What we do in the real estate market
Sustainable construction is and will remain an important topic for the future. As the market leader, we see it as our task to contribute to a functioning housing market. We want to create transparency, provide guidance, educate and develop the right digital products and services. Following the acquisition of Sprengnetter, we are also continuing to develop our product portfolio with a clear focus on sustainability, ESG and data transparency.
Sustainable products
As part of our ESG product strategy, we want to use ImmoScout to offer products that cover the most important steps on the way to improving the energy efficiency of buildings. In 2023, we launched the following product initiatives, among others:
- Solar Lead Engine (SLE) – solar energy solution offers for homeowners: for homeowners who wish to install solar panels, we facilitate the buying and installation process by enabling them to obtain offers directly via ImmoScout24, based on their preferences, from several solar panel providers and compare these – a service that is tailored to their specific needs. We connect homeowners with a large number of solar panel providers, simplify buying solar power and promote sustainability and energy efficiency.
- Cost estimates for energy-saving modernisation projects: based on an API from Sprengnetter, we offer an innovative calculation tool to estimate the cost and plan energy-saving real estate modernisation measures. The tool provides detailed estimations of project costs, government funding options and the anticipated increase in value of the property as a result of the modernisation measures. Homeowners will have access to it as of early February 2024.
As part of our ESG product strategy, we intend to offer ImmoScout products in the future that cover the most important steps towards improving the energy efficiency of buildings. The planned product range includes not only the assessment of the current energy status with the help of energy performance certificates and the estimation of modernisation costs, but also the placement of energy consultants, photovoltaic and heat pump installations and the provision of information on public subsidies. In this way, we aim to promote the installation of low-emission heating and energy generation systems in buildings. We aim to make these products available to homeowners, seekers and estate agents in the course of 2024.
Search filter energy efficiency classes
Since May 1, 2021, stricter rules apply to energy certificates for residential properties in Germany. The energy certificate provides information about the energy condition of a property. Since then, the level of CO₂ emissions must be included in the certificate. Real estate sellers who want to sell, rent or lease a house or apartment are required by the Buildings Energy Act (GEG) to issue an energy certificate for the property. At ImmoScout24, home sellers can include both the energy certificate and information on the energy efficiency class in their advertisements.
A survey by ImmoScout24 suggests that real estate seekers are already paying more attention to this, and will continue to do so in the future, to save energy and thus also ancillary costs. With the ImmoScout24 partner ENERGIEAUSWEIS48 providers receive within 48 hours an energy certificate examined by experts for plausibility. More information is available here.
Prospective tenants or buyers can search the offerings at ImmoScout24 specifically for energy efficiency classes.
To find an energy-efficient property on ImmoScout24, searchers can use the filter functions to select the desired energy efficiency classes. They can then find the respective information for each offer directly in the list of results as a colored symbol below the photos of the property.
Savings on ancillary costs through energy efficiency
Calculated over the year, heating costs differ enormously depending on the energy class. Worse energy classes may result in heating costs that are twice as high. An apartment with a good energy efficiency class from A+ to B can save owners or tenants around 15 to 30 cents per square meter in heating costs. In the case of existing properties in particular, there can be big differences between energy-efficient apartments with relatively good energy efficiency classes and unrenovated apartments. The larger the apartment or house, the greater the difference in CO2 emissions and ancillary heating costs.
Savings potential through good energy efficiency classes from A+ to B per year:
- 60 sqm apartment between 74 - 215 euros,
- 120 sqm apartment between 147 - 430 euros,
- Above 100 sqm, the cost difference can be over 30 cents/sqm.
CO₂ savings through virtual tours
Since the end of March 2020, we offer the possibility of integrating digital live viewings in the advertisements on ImmoScout24, in order to save unnecessary trips of provider and prospective buyers. In addition, recorded 360-degree tours can be integrated which gives a good impression of the property. According to a survey among landlords at ImmoScout24, seven viewing appointments are required on average before an apartment is newly rented. A large part of the physical inspection dates can be avoided by online live inspections, because a large part of prospective tenants often find out after a short time that the apartment is not suitable for them after all.
Here is a small calculation example: Let's assume that three people each drive 10 km (there and back) by car to the viewing, then they generate an average of 9.5 kg of CO2 emissions. If, on the other hand, these people just visit the home virtually at first, they not only save time, but also almost all of the greenhouse gases.
Digital model home park
Building a house is still one of the most important projects in a person's life. Especially the individually designed prefabricated house is becoming an attractive option for more and more consumers. However, the supply is greater than ever before. ImmoScout24 has developed the first digital show house park so that house providers no longer have to put their houses on display in elaborate physical show house parks, which involve a high consumption of CO₂, resources and space. In the digital show house park interested home builders can get a digital and online impression of the catalog houses of the house providers.