Renovating a house in Spain: 10 top tips for success

If you live in Spain or are planning to move there, one way to get your dream home is buy buying and renovating a house in Spain. You can save money and also get to create your dream home from scratch! However, facing a refurbishment can be stressful, especially if it’s your first time doing it abroad, let alone in your own country. From questions about how much it costs to renovate a house in Spain, to DIY and building permissions, you’ll have a lot on your mind, while budgets, deadlines and unforeseen events can make everything more complicated. So, if you’re renovating a house in Spain, these are out 10 top tips for success.

Our team leader Wendy Jackson is eager and willing to help anyone in need with the process of renovation in a property in Spain.

Carefully plan your budget

Renovating a house in Spain can be a never-ending pit when it comes to expenses. To avoid disappointment and issues, the best thing to do is to carefully draw up a budget and stick to it as much as possible. Obviously, things will always come up that you hadn’t counted on, so to deal with it, make sure you set aside a sum of money for unexpected expenses.

Clearly define the objective of the renovation

Renovating a bathroom and kitchen is not the same as undertaking work to change the entire layout of the house. Think carefully about what you need or would like to do: more storage space, a place to work, an open concept home, a total renovation of floors and wall coverings, etc. Above all, be realistic, remember that you have a budget that will not always be enough.

Search for professionals

It is worth spending some time to find the most suitable company for the renovation of your house. You should look not only at the budget, but also at the guarantees they offer, their professionalism and the opinions of other clients. Remember that sometimes the cheapest things end up being expensive and that in a renovation project you can lose a lot.

If it is a complete renovation, you should also make sure that the chosen company has all the necessary professionals. This way, they will be perfectly coordinated and the work will be much quicker. Another very important point is to make sure you sign a contract in which everything is clearly specified: works, materials, qualities and deadlines.

Obtain all the necessary permits

The company you hire will probably tell you if you some kind of license for the work, if it is a major project. Sometimes they can even take care of the processing. In any case, make sure you know what permits you need to carry out the renovation. Your local council will inform you.

Choose a date

Sometimes there is no choice but to coordinate with the renovation company, but always look for a date when the work will cause as little inconvenience as possible, especially if you live in the house. Holidays are often a good time, as they allow you to follow the work more closely or to leave the house empty so that the workers can work unhindered.

Be patient

It is inevitable, throughout the works there will be an endless number of unforeseen events, so you should always approach the renovation as an obstacle course and not despair when a problem arises. If the contracted company is professional and experienced, it will be able to solve any unexpected situation without major issues

Listen to the professionals

Both in the design of the renovation and in its implementation, you may want changes that are not always possible or wise. Our advice is to take into account what the professionals say. If they assure you that it is not a good idea to move the bathroom, it is because it may cause problems in the long run, not because they want to ruin your plans.

Ask questions and trust your gut

However, just because you follow the advice of those who carry out the work, this does not mean that you simply have to accept everything they tell you. If you are not convinced, ask questions and, if you are still in doubt, you can always ask for a second opinion. The important thing is that you are fully convinced of each and every aspect of the renovation.

Avoid making decisions as you go

As disastrous as not resolving doubts is not resolving them in continuous and unexpected changes. If the renovation is well planned from the beginning, it will not be necessary to introduce modifications. If you do, remember that you may only delay the work.

Be optimistic

It is inevitable, especially with major renovations, that at times things may seem like an uphill struggle. But think about the end and the fact that you will finally have your dream home in Spain. 

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