How can I go about buying a house in Windhelm? I think I have to do the Civil War quest line but I'm not sure. Can someone tell me if I have to help the Stormcloaks to get the house. No spoilers PLEASE

If you want the house, you have to fight in the Civil war. You can choose either side, though.

But to clarify, you only need to pursue the Civil War up to a certain point and the option becomes available. I haven't played the Imperial side but it stands to reason you would need to help capture the city first. For the Stormcloaks, I believe you need to help retrieve the crown which is like the third or fourth quest into the storyline.

If you joined the Stormcloaks, it will be made available after you capture Fort Neugrad.

If you joined the Empire, it will be made available after you sack Windhelm (i.e. complete the line).

In both cases, it is highly advisable to complete Blood on the Ice first, in order to avoid bugs that can break said quest.

I didn't do the "Blood on the ice" quest then went on to do the whole civil war quest . . .




now I can't buy Hjerim at all ~ the steward just keeps saying they have a house available but it needs clearing up first

I have permission from the jarl to buy and the steward agrees to sell to me but only after the house is cleared up

but you only get the quest (blood on the ice) after the fourth visit to Windhelm [SPOILER {from a guard in the graveyard at night}]

now it's too late for me to go and do the quest so i wont be able to make the purchase ~ it's a bad glich as it is supposed to be the best house to buy :[




so I'd say that doing blood on the ice is a must not advisable ~ each game is a bit different though so have a go anyway ~ but I've read somewhere that if you manage to buy it without doing the blood on the ice questline that even after you decorate the place out you still have the blood splats on the wall.

interested to find out how you get on.

The guide is actually wrong in one respect: you don't (or at least I don't) need to wait until your fourth visit to start the quest. I always do it on my first visit, just to have it done should I choose to buy the house later.

The issue with buying it without first doing the quest is that the option to clean the mess up is not present in the list of decor items, so you get stuck with the blood and body parts littering the place if you buy the living room decor prior to doing the quest.

You have to 1st do the blood on the ice quest or you will have a bug later trying to buy the home. The quest triggers by finding the crime scene in the cemetary.

After you finish the war for either side you should be able to buy the home

Word of advise as soon as it becomes available do it.. I'm having a hard time trying to activate it.. my last hope is to find tova if this doesn't work I won't be able to get the house.. I alread made a thread about it in the bug/ software issue portion of the forums.. I've done everything even leave & return to windhelm 4 times.. I've also did the civil war quest and helped the people and became thane of windhelm.. good luck..