For heirs & owners
Inherited a house – demolish or renovate?
An inherited house often raises more questions than joy: old building fabric, unclear hazardous materials, permits, perhaps a community of heirs. We take that off your hands. You get an honest assessment – demolish or renovate – and, on request, everything from one source: hazardous-material check, permit, demolition and disposal.
We take care of everything
Initial talk & assessment
We listen and honestly advise whether demolition or renovation makes more sense.
Hazmat check & permit
We check for asbestos etc. and handle the demolition notice with the district office.
Demolition & deconstruction
Professional demolition with our own equipment fleet – safe and on time.
Disposal & build-ready site
Sorted disposal with documentation, leaving a clean, usable plot.
Inherited a House – Demolish, Renovate or Sell?
Inherited houses are rarely in good condition. The typical case is a 1950s to 1970s family home: lived in until the end, but never fundamentally renovated – uninsulated, with dated building services and usually with asbestos or mineral wool in the fabric. The decision almost always turns on the same rule of thumb: if renovation costs exceed 75 percent of the value of a new build, demolition is usually the better economic choice.
What It Costs
| Property | Cost incl. disposal |
|---|---|
| Bungalow / small house | €8,000 – 18,000 |
| Single-family home without basement | €12,000 – 25,000 |
| Single-family home with basement | €18,000 – 40,000 |
| Semi-detached house | €15,000 – 30,000 |
| Garage / outbuilding | €2,000 – 5,000 |
Two items are regularly overlooked in inheritance cases: clearing decades of accumulated contents (€500–3,000) and disconnecting the utility connections, billed by the utilities at €500–2,500.
Community of Heirs
Demolition is a substantial change to the estate rather than a routine act of administration, so as a rule it needs the agreement of all co-heirs, not a majority. Settle that before obtaining quotes, not afterwards, and take the legal side to a notary. What we contribute is a fixed-price quote with itemised positions, so everyone is working from the same figure.
Documents You Will Need
Certificate of inheritance or notarised will, a current land register extract, a site plan for the demolition notice, any building plans that can be found, and the utility contracts for disconnection. Missing plans are not an obstacle – we survey the building during the site visit.
If You Do Not Live in Berlin
A large share of our inheritance projects run with owners several hundred kilometres away. Initial discussion by phone, site visit without your attendance where we can get access, fixed-price quote with photo documentation, permit and utility disconnection handled by us, execution documented in photographs, and handover of a site ready to build on.
While the House Stands, It Remains Your Responsibility
Liability for the safety of the property passes to you with ownership, and property tax, insurance and upkeep continue during vacancy. On the tax treatment of demolition costs, please speak to your tax adviser – it depends on whether the property is let, owner-occupied or sold.
Common questions
Is it worth demolishing or renovating?
It depends on the building's condition, hazardous materials and your plans. For heavily run-down old buildings, demolition with a new build is often cheaper and safer. We give you an honest assessment – free and non-binding.
Who handles the permit and hazardous materials?
We do. On request we handle the entire process: hazardous-material survey, demolition notice per BauO Bln, demolition and disposal – you have one contact.
We are a community of heirs – is that possible?
Yes. We are used to such situations, provide a transparent fixed-price quote and communicate clearly so all parties share the same basis. Note, however, that demolition is a substantial change to the estate and as a rule needs the agreement of all co-heirs – settle that with a notary before obtaining quotes.
What does demolishing an inherited house cost?
A single-family home without a basement costs €12,000 to €25,000, with a basement €18,000 to €40,000, including disposal. For buildings from before 1993 the hazardous-material findings add 10 to 35 percent. Clearing the contents (€500–3,000) and disconnecting utilities (€500–2,500) are regularly overlooked.
Does this work if we live far away?
Yes, a large share of our inheritance projects run that way. Initial discussion by phone, site visit without your attendance where access can be arranged, fixed-price quote with photo documentation, permit and utility disconnection handled by us, and execution documented in photographs throughout.
Which documents do we need?
A certificate of inheritance or notarised will as proof of ownership, a current land register extract, a site plan for the demolition notice and the utility contracts for disconnection. Building plans help with costing but are not essential – if nothing can be found we survey the building during the site visit.
Your Project
Do you have a demolition project?
Contact us for a free consultation and a non-binding fixed-price quote. We will get back to you within 24 hours.