Considerations when buying apt to renovate in Vaud

Hey, I am considering buying an old-ish (1974) apartment located in canton Vaud. While the bathroom and kitchen are in clear need of renovation, I was wondering if anyone has recommendations on how to best assess the not so obvious risks/ expenses:

  • building has envelope rated G so according to Vaud energy efficiency initiative is due for a facade renovation but not sure how to estimate the cost of that
  • the seller put in the contract that any cost of remediation for asbestos/ radon in the building is at the buyer’s expense. Does anyone know how common it would be for apartments from the mid 70s in Switzerland to be riddled with asbestos?
  • how common it is to have structural surveys done when buying apartments in PPEs here? With a house it is obviously needed, but for a 1 bedroom apartment would it be overkill?
  • Should I get the electrical installation checked or just assume/ price for a redo?

The building is professionally managed and insured and has a decent amount accumulated in the renovation fund but this is my first real estate purchase in CH and even small places that need renovation deliver sticker shock, hence the anxiety… Thank you for any insights you can share!

I think for a building more than 50 years old, you need to get some expert visit and evaluation

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Thank you for the sanity check

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Hey!

  1. the façade (including windows) are part of the PPE. The admin should have some mid to long term vision/planning on the renovation of the façade, including budget and status of the renovation fund.
  2. check this article “Diagnostique Amiante avant la vente: oui ou non?”
  3. check this on the OIBT survey or this generic text. The control is mandatory every x years. And the regulations on electrical installation are changing frequently, therefore it’s probably better to take the costs of an update into account in your budget.
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Careful with the asbestos, can cost you a lot of headaches and a fortune. Get an expert to evaluate as @Abs_max suggested.

I got the right guy for the OIBT control if you need one. Good luck!

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As an internet opinion from someone with no real idea about the topic:

At this age, they, the owner association (StockwerkeigentĂĽmergemeinschaft), likely were discussing the facade for a few years already. Make sure to inquire if they have any insights or cost estimates obtained so far, and also ask about the energy/heating system.

You buy as-is, so no surprise there. And built in the 1970s is basically guaranteed to contain asbestos here and there. Doesn’t have to be that bad though, just make sure you don’t have large scale issues (like a eternit asbest roof/facade tiles).

I guess that would be overkill for an appartment.

Get a quote for a redo, which you would do anyway at the same time of renovating bathroom(s) and kitchen (which accounts for the majority of electric installations, the rest is comparatively simple).

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Whilst everyone talks about asbestos, beware of tar. I’ve moved to a lovely apartment, only to discover that I’m not feeling well in it. When I started digging I found out that it was a totally refurbished building from 1960. Unfortunately there was tar in floor layers, beneath parquet and a layer of cement. It was enough to make headaches, literally (sic!). For this any other reasons, I’d never buy any apartment built before y2k, house maybe as you’ve got total freedom to renovate it like you want.

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I definitly would prefere a building from the 70ies than millenial, but thats my personal experience.

Asbestos can be an issue. Have you talked to the neighbors if they did Asbestos checks while renovating?

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