HUMAN SPACES
Consulting for Property Purchase, Spatial Design & Renovation Concepts
Flat Rate for Accompanied Property Viewings:
Price per property up to 200 m²
What to expect during your appointment:
Preparation:
- Quick check of online listing
- Telephone Briefing (approx. 15 min)
- Review of submitted documents for plausibility and initial risks
On-site-appointment:
- Accompaniment to Property Viewing (up to 1 hour)
- No additional charges for travel within Vienna
- Initial Visual and Technical Assessment of Condition
- Identification of construction defects, renovation needs, and other irregularities
- Assessment of renovation possibilities
- Advice on interior design and space planning
- Identification of potential uses
- Focused questioning of key issues
Wrap-up :
- Around 30-minute post-meeting review, on-site or via phone
Are you about to make a major property investment?
Wondering if your dream apartment is in good condition? Does the floor plan really suit your lifestyle and make the most of the property’s potential? The pressure to act quickly can be intense. Yet, without professional advice, the foundation for a confident decision is often missing.
You don’t have to make this decision alone.
I guide you in your decision-making – straightforward and independent.
My degrees in architecture and interior design, combined with over fifteen years of experience in the construction industry, are the cornerstones of practical support throughout this important process.
All starts with the right decision.
Purchasing a property is a major milestone. With solid expertise and a trained eye by your side, you gain confidence and make decisions with peace of mind – both for today and for the future.
Liability disclaimer
As part of the property purchase advisory service from HUMAN SPACES, I provide you with comprehensive and expert support in making decisions regarding your property purchase. My services include reviewing floor plans, providing initial assessments of renovation needs and costs, and highlighting the potential of the property. Please note that I do not offer detailed technical reports, structural or building physics assessments, or legal advice. For these specialized areas, the involvement of qualified experts is recommended. Despite careful analysis and consultation, I do not assume liability for the completeness or accuracy of the information provided. Responsibility for the purchase decision and any subsequent implementation rests with the client.
I would like to receive non-binding information about the property viewing accompaniment.
Meet the face behind Human Spaces
Dipl.-Ing. Katja Johanna Kammerer, B.A.
Construction professional and passionate creator of living spaces.
Creative.
My passion for design and creation has followed me since my education.
Experienced.
Over the past ten years, I have gained practical on-site experience as a project manager across Europe.
Solution-oriented.
I value open and respectful communication and am convinced that it can be used as an effective strategy for problem-solving .
Supportive.
I am confident that my many years of accumulated expertise can provide valuable support to property buyers without specialized knowledge .
My career stations:
- HTL diploma in interior design and furniture construction with carpentry training
- Bachelor's degree in interior design at New Design University
- Diploma in architecture at TU Vienna
- Management of architecture projects in a renowned architecture studio
- Successfully completed qualification examination for licensed civil engineering in architecture
- International project experience and leadership roles in the architecture and real estate industry
- Head of the interior design department of a Europe-wide active real estate developer
- Technical overall project management of an innovative wood hybrid high-rise building in Germany
FAQ
Why should I use an independent real estate consultancy?
Professional consulting protects against poor decisions, uncovers hidden defects, and reveals optimization possibilities. This way, you make an informed and secure purchase decision.
What qualifications and experience do you have?
In addition to a HTL diploma, a bachelor's degree in Interior Design, and a completed diploma in Architecture, I passed the civil engineering professional examination in architecture in 2024. More than fifteen years of professional experience in real estate development (including international project management and construction site experience) make me an expert in real estate, architecture, and spatial design.
When is the right time for a consultation?
The best time is before or during the first viewing – this way you can identify potential risks early and better seize opportunities.
Do I need to already have a property in mind to use your consultation services?
No, you can also contact me before actively searching. I support you in determining your needs and am happy to accompany you from the first idea. However, I do not act as an real estate agent and therefore do not take on the property search.
Who is your consultation suitable for?
My services are aimed at private individuals who are about to buy or renovate a property and want independent, and personalized expert advice. In addition, I also offer my services to sellers and real estate agents who want to provide complementary technical and design consultation or want to fully develop the potential of the property in advance.
Do you also create technical reports?
As part of my consultation on building substance, spatial design, and remodeling options, I also prepare documentation as needed. The advantage of my service is that, compared to court-appointed experts and surveyors, I can be engaged quickly, easily, and cost-effectively. I am currently not practicing as a civil engineer and therefore do not offer technical reports.
What happens after the consultation?
After our appointment, you will receive my checklist as a PDF. For an additional fee, I document the inspection in a report including my recommendations and a list of next steps.
For further consulting services, I am available to you as desired and needed.
What does your consultation cost?
The flat-rate package for the viewing has a fixed price . All other prices are based on the desired scope of services on an hourly basis. I will be happy to provide you with an individual offer after an initial consultation.
Do you also take on real estate agent activities?
I do not have the professional license for real estate brokers. Therefore, I do not offer any services in this area, especially regarding the brokerage of real estate transactions, searching for suitable properties, property valuation, marketing, organizing viewings, and contract processing.
How does your consultation differ from a real estate agent?
I work independently from the seller and exclusively in your interest, without commission ties. Payment for my service is independent of the sales transaction. My focus is on technical and design consulting. My goal is for you to make the right decision for you, whether that means buying the property or not.
What services are included in your consultation?
The scope of the viewing accompaniment service is clearly defined: It includes a quick check (15-30 minutes) of the available documents or the advertisement, a roughly 20-minute preliminary telephone discussion, presence during the viewing including giving recommendations, assessment of room potential, estimation of renovation efforts, identification of defects and inconsistencies, inquiries with the broker and seller during the viewing appointment. Including a brief immediate debriefing, the viewing covers a maximum duration of 1.5 hours. During the viewing, a checklist is worked through and handed over directly afterwards. It does not include further communication with the broker/seller, written documentation of the viewing, or additional consultation appointments. These services can be added on an hourly basis as needed.
Any other service will be charged based on an individual offer, including an effort estimate and a custom-defined list of services billed on an hourly basis.
How does the needs assessment work?
In a personal or digital meeting (about 1 hour), we clarify your wishes, ideas, and priorities so that I can tailor my consultation to you as best as possible. I guide the conversation with a checklist, incorporating your existing preferences and deal-breakers from your experience, while also introducing new perspectives.
How does a viewing accompaniment work?
I personally accompany you to your viewing appointment, review plan documents, assess the condition of the property, and provide you with a well-founded initial assessment of renovation needs and room potential.
Are your consultations also possible digitally?
Yes, many of my services can be conveniently consumed online – for example, needs analyses, floor plan evaluations, or consulting on spatial concepts. I also offer online viewing support. Of course, the physical experience of a space cannot be fully replicated digitally.
Do you also take on interior design?
Yes. In the first step, I develop individual spatial and remodeling concepts for you. If needed, I also take on interior design and planning.
Do you also handle official procedures and building permit applications for me?
Yes. In my work, I primarily focus on interior design. Within this scope, I am authorized to submit building notifications that are not statically or building-physics relevant. In this context, I am also happy to handle the processing with authorities on your behalf with your power of attorney. Beyond this, I collaborate with other experts, so you always receive all services from a single source.
Do I have to report structural changes inside my apartment to the authorities at all?
In Vienna, any significant change to the room layout within an apartment – such as moving or removing walls – is generally subject to mandatory notification. Renovations that change the room division or the room designation usually require a building permit or at least a building notification according to the Vienna Building Code (§ 62 BO for Vienna).
This means specifically:
Moving/removing partition wall: Usually requires building notification; if load-bearing components are affected, it even requires a building permit.
New room designation (e.g., living space as office): Always requires a building permit because it involves official requirements, such as zoning and parking space obligations.
Superficial work such as painting or replacing floor coverings does not require notification.
Do you also take care of the implementation of conversions?
Yes. I support you in coordinating with specialist companies, take over communication, and accompany the project until completion. For larger conversions with structural significance, building supervision or even a structural engineer may be required. In such cases, I can involve experts from my network.
Do you also support with the selection of craft companies?
Yes. Thanks to many years of practical experience, I know many contractors and understand what matters. I can support you in selecting and communicating with craftsmen or handle this on your behalf.
Can I not also recognise construction defects myself during an inspection?
Viele Mängel sind für Laien schwer erkennbar. Es gibt aber Hinweise auf die man achten sollte, wie Feuchtigkeit, Risse, „schwitzende“ Fenster, fehlende Prüf- und Wartungssiegel an haustechnischen und elektrischen Installationen. In welchem Ausmaß der Zustand besorgniserregend oder normal ist, lässt sich durch Experten schnell einschätzen. Auch gibt es versteckte Mängel, die durch Fachleute eventuell schon vor dem Kauf aufgedeckt werden können.
What is a hidden defect?
Ein verdeckter Mangel liegt vor, wenn ein Mangel an einer Immobilie oder einem gegenstand) bereits bei der Übergabe vorhanden ist, aber zum Zeitpunkt der Übergabe nicht ohne Weiteres erkennbar war. Dies bedeutet, dass der Mangel nicht offensichtlich ist und erst später, oft erst nach einiger Zeit oder Nutzung, entdeckt wird. Beispiele hierfür sind: Schimmelbefall, Feuchtigkeit oder Wasserschäden, verdeckte Risse hinter Wandverkleidungen, Altlasten wie Asbestbelastung o.ä., Schädlingsbefall, etc. Weiters können dies auch nicht genehmigte Anbauten oder Nutzungsänderungen sein, sofern dies nicht thematisiert oder in den Plänen ersichtlich gemacht wurde.
Neither the land register excerpt nor the plan documents mean anything to me. Can you support me here?
Ja. Es ist essentiell, vor Kauf alle bestehenden Unterlagen im Detail zu prüfen. Dies ist ohne Fachkenntnis oft schwierig. Ich prüfe alle Unterlagen erkläre die Inhalte und weise auf Unstimmigkeiten hin, die vor dem kauf geklärt werden sollten.
This includes, on the one hand, the land register excerpt, which provides information about both the current ownership status and the rights and obligations towards neighbours or the municipality.
Andereseits lohnt es sich, die beigelegten Pläne zu prüfen. Stellen diese den Konsens dar, das heißt, entsprechen sie dem Stand der auch der Behörde vorliegt? Unstimmigkeiten hierbei können bei weiteren Einreichungen zu Mehraufwänden führen, wenn der Konsens nachgeführt werden muss oder im schlimmsten Fall nicht mehr bewilligungsfähig ist.