HOUSE RENOVATION & BUILDING SURVEY

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS

• Is it a good time to invest in Valencia?
• What is the first step I should take when a House is interesting to buy?
• Do I need and Architect to remodel or renovate a house?
• How do you receive a Quality Label? The Highest Professional Standards in Development and Project Management in Spain?
• What adds property value?
• Remodeling vs Renovation
• What does House Remodeling mean?
• What does House Renovation mean?
• How long does a property renovation / remodeling take?
• What are the cost per square meter of a house renovation in Valencia?
• What is the “renovation process”?
• Who legally backs the entire House Renovation process?
• What are the Guarantees that I have after the completion of the works?

Is it a good time to invest in Valencia?

Popular properties sought after are apartments in the Valencian Community, where prices start between €150,000 – €200,000 and have 80 m² of useable space. In the province of Valencia, potential buyers seek a larger surface area of at least 90 m². Meanwhile, in Castellón and Alicante, the price starts between €100,000-€150,000 and the space required is 70 m². Within the Valencia area, these prices could reach amounts up to €300.000 – €700.000, depending on the location of the property  and number of square meters within the apartment or house.

The condition of the property will be decisive, since the greater the need to renovate, the lower the selling price.

What is the first step I should take when a House is interesting to buy?

One of our primary and most useful services is a House Survey which evaluates the potential defects and construction problems found in a house, foundation and structure, before the purchase. This report allows you to identify problems with your future investment and also to provide solutions. Unbiased Survey Reports, are the perfect “weapon” for investors to use to help  negotiate the future price of your property in order to ascertain a fair value. 

Do I need and Architect to remodel or renovate a house?

You may need an architect or engineer to sign off on your plans. Also, either you or the architect will need to check with your local building department and ensure that the design for the project complies with the Local and National Building Law.

How do you receive a Quality Label? The Highest Professional Standards in Development and Project Management in Spain?

In Spain, the responsibilities and duties of Building & Property Managers are governed by the Building Engineer University Degrees and are influenced by the connection to the construction industry. These managers are watched over and strongly protected by the Government through the General Council of Building Engineers (also known as “Technical Architects”).
They all should be in possession of a minimum four year Official University Degree and enrolled as a Member of the Building Engineers Association (CAATIE). Building Engineers should carry the appropriate Surveyors & Engineers Civil Liability Insurance in order to protect their Professional Standing.

What adds property value?

How to Increase Home Value?

• Add Beauty. Okay, the first thing you can do to increase house value is to make your home more attractive. Add curb appeal. You have only a few seconds to make a good first impression.  The first impression for potential buyers occurs when they drive up to your house or stand in front of  the façade of your apartment building.
• Add More Space. Bigger homes tend to sell for more money with a good & functional indoor layout. If you cannot add space to your apartment make the most of the space that you have by maximizing every square centimeter!
• Add Energy Efficiency, insulation and, if possible, sound  reduction if you own an apartment.
• Add Updated Systems and Appliances that are energy efficient
• Add Technology. Security and climate control systems that can be controlled by mobile apps on your telephone are a good start!

Remodeling vs Renovation

Most of the time we use “remodeling” and “renovation” interchangeably. However, for “design and build” professionals, the words REMODEL and RENOVATE have two very different meanings.

Let’s start with the definition of the words.. According to the dictionary these are the definitions:

• REMODEL means “to change the structure or form of something.”
• RENOVATE means “restore to a good state of repair.”

What does House Remodeling mean?

Changing The Use of Space

A remodel will include changing the use of a space. A remodel is altering the structure and style of a space and completely transforming it. When you are changing the layout of a room by reconfiguring the floor plan, you’re remodeling.

Improving Functionality

In a kitchen remodel, for instance, you may decide to combine the kitchen with the living room and create an open concept kitchen layout. Or perhaps you’d like to install a kitchen island to create more functional space for cooking.

Breathing New Life into A Room

If you’ve started gutting, adding, or removing walls, raising ceilings, or expanding the square footage of your home you’ve crossed over into remodelling territory. Whatever it is, remodelling breathes new life into a room, giving the space a whole new look and feel.

What does House Renovation mean?

The Act of Renewing

Renovation includes re-painting, re-facing cabinets, installing new light fixtures, or adding other finishes and fixtures.

Update & Upgrade

The original purpose isn’t to drastically alter, but rather, to update to a new standard. Renovating a room in your home, if it’s the kitchen, will make the space attractive, and add value to the home.

Cosmetic Improvements

Remember that a renovation simply means you’re updating an existing structure with cosmetic changes, not significant alterations to the existing structure. For example, replacing your old windows with new ones is a renovation project.

How long does a property renovation / remodeling take?

Updating the look of your home is a great way to add functionality, comfort, and value to your property. However, one of the most common questions homeowners ask our renovation team is about timelines. This is often a difficult thing to answer, as each project has a unique set of needs that affects the overall rate of completion.

It is important to keep in mind a few basic guidelines when determining how long your project should take. Here’s what you need to know about your home renovation process and various rule-of-thumb timelines:

• Cosmetic Type: a few days up to 3 months. Examples include interior or exterior painting, new appliances, new countertops, basic flooring replacement.
• Medium Type: Several weeks up to six months. Examples include full kitchen remodel; adding new spaces to the living room; adding a new garage to the side of the house; changing the current house layout into a completely new one.
• Major Type: Six months up to one year: foundation repair, structural repair, house lifting, second story addition.

What are the cost per square meter of a house renovation in Valencia?

The variable and direct costs of the project are detailed below and should be considered broad estimates:

• In the case of wanting a comprehensive reform budget with medium-good quality materials, the price per square meter is starting from €850-900 +  taxes.
• If we have greater purchasing power and we want to carry out a mid-high-level reform, we would be talking about from €1.000 + 21% taxes per square meter (and possibly more). In this case we are talking about a project with high quality materials.
• With any project, it is important to have a master plan completed, an analysis about what is needed and the type of materials we are using. These prices will always depend on the final master plan layout, finishes, wood selection, floor tile quality, window quality, etc.
• (*)The costs for project management will vary according to the size of the remodel/renovation. These costs usually include monitoring the work from start to finish. It also includes obtaining building licences and permits from town hall. In addition, it includes preparation prior to the start of the project, financial review of the project, the drawing of plans and layout for the new space, plans of the original layout, the choosing of the quality and quantity of materials.  Regular updates and progress reports will be provided to the owner/developer via the best method of communication chosen so that owners do not have to be on site all the time.

What is the “renovation process”?

For your convenience, we will develop a programme that specifies step by step the different phases in which the renovation project will be implemented. The renovation process will be very smooth, as long as you employ a person (Project Manager= Technical Architect) who can deal with all issues, the different phases and details, whilst keeping you informed so that ‘you are always the person making the final decision.

One of the phases is called the pre-work stage, whereby the owner and Project Manager work together to establish what will be the technical needs, property layout and material needs of the renovation.

In this phase the Project Manager will draw the current plans of the property and then create the new floor plan according to what the owner and the engineer agree.

The Project Manager is responsible for explaining and organizing the work to the builder, according to the renovation plans drawn up between the owner and the Project Manager in order to obtain the different quotes involved in the renovation process. The Project Manager will also be responsible for obtaining all work permits from the town hall and/or any government agencies that are required.

All the legal processing of licences and permits granted by public bodies such as the town hall, departments, etc. are the responsibility of the Project Manager. This also includes the payment of fees to the town hall with regards to all works and which, by law, must be paid by the owner.

Any representation needed at the town hall will be handled by the Project Manager for greater ease of resolution of any technical or administrative issues which tend to accompany renovation works of this type. YOU (the owner) can relax knowing problems are being resolved and you are being kept informed without the need to be involved.

Who legally backs the entire House Renovation process?

The whole construction process is totally controlled by the client through a supervised contract drawn-up by bilingual professionals with experience in national and foreign labour markets. This means that lawyers with experience in this sector will assure that the client is aware at all times of the process and payment schedule, thus safely controlling the rights and obligations of the parties involved in the renovation process.

What are the Guarantees that I have after the completion of the works?

It is the responsibility of the Project Manager /Architect to determine the extent of any damages, who provides the guarantee and/or who will take responsibility for them once the work is finished (and prior to any legal action). It is very important for the owner/developer to know that on completion and payment for the project they are backed by a post-works guarantee.

According to the law any construction company must possess a Civil Liability Insurance policy which covers any type of damages or inconveniences caused during the whole renovation process.

It is very important that the owner/developer of the property knows that, at all times and after the last payment for the work has been made, it will be backed by the guarantee of the post-sale work. The Ley de Ordenación de la Edificación del 38/1999 del 5 de Noviembre, states:

La Ley 38/1999, de 5 de noviembre, de Ordenación de la Edificación. (applicable to new constructions of new floors or that makes a substantial modification to the building or makes structural reforms to the building) as shown in Chapter 4 Article 19, the following steps, during which the agents who participate in the construction of the building must be responsible for possible defects:

• Ten years for the repair of damaged materials caused by quality or construction defects which affect foundations, pillars, beams, architecture, load-bearing walls or other structural elements which compromise directly the mechanical resistance and stability of the building. An architectural or engineers report is essential.

• Three years for the repair of damages caused by components, parts or facilities that cause the failure to fulfil the requirements of occupation of said construction. This includes sanitation, moisture and facilities where there have always been a correct and normal use and maintenance of the building.

• One year for the repair of damaged materials that affect the finishing or completion of the building such as lining, cladding, facing, covering, coating, overlay, sheathing, flooring etc. In other words all those aesthetic defects that can be seen by the eye where there has always been a correct and normal use and maintenance of the building.