Seller

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What are the heating systems of the future?

Whether it's a new building or the modernisation of an old building: Anyone planning an upgrade of their heating system should take a closer look at the heating systems of the future. Because while fossil fuel heating systems are usually cheap to buy, they will cost a lot of money to operate over the next few years. Natural gas and heating oil are dependent on the world market and at the same time are only available in limited quantities. This is why heating systems based on heating oil or natural gas are not future-proof. Fossil fuels are also subject to carbon tax, which makes them even more expensive. Modern heating systems using renewable energy sources such as solar or heat pumps protect the environment. Energy from the sun, the air, the earth or the water is available for free. This greatly reduces energy costs in the future. Energy-efficient heating systems make property owners more independent of energy suppliers and politics. Heating systems such as heat pumps, solar thermal energy or heating with biomass contribute to the transition of the heating sector as a significant part of the energy transition. But which heating system of the future is the right one for old or new buildings?

9 min read
20.05.2022

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Real estate speculation tax: Deadlines, rates & tax-optimization

Selling a property can be a significant financial milestone, yet the tax implications often catch sellers off guard. In Germany, the speculation tax on real estate (Spekulationssteuer) is a critical factor for any private seller. If you divest a property within the statutory speculation period and realize a profit, that gain may be subject to taxation.

7 min read
27.02.2026

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The energy performance certificate - an important document for selling a house

If you want to sell your house or apartment, an up-to-date energy performance certificate, which provides information about the energy efficiency of your property, is one of the most important documents of all. Since the Energy Saving Ordinance (EnEV) of 2014, such an energy certificate is mandatory if you want to sell your Sell your property want to sell your property. The most important questions about the energy certificate are explained below.

4 min read

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Applying for a change of use: How do you obtain the necessary planning permission?

The change of use of a building or part of a building is an undertaking under building law. Whether you have to apply for a change of use and need planning permission does not primarily depend on whether you are planning structural measures. Changes of use are subject to planning permission if the new use is subject to different or more extensive requirements under public law than the previous use.

6 min read

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Notary contract - 4 things you should know when selling a house

A house sale is nearing its end: The buyer for the property has been found together with the estate agent, the price negotiations are over. Now all that is missing is the notarial contract of sale or notarial deed to make the transaction legally binding and to notarise the purchase at the notary's office. But what does such a contract actually contain and what legal force does it have? Can you withdraw from a notarial contract after signing it? In this article we explain

8 min read

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A house with pool

Many people dream of having a house with a pool. But what kind of pool is most suitable? An outdoor pool in your own garden for the summer is appealing because of the low acquisition costs. An indoor pool that can be used all year round, perhaps even extending into an outdoor pool, costs a lot more, as does a heated and covered outdoor pool. Is this investment worthwhile? How much does it cost to set up and maintain your own wellness area? Does every pool increase the value of the property?

8 min read
18.08.2022

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Why commission is worthwhile when selling with Engel & Völkers

The commission when selling with Engel & Völkers represents the compensation for the services rendered by our real estate agents. Property sellers often have questions about this, for example when it comes to the exact scope of the services. Also the question of Amount of the brokerage fee and how exactly it is made up are also frequent topics for property sellers. In this guide, we would therefore like to briefly and concisely answer the most important questions about commission when selling with Engel & Völkers and show why working with an estate agent is worthwhile.

4 min read

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Building on someone else's land: 7 frequently asked questions about hereditary building rights

Are you planning to build a property? Then building on someone else's land is an option available to you as a builder. Ownership, finances and rights of use are regulated by the so-called heritable building right. In this article, we answer 7 questions on the subject that you may frequently encounter.

5 min read

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The operating cost bill - what to look out for?

As a rule, every tenant receives an operating cost bill once a year. According to the German Tenants' Protection Association, this always leads to a large number of enquiries and requests for advice. Since this is a complex issue based on many different laws and contractual agreements, incorrect or unfounded billing can occur time and again.

4 min read
16.04.2021

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House sale documents: These are the documents you need

If you want to sell your house successfully, you need documents on all the important features of your property. Obtaining these documents is certainly one of the biggest challenges for owners. Countless documents are related to a building, but by no means all of them are necessary to successfully sell a property. On the other hand, the absence of certain documents, such as the energy certificate, is punishable by severe fines. In addition, many owners do not know for sure how and from which authorities they can obtain the necessary documents. In the following, we therefore present the most important documents for selling a house and show you how our real estate agents can help you obtain them.

8 min read

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The particularities of lease and leasehold agreements

Lease agreements generally provide for the transfer of leased property for a fixed or indefinite period of time. In this type of contract there is a user, the lessee, who pays a fee, in this case called "rent", to the lessor. The contractual relationship is similar in structure to a rental agreement. However, a rental agreement only allows the tenant to use the rented property, while a lease agreement also authorises the lessee to "extract the fruits of the land".

5 min read
19.02.2021

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Agreement on the Building Energy Act: What will be important for Hamburg property owners

As one of the most polarising topics in the political discourse, the amendment to the Building Energy Act energy law is also occupying the owners of houses, flats and other properties in Hamburg Obligation to retrofit for older heating systems in favour of the heating transition in Germany was debated in the media and in public, and it took a long time for the coalition parties to reach a consensus. In mid-June 2023, an internal government Agreement has now been reached, which is considered a promising basis for adoption in the Bundestag. In this article, your estate agent for the north-east of Hamburg, Engel & Völkers Alstertal, would like to summarise for you the changes that the so-called "Heating Act" will bring for owners of houses and flats and why this is particularly important in Hamburg can be expected to be implemented more quickly than at federal level. Find out more now!

3 min read

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Engel & Völkers Germany

Vancouverstraße 2a

20457 Hamburg, Germany

Tel: +49 40 361310