What do you really get when you buy a house or an apartment?

What Are You Really Paying for When Buying Property – It’s Not Just About Walls

Buyers look at the price and square meters

Most buyers, when purchasing property on Krk Island, first look at the final price and the number of square meters. At first glance, this seems logical – pay as little as possible for as much space as possible. However, the price of a property includes much more than just walls and surface area.

Buyers rarely take into account that every finished house or apartment already includes land, permits, paperwork, time, effort, and labour. Plots close to the sea are now almost non-existent – they are often parcels with an existing building, making the initial investment much higher than buying bare land.

Investors focus on future buyers

Today’s investors think differently. It’s not just about raising walls – they invest in what the market demands. This means planning additional amenities and higher-quality equipment, because they know that buyers want more than just square meters.

In modern new-builds, this most often includes:

• garages and parking spaces

• swimming pools and landscaped gardens

• heat pumps and water-based underfloor heating

• security doors, video surveillance, and quality windows

• air conditioning from renowned manufacturers

Such investments increase the price, but also the value of the property, because they bring comfort, security, and energy efficiency.

What buyers are really paying for

Buyers often think they are only paying for walls, but the price already includes all the costs that the developer has covered:

• purchase of land and site preparation

• project design and building permits

• architectural and geodetic work

• communal contributions and taxes

• professional supervision and project management

• finishing works and equipment

In other words, when you pay the price of a property, you are paying for the entire process – from idea to finished home.

How the price per square meter is formed

The price per square meter on Krk Island does not depend only on location. It is the result of several factors:

• land prices (the closer to the sea, the more expensive)

• construction costs, which have risen significantly in recent years

• quality of materials and finishing works

• additional amenities such as a swimming pool, garage, or roof terrace

• documentation, permits, and communal fees

Find out more about the latest new-builds on Krk Island on our website.

What today’s buyers expect

Buyer habits have changed. More and more people expect that a property will offer:

• privacy and their own parking space

• a swimming pool or landscaped garden for relaxation

• energy efficiency and savings on heating and cooling

• high-quality materials and better insulation

• modern design and plenty of natural light

Investors who recognize this create projects that not only sell faster but also retain long-term value.

What developers invest in

To raise the value of the property and meet buyer expectations, developers invest in:

• renowned sanitary ware and bathroom equipment

• quality flooring (parquet, higher-grade ceramics)

• interior and exterior fences that ensure security, privacy, and aesthetics

• landscaped gardens that add value to the property

• windows and doors with better thermal and sound insulation

All these are elements that buyers may not notice at first, but in the long run, they make a big difference in comfort, maintenance, and overall value of the home.

Why prices aren’t the same as before

A common misconception is to compare today’s prices with houses built ten years ago. In the meantime, almost everything has changed:

• construction materials have become significantly more expensive

• labour is scarce and more costly

• building standards are higher

• buyers now expect swimming pools, garages, and additional features

That is why today’s prices cannot be compared with those from the past – they reflect new standards and market costs.

Advice for buyers: how to realistically assess property value

High real estate prices may seem confusing at first, but it is important to see the bigger picture. Just one element of modern construction, such as joinery and large glass walls, can cost over €100,000.

That is why it is always wise to make your own rough calculation – how much it would cost if you started a project from scratch, including land, permits, communal fees, construction, and finishing works. When you buy a completed property, it is logically more expensive because you are buying a finished product. It’s the same as with food: a meal in a restaurant is always more expensive than cooking at home, but you pay for convenience, time, and a ready result. If you are interested in a detailed offer and price overview, explore our Marvel website.

Conclusion

Buyers often look only at the final price and number of square meters, while investors see the bigger picture: what today’s market demands and what quality brings lasting value. When you buy property on Krk Island, you are not just paying for walls and square meters – you are paying for the entire process, the effort, and the standard that makes your home ready to move into.