If you buy a "second-hand" holiday property, this is done in Germany and in many other countries without a warranty. This means that you can no longer make any claims against the seller after the purchase if undiscovered defects are found. You should therefore take a close look at the building fabric before buying. Particularly in the case of holiday properties abroad, an expert opinion provides more certainty regarding the purchase price, financing and condition of the holiday property. This article does not constitute legal or tax advice but merely reflects our personal experience.
As a layperson and without detailed documentation from the seller, it is often very difficult to correctly assess the condition of a holiday property. An expert opinion provides more clarity:
An expert opinion is particularly useful for holiday properties abroad. Because without a building expert who is familiar with the typical construction methods of the country, the specific regulations and possible sticking points with local properties, it is very difficult to assess properties in Spain, Austria, the Netherlands, etc. before you buy. The appraisal is also an ideal basis for financing discussions with your bank and for your tax decl arations to the tax office. There are now German valuers who specialise in Spanish holiday properties, for example.
Another source of information for local purchase prices are the officially determined standard land values for properties and the standard market values for holiday properties in the respective region. These values are based on the actual sales prices achieved for local holiday properties. These values are updated regularly and can be requested from the local expert committees for a fee.
Two types of property appraisal are best suited for the valuation of a holiday home or holiday flat.
