February 2020

Improved rental management with digital rental platforms

To improve customer service in rental management and increase process capability, new digital tools in rental platforms match and structure the profiles of prospective tenants with the desired profiles of owners. This allows a landlord to see at a glance how well the prospective tenant fits at the beginning of the rental process. Digital...

Test: Care real estate as a capital investment?

Numerous developers and investment brokers see nursing care real estate as a lucrative capital investment for investors. They forecast high returns of four percent and more for up to 25 years. Stiftung Warentest investigates this forecast and sheds light on whether investing in a care apartment is actually as lucrative and profitable as promised. What profits can be made with...

Smoke alarm and fire protection

In Germany, the installation of smoke alarms in new buildings is mandatory. This is because they alert the occupants of a house or apartment as soon as a fire starts. Fire alarms must also be retrofitted in older buildings. The building regulations in the respective federal states provide information on whether owners or tenants are responsible for installing the smoke alarms...

Thermography in new and old buildings

Thermography is a proven method for detecting energy leaks in new and old buildings. A special thermal imaging camera takes colored pictures of different surface temperatures and can thus provide information about the air tightness in old buildings and detect thermal bridges and damage. The thermographic method is also suitable for new buildings...

Ruling: "Emergency service flat rate" for janitors counts as administrative costs

The janitorial costs are part of every operating cost statement and are paid by the tenants on an annual pro-rata basis. A janitor is primarily responsible for general control and monitoring activities on the property. This includes, for example, checking the escape and rescue routes, the proper functioning of the technology and lighting of common areas or the control...

Tile, stone or wood: which kitchen floor is right?

A kitchen floor must not only withstand a lot of wear and tear, but also look good. After all, modern kitchens are often connected to the living and dining areas, which is why appearance plays an increasingly important role in addition to function. When dishwater overflows or frying fat splatters, the stains on the kitchen floor should be easy to wipe off. Also falling knives or kitchen tools...

Growing vacancy rate in the housing market in rural areas

The January 2020 issue of the trade magazine "DW Die Wohnungswirtschaft" focuses on the housing market and its developments in rural areas in Germany. Even though the population in Germany has increased overall, the population figures in rural areas are decreasing rapidly. On the one hand, the ever-developing urbanization and migration of young...

VPB creates individual renovation roadmap for owners

To help property owners plan modernization and renovation measures, the Association of Private Building Owners (VPB) compiles an individual renovation roadmap to help owners maintain the value of their property. The individual renovation roadmap includes a list of construction measures that are adapted to the owners' respective living situations. To...

Balcony parapet from solar cells

Even if spring has not yet arrived, it is worth thinking about a balcony extension with solar parapet. Because such a balcony not only looks chic and saves energy costs annually, but the solar parapet also stores abundant solar energy, which can be used in the household. To generate a particularly high energy yield, it is recommended that the...

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