1970s house renovation in Zurich: is 450k CHF really not enough?
I’m in the process of buying an unrenovated house from the 1970s in the canton of Zurich (around 200 m²). According to the estate agent, the structure itself seems to be in good condition, but it’s obvious that everything is old, especially the windows. What’s hidden behind the walls will probably only become clear once the renovation starts.
The planned work includes: a new kitchen, 2 bathrooms including plumbing, removing some walls/opening up spaces, new flooring, heating, repainting/plastering walls, new windows and removal of the old oil tank. Two companies have already told me that CHF 450'000 - 500'000would barely scratch the surface, which honestly shocked me a bit. Since the plot itself is already very expensive, I really need to keep the renovation budget under control.
I therefore have three questions:
Phasing the renovation:
Can certain works be postponed until later, for example the external wall insulation on the facade ? I’d rather accept higher heating costs (currently still oil heating) for the next 5–10 years than have to invest another CHF 50–60k immediately. I’m also expecting an inheritance in the coming years, which would give me more financial flexibility.
Architect / project manager:
Is it absolutely necessary to hire an architect or construction/project manager or can I coordinate it myself (to be honest, I’m a woman and I don’t really know much about construction, but I do know what I want?). Would prefer to avoid paying a middleman if possible. Or is the project simply too large for that?
Company recommendations:
Can anyone recommend reliable and reasonably priced companies or tradespeople from Switzerland (including Ticino), Germany or Italy for a project like this?
Thank you