Deutsch- 37% of Austrians name energy costs as the biggest housing problem (Integral trend study 2026)
- Energy-efficient renovation increases property value by 15-25%, in individual cases up to 30%
- Energy-efficient properties achieve 10% higher sales prices
- Renovation reduces energy costs by 50-80% - buyers take this into account
- 1.8 billion euros funding volume by 2030, max. 30% of the investment costs
- Drei salesoptionen: unsaniert (Preisabschlag), vollsaniert (maximaler Ertrag), teilsaniert (Kosten-Nutzen-optimiert)
Why the energy certificate determines your selling price
We have observed something repeating itself over the last few months.
When we talk to owners about selling, sooner or later the energy certificate comes up. Almost always the same reaction: “It’s just a formality” or “Buyers don’t care anyway”.
Then we show the numbers. And then the assessment changes.
What the numbers show: energy costs as a purchasing decision
In January 2026, the Integral trend study for ImmoScout24.at measured what we already know from our own transactions: 37 percent of Austrians name high energy prices as the most important and problematic issue related to housing.
Styria: 45 percent. Lower Austria: 43 percent. Carinthia: 40 percent.
These are not abstract concerns. These are people who calculate, compare and decide.
When you sell, you face these very people.
Kernpunkt:Energy costs are the central living issue for more than a third of Austrians. Anyone who sells meets buyers who do the math.Why we as investors evaluate things differently
We buy and sell real estate ourselves. Not just as a service for others, but for your own portfolio. That means we sit on both sides of the table.
When we value a property, the energy certificate is not a formality. We calculate what it means. For financing. For the return. For the exit.
Professional buyers do the same thing.
You see a property in energy efficiency class F or G and immediately calculate: How much will the renovation cost? What remains of the purchase price if I take that into account? Is it even worth it?
Most sellers do not understand that the energy certificate is not a document. He is a price lever.
Kernpunkt:Professional buyers immediately include renovation costs in the purchase price. The energy certificate is a basis for negotiation, not a formality.How much increase in value can be measured?
This is where the numbers become concrete.
An energy-efficient renovation increases the property value by 15 to 25 percent. In older buildings this can sometimes be up to 30 percent.
These are studies. These are transactions that we have supported. These are numbers that we use in our own calculations.
There is also something that many people overlook:
Energy-efficient properties achieve sales prices that are up to 10 percent higher. Not through better negotiation or marketing. But because buyers are willing to pay more for something that will save them money in the long term.
We have experienced this ourselves. For a renovated property, the price achieved was significantly above the average for comparable properties. The buyer did not negotiate. He did the math. And he understood that he would drive better in the long term with lower energy costs.
The invoice in the buyer's mind
Depending on the extent of the renovation and the initial condition of the building, energy costs can be reduced by 50 to 80 percent.
Two comparable objects. One with high energy costs, one with low ones. What does the buyer do?
He calculates. He compares. And he chooses the object that will cause him less stress in the long term.
Or he offers significantly less for an unrenovated property because he takes the renovation costs into account.
This is exactly what is happening in the market right now. Anyone who doesn't understand this will lose out on price.
Kernpunkt:Renovation increases the value by 15-25%, energy-efficient properties achieve a 10% price increase. Buyers include saved energy costs in their bids.What funding is available?
Here's something many owners overlook:
In the years 2026 to 2030, 360 million euros are earmarked for the renovation offensive. A total of 1.8 billion euros. The total funding amounts to a maximum of 30 percent of the eligible investment costs.
This is structural support. That is the difference between “renovation is too expensive” and “renovation is worth it”.
Attention: Since February 2, 2026, new registrations are only possible for boiler replacement. The time window is getting narrower.
We don't say this to put pressure on you. We say this because we have experienced it in our own projects: If you plan too late, you pay more. Either through lost subsidies or through lower sales prices.
Kernpunkt:1.8 billion euros funding volume by 2030, up to 30% of the costs will be covered. Registration window narrows.Why we advise differently than most brokers
Most real estate agents say: “Sell as is, the buyer will then renovate themselves.”
This works. But it costs money.
We see it differently. Because we invest ourselves. Because we know how buyers calculate. Because we know the numbers.
Those who renovate before selling control the process. You choose the measures. You control the costs. You use the funding.
And you sell at a price that not only compensates for the renovation, but goes beyond it.
In the worst case scenario, around a third to 50 percent of the renovation costs are offset by the increase in value. In the best case scenario, there is a significant profit.
Even if the increase in value does not cover all costs, it offsets a significant part.
The perspective from your own concerns
We don't just support sales. We carry out identical transactions for our own portfolio in parallel.
This means: When we say that renovating before selling makes sense, it is not based on theoretical knowledge. But because we did it ourselves. Because we know the numbers. Because we can assess the risks.
We do not promise anything that we have not validated ourselves under comparable conditions.
That is the difference between consulting and support.
Kernpunkt:Those who renovate before selling control measures, costs and subsidies. The increase in value offsets at least a third of the costs, often more.Three scenarios for your sale
If you want to sell now, you have three options:
Option 1: Sale without renovationYou are selling in its current condition. The buyer calculates the renovation costs. Your selling price is below potential. You lose money that you could have realized through targeted measures.
Option 2: Complete renovation before saleYou renovate comprehensively. You use funding. You sell at a significantly higher price. You control the process. You maximize the return. But: You invest time and capital.
Option 3: Gezielte TeilsanierungYou identify the measures with the best cost-benefit ratio. You improve the energy efficiency class by one or two levels. You increase sellability. You keep the investment manageable.
Which option is right depends on your situation. Of your time frame. Of your capital. Of your goal.
What doesn't work: Ignoring the issue and hoping that buyers don't take the energy certificate seriously.
Kernpunkt:Three options with different returns and investments. The right choice depends on time frame, capital and sales goal.What we have learned from our own mistakes
We didn't always think like that.
In one of the first transactions we treated the energy certificate as a secondary matter. We thought: the location is good, the property is solid, the rest is a matter of negotiation.
Then came the sightseeing. And the questions.
“How much does heating cost per year?” “What renovations are necessary?” “Are there any subsidies?”
We didn't have good answers. And that is reflected in the price.
What we learned from this is that the energy condition of a property now has a decisive influence on its market value. An old boiler, a lack of insulation or an energy certificate in the red categories significantly reduce the price.
Seitdem planen wir anders. Wir rechnen anders. Wir sell anders.
And we support owners the way we wanted to be supported ourselves: with transparency, with numbers, with options.
Kernpunkt:Our own experience shows: If you ignore the energetic state, you lose out on the selling price. Buyers ask questions that you need to be able to answer.The decision you can't put off
If you want to sell in the next few months or years, there is one question:
Do you want to control the price or let the buyers take control?
Anyone who sells without renovation leaves the calculation to the buyer. The buyer includes the renovation costs. The buyer negotiates downwards. The buyer determines the price.
Those who renovate before selling control the process. You choose the measures. You use the funding. You sell at a price that reflects your investment.
We can't say which option is right for you. That depends on too many variables.
But we can say: ignoring the issue costs money.
Frequently asked questions
Is it financially worthwhile to renovate before selling?
An energy-efficient renovation increases the property value by 15 to 25 percent. Energy-efficient properties also achieve up to 10 percent higher sales prices. In the worst case scenario, the increase in value compensates for a third to 50 percent of the renovation costs. Funding covers up to 30 percent of the investment.
What funding is available for energy-efficient renovations in Austria?
By 2030, 360 million euros will be available annually from the renovation offensive, a total of 1.8 billion euros. The funding amounts to a maximum of 30 percent of the eligible investment costs. Attention: Since February 2, 2026, new registrations are only possible for boiler replacement.
How much do energy costs influence the purchasing decision?
37 percent of Austrians cite high energy prices as the most important housing problem. In Styria it is 45 percent and in Lower Austria 43 percent. Buyers expect energy costs over 20 to 30 years and factor renovation costs directly into their bids.
How much can energy costs be reduced through renovation?
Depending on the extent of the renovation and the initial condition of the building, energy costs can be reduced by 50 to 80 percent. Buyers value these savings over the entire service life and are prepared to pay higher purchase prices for them.
Which renovation option is right for my sale?
This depends on three factors: time frame until sale, available capital for investment and sales target. Option 1 (unrenovated) means quick sale with a discount. Option 2 (full renovation) maximizes returns, requires time and capital. Option 3 (partial renovation) optimizes the cost-benefit ratio.
What happens if I sell without renovation?
The buyer calculates the renovation costs into his bid and offers accordingly less. You lose control over measures and costs. The selling price is below the potential that you could have realized through targeted renovation.
How do professional buyers evaluate the energy certificate?
Professional buyers immediately calculate the renovation costs for energy efficiency classes F or G. They check whether the investment is still worth it after the renovation has been deducted. For them, the energy certificate is a basis for negotiation, not a formality.
Why should I work with investors instead of traditional brokers?
Those who invest themselves sit on both sides of the table. We calculate what the energy certificate means for financing, returns and exit. We only promise what we have validated ourselves under comparable conditions. The support is based on your own concerns, not on theoretical knowledge.
Summary: What to take with you
Energy costs dominate housing concerns in Austria. This is not a passing mood, but a structural reality.
Buyers calculate, compare and decide based on long-term costs.
Anyone who sells without taking this into account will lose out on price. Anyone who renovates without doing the math also loses.
The right strategy: Targeted measures, clear calculation, use of funding, control over the process.
We do not say this from theoretical knowledge. We say this because we sit on both sides of the table. Because we buy and sell. Because we know the numbers.
And because we support owners the way we wanted to be supported ourselves: with transparency, with numbers, with options.
The most important findings:- 37% of Austrians prioritize energy costs when it comes to living - buyers take this into account before every bid
- Energy-efficient renovation increases the value by 15-25%, energy-efficient properties achieve a 10% price increase
- Funding covers up to 30% of the renovation costs, 1.8 billion euros available until 2030
- Three sales options: unrenovated (price discount), fully renovated (maximum yield), partially renovated (optimized cost-benefit ratio)
- Those who renovate before selling control measures, costs and subsidies - and thus the sales price
- The energy certificate is not a document, but a price lever. Those who understand this sell better
- Support is based on our own investor experience: We only promise what we have validated ourselves under comparable conditions
Related articles
> The energy certificate influences the sales price of your property.>