Hello everyone, today around midday my wife’s grandmother called and said we could go see a house tomorrow. An acquaintance is moving into a care home and is selling her house. Apparently, there are already a few interested parties, but the lady knew that we are also looking and wants to give us priority.
At the moment, we don’t have any photos or information about the construction year, asking price, or anything similar. I’m currently reading up on what to pay particular attention to during a house viewing. I won’t be able to get a professional inspector on short notice. I think we will definitely bring someone along later if we like the house. Long story short, what should I absolutely find out and what should I watch for? This is our very first house viewing.
Basic details: village (2,000 inhabitants) in the Lake Constance region – so, as you might expect, a very limited supply everywhere.
Thanks for any tips that even a layperson can check.
At the moment, we don’t have any photos or information about the construction year, asking price, or anything similar. I’m currently reading up on what to pay particular attention to during a house viewing. I won’t be able to get a professional inspector on short notice. I think we will definitely bring someone along later if we like the house. Long story short, what should I absolutely find out and what should I watch for? This is our very first house viewing.
Basic details: village (2,000 inhabitants) in the Lake Constance region – so, as you might expect, a very limited supply everywhere.
Thanks for any tips that even a layperson can check.
kati1337 schrieb:
The terrible wood paneling painted in antique white chalk paint and lightly sanded – oh, my country house heart beats faster.Tear it out! If the heating, windows, and bathrooms have been done, then there’s probably no major renovation backlog!
It’s a bungalow, so it can be nicely renovated. The surroundings look good, too...
Yes, for us, completely removing the wooden cladding would also be an option. I think this would make the rooms much brighter. In the living room, we might like to have one more window. But before we keep dreaming, we need to wait for the price. We are in a village here, but close to Lake Constance...
schubert7916 Apr 2021 06:41The plot seems relatively large. When an appraiser comes, the price will blow you away. They calculate every square meter (square foot) rigorously (and correctly).
S
Smialbuddler16 Apr 2021 06:58In the pictures of the dining and bedroom, I notice electrical outlets positioned at a height that has not been common for many years now. For me (since our renovation of a 1962-built house), this is always an initial sign of an outdated electrical installation that may no longer be extendable and might need to be replaced. Did you have the chance to look underneath, meaning at the cables themselves? If they are three-core copper wiring, that’s good. With some luck, you can simply add to it. If, in the worst case, there is partially two-core aluminum wiring, then the walls would have to be completely opened up...
At first glance, this house seems reasonable, especially considering that houses from this building era can often be in much worse condition (and even those are currently being bought). I’m afraid you won’t have much time to think it over.
The living room and kitchen are typical for the “it’s still okay” generation and should probably be completely renovated right away. It looks like there is parquet flooring in the living room, which is a good sign. You’ll need to check what’s underneath the carpets (maybe it can be sanded?).
I find the bathroom absolutely acceptable (no bathtub?), though personally, I don’t find bidets very appealing. They might be removable, allowing you to place another cabinet in the corner instead.
One thing I would definitely take a closer look at is the roof, including the roof structure. If there are any issues with it, those usually can’t be postponed for long.
Otherwise, it has many advantages: lots of space, a large garden, laundry room/basement. I don’t think everyone around Lake Constance has that. There’s great potential to really make something out of it.
The living room and kitchen are typical for the “it’s still okay” generation and should probably be completely renovated right away. It looks like there is parquet flooring in the living room, which is a good sign. You’ll need to check what’s underneath the carpets (maybe it can be sanded?).
I find the bathroom absolutely acceptable (no bathtub?), though personally, I don’t find bidets very appealing. They might be removable, allowing you to place another cabinet in the corner instead.
One thing I would definitely take a closer look at is the roof, including the roof structure. If there are any issues with it, those usually can’t be postponed for long.
Otherwise, it has many advantages: lots of space, a large garden, laundry room/basement. I don’t think everyone around Lake Constance has that. There’s great potential to really make something out of it.
N
nordanney16 Apr 2021 09:01I agree with the previous comments. Overall, it’s a well-maintained property that you could probably move into as is—setting personal taste aside (the "Gelsenkirchen Baroque" style is simply unattractive). Some work has been done on the property, which is a positive sign. Of course, it will still cost a few € to adapt it to your own preferences.
Yes. You can either cut channels into the screed or alternatively remove the screed completely and install the heating system conventionally. You probably don’t want to keep the existing floors (except in the bathroom) as they are.
Price? It depends on whether you plan to do some of the work yourself (removing screed and tiles can easily be done over a weekend by a DIYer) or have everything done by professionals.
Normally, that’s not a problem.
Grashalm schrieb:
1. Is it possible to install underfloor heating afterwards? How much does it roughly cost per room or per square meter? Just a ballpark figure.
Yes. You can either cut channels into the screed or alternatively remove the screed completely and install the heating system conventionally. You probably don’t want to keep the existing floors (except in the bathroom) as they are.
Price? It depends on whether you plan to do some of the work yourself (removing screed and tiles can easily be done over a weekend by a DIYer) or have everything done by professionals.
Grashalm schrieb:
2. Is it possible to add a window in an existing wall later on?
Normally, that’s not a problem.
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