Is renovation still worthwhile in old age?

Again and again older homeowners ask themselves whether they should still renovate their property themselves or whether it is not better to leave the conversion to the heirs. Such a renovation is also exhausting and brings inconvenience with it when you live in the house during the conversion phase.

Basically, the advice applies to tackling the insulation of the roof and facade and the switching of oil and gas to renewable energies when heating. For example, you benefit longer from the low energy costs and higher living comfort through energetic renovation.

The start of retirement can be a good time

Apart from that, admission to retirement can be a good time to tackle a renovation project. You have more time to find out thoroughly and organize things. In addition, you may have saved money in the life phase.

In any case, it is absolutely helpful to see energy advice in a first step. Here you get an impression in which direction it should go. The commissioning of an energy efficiency expert or
Experts to have an individual renovation timetable – ISFP – created on the competent side.

On the basis of a thorough analysis, an overall concept is created in which future renovation steps are immediately considered. In addition: If an individual restructuring schedule is available, the state grants increase by five percentage points for each implemented measure – except for the heating exchange – and the eligible costs from a maximum of 30,000 to 60,000 euros. The heirs also benefit from this if you should implement measures later. And the descendants know what should be done about the house and how best to proceed.

Consultation with the heirs important

If you want to work in old age before handing over yourself, and it is already clear who will inherit the house later, then the planned renovation steps should best be coordinated with the heirs. For example, it makes little sense to replace the old, drafty windows for new ones in the same size if the descendants would have preferred to install larger windows in one place or another. The same applies to the design of the facade in the course of insulation measures.

Anyone who actually dares to completely renovate their self-resident house- with facade and roof insulation, window and heating exchange, installation of a ventilation system- must be aware of the inconvenience that such a project entails. One possibility is to move to a holiday apartment during the conversion phase.

Renovated houses sell better

And what about a planned house sale, does it make sense to carry out energy renovation measures shortly beforehand to increase the value of the property? Real estate experts advise against this: the expenses are quite high and sales proceeds rarely bring back full value. In addition, potential buyers may have completely different ideas – similar to described above when inheriting a property.

However, if you already have a concrete life plan and know that you want to live in your house for 15 to 20 years and then want to sell it, you should also take renovation measures as quickly as possible in order to benefit from low energy costs and higher living comfort as long as possible. In addition, a house with a high energy standard can be sold more easily later.

To person: Martin Sambale is the managing director of the Energy and Environmental Center Allgäu, or Eza for short!.