Guides
Knowledge for your
construction project
Practical guides on quotes, contracts, costs and the construction process. Find out how we work, what our tools offer and how we support property owners with their construction projects.
Period property refurbishment in Berlin: costs per m² and typical pitfalls
Older building renovation in Berlin: cost per sqm by scope, special considerations for Gründerzeit fabric, listed buildings, hazardous materials and the 5 most common cost traps. With funding and a provider comparison.
Building and renovating in Berlin: costs, funding and special considerations
Renovation in Berlin: trade prices, challenges of older buildings, listed building protection, funding (IBB, KfW) and contractor tips. With provider comparison.
House renovation in Berlin: costs, sequence and funding in 2026
House renovation in Berlin: costs per sqm and total costs by scope, the right trade sequence, duration, funding in 2026 (KfW, BAFA, IBB) and GEG obligations. An overview for property owners.
Full strip-out refurbishment in Berlin: costs, process and distinction from complete refurbishment
Full strip-out renovation in Berlin: what stripping back to the shell involves, what costs to expect, how long it takes, how it differs from complete renovation and when a new build is worthwhile.
Complete refurbishment in Berlin: scope, costs and distinction from full strip-out refurbishment
Complete renovation in Berlin: which trades are involved, the difference from a full strip-out renovation, costs and funding to Efficiency House standard (BEG, KfW).
Energy refurbishment in Berlin: measures, funding in 2026 and GEG obligations
Energy renovation in Berlin: worthwhile measures and sequence, Efficiency House standards, funding in 2026 (KfW, BAFA, IBB) and GEG obligations when renovating existing buildings.
Renovating an owned flat in Berlin: what you can do independently and what the WEG decides
Renovating an owner-occupied flat in Berlin: individual vs. communal property, when a WEG resolution is needed (§ 20 WEG), costs and neighbourhood conservation for owner-occupiers.
Luxury refurbishment in Berlin: features, costs and the neighbourhood conservation conflict
Luxury renovation in Berlin: distinction from full strip-out refurbishment, why no credible €/m² flat rate exists, which upgrades neighbourhood protection prohibits and what applies when letting.
Renovating a block of flats in Berlin: modernisation, tenants and funding
Renovating a Berlin block of flats: modernisation vs maintenance (§ 555b BGB), tenant rights and notification, funding per residential unit, neighbourhood conservation and conversion restrictions.
Renovation when buying a house in Berlin: calculate correctly before purchase
Renovation when buying a house in Berlin: energy certificate requirement (§ 80 GEG), which renovation obligations buyers inherit, 6 % property transfer tax and calculating purchase price plus renovation.
Accessible & age-appropriate renovation in Berlin: measures and funding 2026
Accessible and age-friendly renovation in Berlin: typical measures under DIN 18040-2, funding in 2026 (KfW 455-B, care insurance fund up to 4,180 €) and retrofitting lifts in older buildings.
Bathroom renovation costs 2026: what does a new bathroom cost?
Bathroom refurbishment costs 2026: prices by bathroom size and trade, cost drivers, saving tips, funding and provider comparison. With tables and practical advice.
Renewing electrical installations – costs in older buildings in 2026
Renewing electrical installations in an older building: cost per sqm, typical items and what to look for in a quote. With a price table and checklist.
Façade insulation costs 2026: WDVS, prices and funding
External wall insulation costs 2026: ETICS, ventilated façades, cavity wall insulation and internal insulation compared. Prices per sqm, funding (BAFA, KfW, § 35c EStG) and payback calculations.
Kitchen renovation costs 2026 – what owners should budget
What does kitchen renovation cost in 2026? Prices for tiles, electrics, plumbing and fitted kitchens. Three scenarios with example calculations and saving tips.
What does renovation cost in 2026? Cost overview by trade
Renovation costs 2026 by trade: prices per sqm, cost drivers, saving tips and funding. With a worked example for a detached house.
Window replacement costs 2026: what homeowners pay
Discover current window replacement costs in 2026 and make use of funding options. Save with the right knowledge and planning.
Painting costs 2026: prices, examples and money-saving tips
Find out everything about painting costs in 2026: prices, saving tips and examples for your refurbishment. Learn more and save now!
Roof renovation costs 2026: what homeowners need to know
Find out everything about roof renovation costs in 2026. Tips for effective planning and saving money through a smart approach. Learn more now!
Conducting a completion inspection properly: checklist and record
Building work acceptance checklist: 7 steps, checks by trade, acceptance record template and avoiding common mistakes. With provider comparison.
Reviewing a construction contract: what private project owners must look for
Review a construction contract before signing: BGB vs VOB/B, 8 review points, identifying disadvantageous clauses and provider comparison. For project owners and renovators.
Defects liability in construction: your rights when defects occur
Construction defect liability: periods under BGB and VOB/B, rights concerning building defects, step-by-step defect notice guidance and typical pitfalls. For private project owners.
Writing a defect notice: sample letter and guide for project owners
Writing a construction defect notice correctly: sample letter, step-by-step guide, deadlines under BGB and VOB/B, and avoiding common mistakes. With a provider comparison.
Avoiding additional charges – the project owner's guide
Avoid additional construction charges: 7 common variation traps, practical checklist and specific recommended actions for project owners and renovators.
WEG renovation – from resolution to acceptance
Planning homeowners' association (WEG) renovation properly: resolutions, comparing quotes, cost allocation and acceptance. Practical guide for homeowners' associations and property managers.
Reviewing a renovation quote: is the price understandable?
Review a renovation quote: assess scope, quantities and open costs. With a checklist, follow-up questions and an example comparison with the renovation roadmap.
Online quote review vs. independent surveyor: costs, turnaround and quality compared
Online quote review or surveyor? Costs (79 € vs 360–714 €), turnaround (24 hours vs 2–4 weeks) and quality directly compared. With a decision guide for project owners.
Consumer advice centre construction advice vs Cleverbauen24: services and costs compared
Consumer advice centre construction advice or online quote review? Costs (180–370 € vs from 79 €), scope, waiting times and review areas compared directly. For project owners.
VPB building advice vs online quote review: is membership worthwhile?
VPB or online quote review? Costs (membership + hourly rate vs. from 79 €), service comparison and decision guidance for project owners and renovators.
Reviewing a building quote — the complete guide for project owners
Have a construction quote reviewed: 7-point checklist, costs, warning signs and professional review options compared. For project owners and renovators.
Construction contract review: lawyer or online review? Costs and benefits compared
Have a construction contract reviewed: construction lawyer or online quote review? Costs (149–850 €), service comparison and help deciding. For project owners and renovators.
The most common mistakes when finding contractors — and how to avoid them
Decided solely on price? Agreed verbally? 7 common mistakes when finding contractors and what to do instead.
Negotiating a contractor's quote: 8 tips for fair prices
Negotiating contractor prices: 8 practical tips, avoiding common mistakes and using a professional review as a basis for negotiation. With provider comparison.
Comparing contractors' quotes: checking scope and price
Comparing contractors' quotes: use a worked example, comparison table and specific questions to identify differences before commissioning work.
Cost estimate vs quote – what is the difference?
Cost estimate or quote? Differences, legal basis (§ 632, § 650 BGB), tolerance limits and tips for project owners. With a provider comparison.
Lump-sum price vs unit price in a construction contract: which is better?
Lump sum or unit price in a construction contract? Differences, advantages and disadvantages, common traps and a decision guide by project type. With provider comparison.
Contractor quote too expensive? Check 7 points before accepting
Is your contractor's quote too expensive? Check 7 specific points, compare the same work and clarify open costs before awarding the contract.
Quote review: 6 real findings from reviewed construction quotes
Real, anonymised findings from our quote reviews: a typo worth almost 9,000 €, 30,000 € of unresolved earthworks, missing ancillary services — what project owners miss and our review finds.
Find & compare renovation companies in Berlin: a guide for property owners
Finding and comparing renovation firms in Berlin: where to find reputable businesses, legally applicable selection criteria, permissible advance payments, GU vs. separate contracts and protection against insolvency.
Comparing construction companies (Berlin): creditworthiness, guarantees and pre-qualification
Comparing construction companies in Berlin: differences from trade businesses, reliable criteria (commercial register, creditworthiness, PQ-VOB, guarantees) and BGB vs. VOB/B.
Comparing contractors (Berlin): choosing the right companies
Comparing contractors in Berlin: criteria for choosing between businesses, where to find reputable firms for each trade and what matters for master craftsman requirements and contracts.
General contractors in Berlin: general contracting vs separate contracts, costs and risks
Main contractors in Berlin: the distinction between a main contractor and a construction management contractor, main contractor vs separate contracts, contract models, a single point of warranty responsibility and insolvency risk.