A duo aims to realize their dream in the Harz region, yet finds themselves experiencing a horror instead
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In the heart of the Upper Harz, a charming cottage named "Rose" welcomed a new family. The Brockhaus couple, Anke and Ulrich, a teacher duo from Hildesheim, had found their dream home—a typical "grabenhaus" of the former mining region—advertised in the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung." However, what they thought was an ideal retreat turned out to be a series of unexpected challenges.
The couple, who planned to use their new home as a base for outdoor activities like climbing and whitewater activities, soon discovered that the cottage's three-chamber septic tank was not registered with the district and discharged its wastewater "into nowhere." This was just the beginning of a long list of issues they would face.
One of the most significant challenges was the seasonal and winter conditions. The Harz region, known for its picturesque snowy forest walks, can be challenging for year-round access or maintenance of a second home in winter. Natural ice skating in places like Hohegeiß is only available at certain temperatures, and some roads and services may be limited or weather-dependent.
Buying a second home in the Harz, which covers a national park and many small towns, also involves navigating local rules about property use, conservation restrictions, and local municipality policies. These can limit alterations to the building or impose restrictions on rental or commercial use.
Infrastructure and services can also be more limited compared to urban areas. Shops, public transport, and medical services may be scarce, and supermarkets and shops often close early and may be shut on Sundays. New property owners may need to adapt to these changes.
The Brockhauses also encountered community expectations and integration issues. The Harz has numerous small, often historic towns with local customs and expectations. New property owners may need to adjust to local norms, including property maintenance standards and community engagement, which can be different from those in cities or other regions.
Other challenges included the well on the property not providing enough water to meet their needs, the unknown Harz's underground conditions for tapping into the water tower in Altenau, a "disgrace" during their hiking activities in the Harz (no further details provided), requirements for providing fire extinguishers for the fire department, a fence built by the previous owners that did not match the actual size of the property, and the need to search for the previous owners to negotiate the purchase of additional land.
Despite these numerous challenges, the Brockhauses never considered giving up their Grabenhaus in the Harz. They persevered, turning their dream home into a reality and overcoming each obstacle along the way. Their story serves as a reminder that buying a second home in the Harz, while rewarding, can also come with unexpected challenges. Potential buyers should investigate property-specific regulations, winter preparedness, and local community customs before making a purchase.
[1] Source for winter conditions [2] Source for infrastructure and services
- To manage the harsh winter conditions in their newly purchased home, Anke and Ulrich Brockhaus were compelled to research and prepare accordingly for maintaining access and services during seasonal changes, as they discovered in the Harz region, certain roads and services might be limited or weather-dependent.
- Transforming their grabenhaus into a lifestyle haven, the Brockhaus couple intended to embrace fashion-and-beauty trends alongside home-and-garden renovations in their dream home, however, with limited infrastructure and services such as shops and public transport closing early and being scarce, they may need to adapt their original plans accordingly.
