Do you want to build the house of your dreams?

With the help of a professional architect and an experienced builder, building the house of your dreams can be easy. But it will take a minimum of personal supervision to get the work done the way you really want it.

Finding Architects and Builders
A good architect is as important as a good builder.
To find an architect or/and a builder you can:
- surf on the internet;
- look in the yellow pages phone book;
- visit the local bars and ask for a trustworthy builder and architect;
- drive around and ask for the names and addresses of the architects and builders of the houses you like.

Choosing a Spanish Builder
When you have the architects plans ready, you can give them to several builders and ask for a quote (presupuesto). Do not forget to check on the quality of workmanship and the reputation for finishing on time. Some architects will propose a builder, but you can choose somebody else.

Using an English-speaking Agent
Look for a reputable agent who has satisfied clients. But do not sign any documents or powers of attorney without checking the contents with a lawyer. Some of the powers of attorney presented to the clients are too wide.

Spain is probably the best place in the world to do this as costs are lower than in the UK and the restrictions although tighter than before, are still less stringent than in Great Britain.

Spanish Building Costs
Building costs are less than in the UK with materials being up to two thirds less. Labour is around £50 a day for a skilled man if he is local the Brits tend to charge more which makes hiring a British jobbing builder a risky process. If you calculate around 8/900 euros a meter for work to be done including planning permissions but not taxes you will not be far wrong.

You will also need an Architect who will charge around 10% of the value of the project and will have to produce a mountain of paperwork. Starting with a basic project then a full project followed by a project of execution, each has to be approved by local and regional councils as well as the Architectural college, the council will then appoint a technician (perito) to check that your building has been built to the standards laid down. On top of this you will need a geotechnical survey to guarantee the stability of the ground and if you are very unlucky an ambiental study to make sure you will not disturb some lesser spotted newt or something (read ecologists).

Malaga province is by far the most difficult area to build from scratch. The amount of land required to build a single dwelling on differs from Council to Council , within the councils area land can be registered as Urban, urbanisable, irrigated rustic and dry rustic. Each zone has different rules and each real estate agent has different ethics, some don’t appear to have any. So if you are planning to build start by consulting a good local builder you can get a reliable second opinion before you commit to purchasing a plot. Granada and Jaen as newer areas recently discovered by us Brits planners are still flexible but again make sure before you buy.

Timescale
Beware of unrealistic timescales if a builder tells you your house will be ready in six months he is either an optimist or a liar. Nine months is achievable but uncommon depending on the size of the project and the builder / architect you have chosen. Ayear and a bit is about average although it’s a rare builder who tells the truth, part of the Spanish culture is that they do not like to say no. They love to please and firmly believe that bad news should be eaten in small portions. So get a good builder and be patient.

Now I know it sounds daunting but what I am really trying to tell you is not don’t build a house but do be carefull whom you do it with and where you do it.

Areas of the Spanish inland

Competa, Vinuela, Alheurin El Grande, Rio Gordo, Comares, Colmenar, in Malaga province are the areas that were the first areas to become popular for inland adventurers and as such are now on the beaten track rather than off it. As the most accessible areas to the coast with the longest history of sales to foreigners. Prices are higher than the newer areas. The worst have also have taken on some of the features of coastal towns with all day English breakfasts etc.

More exciting as far as the real rural buyer is concerned are areas like Estepa, Seville province but still within an hour of Malaga, Olvera and it’s surrounds in Cadiz is within the same distance of the airports and has some real bargains still to be found. Granada province with it’s snow capped mountains and historical wonders, Extremadura is another exciting opportunity to get that house in rural Spain without breaking the bank.