ᐅ Renovate an existing house or build a small new one?

Created on: 27 May 2009 17:28
M
mia08
M
mia08
27 May 2009 17:28
Hello,
we are planning to buy a plot of land with an area of 1600 m² (0.4 acres). There is a small farmhouse on the property with a large barn.
The price is 25,000 euros, and the house needs a complete renovation: heating, windows, electrical systems, flooring, roof, and so on. The barn would need to be re-roofed, and the gable walls rebuilt.
Everyone advises against this because the hidden costs tend to be high.
Now we are considering demolishing the existing buildings and constructing a small new house.
Can anyone give an approximate idea of the cost for a modest house with some owner participation (self-building)?
Are there prefabricated houses available that would fit well into a typical village setting?
Best regards, mia08
J
JOERG24
28 May 2009 08:59
This is not easy to answer in general. It depends on the construction method and the size. Depending on the building technique, I would estimate around €1300–1600 per m² (around $1400–1700 per sq ft). The costs for demolition should not be underestimated either. Mixed construction waste can be quite expensive, and separating materials is a very labor-intensive task during demolition.

On the other hand, renovating such an old property naturally involves unforeseeable costs. If you don’t have professional experience and there is no time pressure, I would advise against it.

€25,000 for 1600 m² (around $27,000 for 17,200 sq ft) is already a very, very cheap price. In some building areas, you may not even get 100 m² (around 1,080 sq ft) for that amount.