I will buy a lock. Zn. Money is not important, I have a vision!

9/21/2021 - Fortresses, castles, unique historic villas, old breweries, mills, even a water tower. All this, and across the country, can be found on the websites of real estate agencies and portals for those interested in high-quality housing or for the implementation of their plans. Many examples of successful renovations are proof that castle grounds and historic houses can be revived.

Do you have a specific intention or just a desire to own a piece of history? Buying a property with a significant history means taking care of its use. Smaller buildings can be renovated into luxury housing or as a representative company headquarters. Multi-purpose use is common in larger areas. Private castles often have hotels with conference facilities. This is a clear commercial use that can be combined with the provision of many other services, from renting spaces for filming to organizing private social events. However, due to their size, castles are often suitable spaces for various social purposes, for example as homes for the elderly or nursing homes for persons with a disability or serious illness. One new castle project offers facilities for young people leaving children's homes, who will find initial employment and start-up housing here. The second direction that these castle grounds are taking is culture and hobby activities. This includes, for example, the construction of a permanent exhibition related to personalities from the region or to the history of the building, gallery, concert hall. But there are countless ideas associated with the use of castle objects, from miniatures of European monuments to creative studios or zoo corners. However, the intention alone is not enough, the possibility of its realization is important. What to prepare for when you plan to buy a castle Before you buy such a property, you will be making decisions for months, maybe even years. If you have a clear specific intention and the place is suitable for it, it is easier for you. It is essential to check the local spatial plan. The decisive factor is whether the castle itself stands on construction land and what is the classification of other land within the ÚP. Another important fact is the state of the monument. If the castle is before reconstruction, prepare from the beginning for an intensive dialogue between architects and preservationists, and even before that for negotiations with banks and grant agencies. Grants can be obtained for many modifications and you should find that out before you decide to purchase the building. In any case, you need to have the return of the planned project thoroughly calculated. If you are planning a hotel or nursing home, you will be interested in the number of rooms, and in the case of a hotel, the number of lounges and halls. In many cases of use, it will be important whether an elevator can be built into the building. Barrier-free spaces are sometimes a condition for allowing a certain way of using the building. Money first Even if buying a property seems financially viable at first glance, calculate what resources you can work with in the reconstruction of the castle. This is usually significantly more than what it would cost to build a new building. What belongs to the castle is also important. The offer includes not only the castle itself, or outbuildings, but often also the surrounding park, fields, orchards, and ponds. Then, before selling, you need to consider whether you can use or rent them - and thus they will be part of the purchase contract, or the original owner will keep them and sell them separately, or you will agree in advance to buy them back, for example, with the municipality, a local agricultural company or another On the other hand, the surroundings of the castle should appear cultured and representative. Therefore, it is not advisable to deal with the sale of the park without conditions, so that it does not happen that the new owner fences it off and introduces, for example, unsuitable agricultural operations there. If the project will have a cultural or social content, it is possible to obtain grants, both from the state and from the EU . For example, grants for facade reconstruction, park improvement, restoration of statues and other works of art, or reconstruction of valuable historical interiors are common. Real estate agencies specializing in this type of real estate can provide service in this area as well. When buying a castle, even if you have a specific project ready, be prepared for the fact that its implementation will not take months, but years, maybe even decades . The restoration of such an object is always a long-term matter, but - as the current owners of similar properties confirm - the result is worth it. Are you interested in the topic? We recommend: How to deal with real estate that is a cultural monument Do you want to live in a castle? Monuments have unsuspected potential A good address symbolizes wealth and success There is a lack of luxury real estate in the Czech Republic Interest in exclusive real estate continues to rise

Jindra Svitáková