(edit title) Buying a holiday house Help required... Options

[leeds]

Hello all,

After visiting Sweden I'm now considering buying a holiday home there to use in the summer. I'd really appreciate you're help with a few things.

I have looked online and there are some for al little as

[Hallander]

Check old threads on here. I have bored peoples socks off on here with my views.

But in a nutshell, they are cheap because land is cheap, and the more isolated, the cheaper they are. Only beware they are almost all wooden, very cheap ones can need immediate repair, and they all need quite a bit of upkeep. There seem to be more on the market now since the Danes, previously inflating prices in the South have slowed down their purchases.

The basic payment is an annual property tax, a fraction of UK council tax, plus almost always a commune charge for solid waste collection. Then electricity, water, cess pit emptying depends what facilities you have. You almost always buy outright, no ground rent.

Descriptions usually say what repair is required. Just keep searching Hemnet, Booli to get an idea of prices. Booli gives actual selling prices, often a lot less than asking prices. Only the most desirable bid upwards, most are open to offers.

[leeds]

Thanks for that. Just looked at the forum posts, looks like it might be a goer. All I need to do now is work out where the best trout fishing is!!!!!

So the price I see on Boolie is the asking price and you can make an offer as you would in England?

[Hallander]

Booli also shows how long the house has been with that estate agent which is helpful. Except not 100% reliable since house can get taken off the market if they dont sell, and then put up again the following spring. My personal tips, do everything though the estate agent, ask him about making offers, he should remain neutral, and he can be very helpful to you when you buy, he will do the registration, no lawyer needed and can be trusted with the money transfers.

[skogsbo]

Some considerations;

Water supply from well, get a sample checked; if it has radon, iron, hard etc.. then you could easily be looking at

[leeds]

Thanks everybody...

The insulation, wood upkeep etc. I'm happy with as I'm a builder by trade. My next question was going to be how much does it cost to keep them warm during winter. You think

[Hallander]

Our surveyor suggested keep all rooms at 5 degrees with those with water pipes held at 10 degrees. My insurance requires 15 degrees, which is never going to happen. I have electric heaters set to 10 degrees, which max and min thermometers show gets held in the kitchen but not elsewhere. Its the bathroom which concerns, but it never drops below 5 degrees.

Since the bank just flagged the latest 2 month bills, I just accessed all last years bills, no winter stays this time because of my health issues. Remembering it was a mild winter, the net owner took 2700 sek while the electricity supplier 4872 sek so 631 sek per month on average. A 2 bedroom small cottage, heaters up to 18 - 20 degrees and wood fires in evenings when we are in residence. (Sounds quite good against Skogbo's ballpark)

[skogsbo]

you won't get a bill below

[Willy]

The usual reasons why a holiday home is ridiculously cheap in Sweden:

• It is in urgent need of renovation (falling apart).
• It is far away from population centers. Make sure you realize how big the country is.
• It is not a holiday home at all, but a normal house meant for year-round living in a place where there are no jobs.

[leeds]

Great advice thanks!!! Can I ask with insulation what you expect bill to drop to? Thanks!

[skogsbo]

Great advice thanks!!! Can I ask with insulation what you expect bill to drop to? Thanks!

once we've done the other walls, perhaps about

[Hallander]

To complete - you have seen my figures above for what might be a fairly typical holiday cottage, average size, reasonably but not outstandingly insulated, double glazed. Figures there excluded any winter occupation, so background heating only during that last season. Peak electriicity useage was Jan - Feb at 2 units per day.

But in fact it is fine for winter occupation, we have been there with an outside temperature of minus 25. And we used 55 units of electricity a day when there, heaters nearly flat out.

And its 63 sq metres. Oh, and all water heating electric.

[Hallander]

Editing error. 25 units a day in coldest month this last winter, background only.

[leeds]

Fantastic thanks guys! I really appreciate that!

[gubbenilådan]

Hi Leeds... I came on fishing trips to southern Dalarna for 8 years in a row before I bought a holiday home here in 2000 and used it every summer and most winters before finally retiring here in 2013. Did you find a place yet, do you need any further advice?