ᐅ Making an old, long-unoccupied house habitable

Hello, we are new here. Thank you for having us!

We have been offered an old little house from the 1870s. The location and neighborhood are wonderfully beautiful and quiet. From our amateur perspective, the structure seems to be in fairly good condition. It has been unoccupied for about 50 years, but the owners have maintained it a little. It has electricity, but no water, sewer, gas, or phone connection. However, all the pipes run under the street. Of course, there is no heating system either. It also appears not to have a proper floor, as at least in one room the bare earth is visible.

What would be the best approach here? How can we find a professional who could assess what work would need to be done? We have some DIY skills but would need some guidance since we are not experts in construction. Thanks for any tips!

Yours, Holzauge

House 150 years old and unoccupied for 50 years = demolition and new construction. Anything else is probably sentimental, as a new build is likely more cost-effective than a renovation.

Good evening,

Holzauge schrieb:

We have been offered an old little house from the 1870s... From our amateur perspective, the condition seems quite good.

I would be cautious with that assumption.

Holzauge schrieb:

It was unoccupied for about 50 years, but the owners have kept an eye on it a little. It has electricity, but no water, sewer, gas, or telephone connection. However, all the utility lines run through the street. Of course, there is no heating either. It also seems to have no proper floor, at least in one room bare earth is visible.
What is the best way to proceed? How do you find a specialist who could assess what would need to be done?

Your best option is to look for an expert specializing in existing buildings, especially very old masonry. You can find such specialists, for example, through associations of independent experts, sorted by discipline and location. It is also important to check if historic preservation laws (building permit / planning permission) apply here. I would clarify that in advance if I were you.

Holzauge schrieb:

We can manage some of the work ourselves, but we would need some guidance since we are not construction professionals.

If the expert concludes that a full renovation is worthwhile – here nordanney is not wrong, a new build might be more cost-effective (renovation costs are roughly equivalent to building new, but you will definitely face special requirements. If historic preservation also applies, it will be even more expensive) – and if you can afford it financially, you will need an architect to oversee the renovation work. You can also discuss with them how much work you can do yourself, including under supervision.

Best regards, Bauexperte

I actually wouldn’t want to do too much, since it’s a holiday home:
- Secure the floor in one room; the other rooms have very nice wooden floorboards
- Install utility connections from the street to the house
- Set up water supply and drainage along one wall (kitchen on one side, bathroom on the other)
- Install a shower and toilet
- Possibly replace windows
- A gas heating system for 4 small rooms (is it possible to heat a house with 30 cm (12 inches) thick natural stone walls?)
- And some repairs: one gutter (the others are like new), a few roof tiles, doors, whitewashing walls...
How much does an expert inspector usually charge?

What do I need to consider?

lastdrop schrieb:
Consider the energy saving regulations

For holiday homes?