PROPERTY BUYING GUIDE
Renovation costs before buying: Swiss benchmarks and a worked example
Updated:
Your buying budget depends on the work the particular house needs. Establish condition, scope and quantities first. The benchmarks below illustrate selected work; they cannot replace a property inspection or a contractor's quotation.
1. Build a work schedule rather than one generic estimate
Give each building element its own line. Age is a clue, not an automatic replacement date. Separate necessary repairs from energy improvements and personal preferences.
- Element and findings: what is known and what remains unexamined?
- Work and scope: repair or replace; define materials, quality and quantities.
- Timing: before moving in, later, or after further investigation.
- Cost basis: source and date of the benchmark, or scope and date of a quotation.
- Unresolved items: check access, scaffolding, disposal, design, permits and hazardous materials.
2. Swiss benchmarks for selected work
These figures come from public Houzy cost summaries. Roof and facade: article dated 7 May 2026. Windows: renovation calculator FAQ, accessed on 4 October 2026. The sources provide orientation, not binding market prices.
| Work | Benchmark | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Above-rafter roof insulation | CHF 150–250/m² | Insulated roof area; clarify new roof covering separately |
| Facade insulation, 14 cm | CHF 250–300/m² | Facade area to be insulated |
| New windows | CHF 800–1,000/m² | Window area, not floor area |
Sources 1 and 2 below. Construction, location, connections and specification affect costs. Check whether installation, removal, scaffolding, disposal and VAT are included; the summaries do not fully define scope.
3. Worked example: an assumed building envelope
Synthetic arithmetic example, not a client property or a Housana quotation. Assume 120 m² of above-rafter insulation, 150 m² of facade insulation at 14 cm and 20 m² of new windows. Quantities are invented; unit prices come from the sources identified above.
| Item | Calculation | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Roof insulation | 120 m² × CHF 150–250/m² | CHF 18,000–30,000 |
| Facade insulation | 150 m² × CHF 250–300/m² | CHF 37,500–45,000 |
| Windows | 20 m² × CHF 800–1,000/m² | CHF 16,000–20,000 |
| Sum of these three items | Lower and upper bounds added | CHF 71,500–95,000 |
| Illustrative 10% contingency | An assumption for this example only | CHF 7,150–9,500 |
| Three items with example contingency | Sum plus contingency | CHF 78,650–104,500 |
Not a complete renovation budget: design, permits, scaffolding, disposal, any VAT additions, hazardous material removal and connection work are not separately calculated. Heating, kitchen, bathroom and services are also absent. The 10% is not a recommendation for your property and does not automatically cover unresolved items.
4. Resolve dependencies and uncertainties
Windows, facade and roof must work together. Changes to the building envelope can affect future heating design. Phased work should follow an overall plan. GEAK Plus can compare energy renovation alternatives, investment needs and grants (source 3).
- For buildings constructed before 1990, plan professional asbestos investigation before alteration work (source 4).
- For semi-detached and terraced houses, clarify the scope and access for roof and facade work with the people involved.
- Check local grant conditions before commissioning or starting work. Do not count unconfirmed grants as secured financing.
- Budget known additional costs separately and set a property-specific contingency for remaining uncertainties. Avoid counting an item twice.
5. Compare quotations with matching scope
Request quotations for the same described work. Compare quantities, specification, removal, disposal, associated work, VAT and excluded services. Resolve differing assumptions before comparing totals. Bring together purchase price, planned work, incidental costs and available contingency for your buying decision. Housana is preparing to launch; scope, price and possible inspection dates are clarified before commissioning.
Sources and context
Sources accessed on . Checklists and examples provide editorial guidance; your property requires its own investigation.