how much also needs to be renovated.

Spoiler: a negative value means that the purchase price equals the land value minus demolition costs…

Yes, the purchase price is the land value minus demolition costs :D. Thanks for the hint.

The attic was most likely converted without a building permit – the classic case in Germany. A "space-saving staircase" is not a legally required staircase with at least 80 cm clear width (=90-100 cm clear stair tread width) and probably cannot be installed in this location either. Then the second escape route is probably missing as well, etc.

In short: before you continue to be interested in this property, you should carry out a real estate purchase consultation with an architect, in which this and a multitude of other points are examined in detail. Have the original building permit documents for the property shown to you (file reference + green stamp). If these are missing, only partly available, and cannot be viewed in the archive of the district building authority, the property has at least one problem.

Thanks, the attic thing is probably true. With this project, there are simply too many contingencies and uncertainties/problems for us, which we neither want to handle in terms of time nor finances, and eventually probably won’t be able to anymore. There is surely another property that fits us better.
Many thanks for your great advice. We will now start the "Barthel Strategy" and go through our neighborhood, make our wish for a home/plot public among friends and acquaintances, and check with the local realtors.

2025-08-07 08:51:58

Yes, the KP is the land value minus demolition costs :D. Thanks for the hint.

Then it should be clear that a renovation calls for the same price as a new build. With the disadvantage that you have to use the old building and possibly have ceiling heights or other "old building problems." In short: this is actually a demolition object and a renovation is not economically sensible.

Many thanks for your great advice. We will now tackle the "Barthel Strategy" and canvass our neighborhood, make our desire for a home/property known among friends and acquaintances, and check out the local realtors.

You're welcome and good luck!

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Renovation needs for a house built in 1939: How much will the renovation approximately cost?

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