House Renovation Studio
Valencia

“Before any purchase, it is worth to know in advance, the maintenance of your future Home.“

We are a Technical Architect and Building Engineer Studio with more than 20 years of experience in the Construction and Project Management field. Technical Architects and Building Engineers, can perfectly act as a role of Building, Property and Structural Surveyors, Project Managers, Financially Management Constructions, Quality Control, Appraisals Surveyors, Health and Safety Coordination, and Technical Inspections, materials manufacturing, sustainability and energy efficiency assessment, Building Rehabilitation, adaptation of commercial premises, etc…

Due to our experience, the Studio can also assist you in the different phases of a Project Management and Interior Design such as:

1. Design process and detailed plan drawings: Preparing detailed drawings and finalize the design plans, showing actual sizes and shapes for rooms and different spaces. Construction specifications will be outlined, listing the major materials to be used. When you approve the design drawings, our Studio will work with you to find contractors to give you cost estimates.
2. House Renovation Project Management
3. House renovation Council License Control 
4. Construction documents: One of the most important elements of Our Studio’s services is construction documents. Pur Studio will develop detailed drawings and material specifications. The contractor will use both to estimate construction costs and to build the project.
5. Budgeting and cost analysis.
6. Hiring a contractor: You have several options when it comes to hiring a contractor, including asking Our Studio to make recommendations or choose a contractor on your own. Our Studio can assist you in selecting contractors by reviewing bids and estimates based on the construction documents.
7. Building Renovation process control: Scheduling and controlling the different phases of the construction project from design to completion, keeping you informed during all the process of whatever new situation is coming up and giving you the best solution for each scenario.
8. Licenses and Project monitoring for commercial activities

On the other hand you can also decide to have a private Inspection, for your own safety, by ordering a Property & Building Survey Report, of your future Home, which evaluates the different pathologies, and different construction problems found in your future house, before the purchase is done.

Here in Spain, in almost 100% of the cases and for Government Entities, Notaries, Lawyers, Official Institutes, Insurance Companies, Land Registry, Title Deeds…etc, your house will be requested with Official Technical Survey Reports, Technical Inspections, Official Energy Efficiency Certificates or some other kind of Survey Reports related with your house purchase.

The law in Spain is very simple & clear: Only Technicians qualified and members of the Official Technical Colleges, will be able to solve those Official or Government Survey needs, that the City Council or other Main Organizations are requiring from your future home.

You will be able to find more information about our Services in our web site, and as a resume this is a summary of our main tasks focused on making you an easier and safer investment in Spain, before and after your Home Purchase.

1. Technical inspections related with the Architecture field: A technical inspection is used to verify compliance with technical specifications. The inspection can be carried out visually or specific instrumentation may be necessary to determine if the structure or part of the house / building complies with the corresponding technical specifications according to the architectural standards of Spanish legislation.
2. Property/Building Survey Reports.
3. Homebuyers Surveys (also known as a pre-purchase Surveys).
4. Verbal Survey Reports (Online reports): This Surveys are not accompanied by a written part. This is a visual inspection accompanied with the future buyer and discussing together the different building/house issues during the inspection. This kind of Surveys can also be done with an online conversation. This Survey Report is relatively cheaper than the first one, as the written part is missing.
5. Rustic Land Inspections: If you are buying land or a property in the country, such as a farmhouse or similar, it is essential to find out if it is placed in an area where urbanization is allowed (in this case it is called a “finca urbana”, or “suelo urbano” ) or where urbanization and residential developments are not allowed (“finca rústica” or “suelo rústico”). In both cases there are exceptions that we beet know before any purchase.
6. Commercial Properties Inspections.

The average properties sought after are apartments in the Valencian Community which costs starts in between 105,000€ – 120,000€ and have 80 m². In the province of Valencia, potential buyers seek a larger surface area of 90 m². Meanwhile, in Castellón and Alicante, the price starts in between 90,000€-105,000€ and the space required is 70 m². This average could reach the amounts up to 300.000€ – 700.000€, and much more, depending the area and square meters searched

These prices can clearly decrease if the property is held by a bank or is available at public auction. If the property needs a complete overhaul, it will also greatly reduces the initial price. According to experts, demand depends heavily on the area and is for properties with 3 or 4 bedrooms.

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

First of all, and always before signing any deposit contract or document related with the property sale, we deeply recommend to check the “health of the property” through a  Structural and Property Survey Report, which evaluates the different pathologies, and different construction problems found in a House/Building.

This Studio, allows you to know which problems has got your future investment, and also, which solutions. To conclude, unbiased Survey Reports, are the perfect weapon for future safe investors and also will help to negotiate the future price of your property in order to get a fair value. 

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

In Spain, Building & Property Management Capacities are ruled by the Building Engineer University Degrees which are deeply related with the construction field, and strongly protected by the Government through the General Council of Building Engineers (also known as a Technical Architects).

They all should be in possession of a minimum four years Official University Degree, also enrolled as a Member of the Building Engineers Association (CAATIE), and in possession of the corresponding Surveyors & Engineers Civil Liability Insurance, in order to protect their Professional Acting.

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

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—literally.
• Add More Space. Bigger homes tend to sell for more money with a good & functional indoor layout.
• Add Energy Efficiency and good sound and thermal insulation.
• Add Updated Systems and Appliances.
• Add Technology.

Most of the times we use both words for a same meaning: Changing your house interior for a better one: This is true. Although for design and build professionals, the words REMODEL and RENOVATE have two very different meanings, although they are used interchangeably.

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

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

• 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 complete transforming it. When you are changing the layout of a room reconfiguring the floor plan, you’re remodelling.

• Improves 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.

• Breaths 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.

• The Act of Renewing

In house construction, this 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.

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 affect the overall rate of completion

But 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.

• Cometic Type: In between a few days up to 3 months: (Interior or exterior painting, new appliances, new countertops, basic flooring replacement.
• Medium Type: Several weeks up to six months: (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 complete new one. )
• Major Type: Six months up to one year: (Foundation repair, structural repair, house lifting, second story addition.)

The variable and direct costs of the project are:

(*)Kitchen appliances, and Management cost, not include in the price per square meter. 

• The costs for project management will vary according to the size of the reform/renovation. These costs usually include monitoring the work from start to finish. The obtaining of building licences and permits from town hall. It also 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, and especially providing regular updates and progress reports to the owner/developer via the method of communication chosen so, owners do not have to be there.

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 can be very smooth, as long as you employ a person (Project Manager= Technical Architect) that can deal with any issues, the different phases and details, whilst keeping you informed so that ‘you are always in control’ of the solutions developed.

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

In this phase the P.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 P.Manager in order to obtain the different quotes involved in the renovation process.  They 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 P.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 representations needed at the town hall will be handled by the P.Manager, for greater ease in resolving any technical or administrative issues which tend to accompany renovation works of this type. So that you: (the owner), can relax knowing problems are being resolved and you are being kept  informed without the need to be involved.

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 through lawyers with experience in this sector, 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.

It is the responsibility of the P.Manager / Architect to determine the extent of any damages, who provides the guarantee and/or 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.

Any Construction Company must have in possession, a Civil Liability Insurance according to the law, which covers any type of damages or inconveniences caused during the whole renovation process.

It is very important that the developer/owner of the property, knows that at all times and once the entire payment of the work has been made, that 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 constructions 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 , damp and facilities where there has always been a correctly 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 correctly  normal use and maintenance of the building.