ARE YOU PLANNING TO BUY A HOUSE IN SPAIN?
We know this can be a big step for you.
We are here to help !
“One of the first steps to take before any purchase is to learn in advance about the current condition of your future Home.”
We know that buying a property in another country can be a difficult decision…and one that you should approach with calm and caution. The first step is finding the right people to manage the different stages of renovation. These stages include such things as an unbiased house inspection, the property acquisition process and the management of a safe, cost-effective renovation. Equally as important should be adherence to the regulations in force in the place where you want to invest.
These are some of the reasons why we decided to create “Valencia Surveyor Studio”. We bring over 20 years of Technical and Administrative experience in construction and property investment to buyers seeking to find their dream house or apartment. We have been able to assist many foreign investors, with their investments in Spain with our studio’s fair and transparent services. WE ARE NOT REAL ESTATE AGENTS
One of the first steps after finding a house or apartment to buy is to request a Property and Building Survey Report made by a Surveyor ( =Technical Architects & Building Engineers). A survey highlights specific weak areas of the property and building(s) with special attention to the structure: Property Surveys can be an important friend to help you avoid big mistakes before a purchase.
You should request a Building Survey or Technical Inspection when you consider it necessary, which will probably be the majority of the time. You should make this request, before signing any deposit contract or document related with the property sale or simply when you need to acquire a certain Official Technical Certificate or Survey Report Endorsed by the Official College for an Official Local Entity or at a National Level. Inspection reports may also be needed when an Insurance Company considers insuring the property.
Bear in mind that here in Spain, in almost 100% of the cases the following will require Technical Survey Reports Endorsed by an Official Institution: Government Entities, Inhabitation Licensing authorities, House Surface Certifications, Notary documents, Lawyers, Official Institutes, Insurance Companies, Land Registry, Title Deeds,
Sometimes you can also be requested to order a House Technical Inspection accompanied by an Official Certificate endorsed by a Local Official Surveyor, for some other kind of Official Survey Reports related to your House Purchase.
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OUR STUDIO
20 years of experience
We are not intermediaries. When you contact Valencia Surveyor Studio, you are in direct contact with Technical Experts in the construction and Project Management fields.
We are a Technical Architecture Studio with more than 20 years of experience in the Construction Project Management and Property Acquisition Administration fields. As House Technical Architects and Building Engineers we act basically in the following roles: House-Property and Structural Surveyors, Project Managers and Appraisal Surveyors. We manage the financials, Quality Control, , Health and Safety Coordination, Technical Inspections, material purchasing manufacturing. In addition, we will find qualified experts to address issues outside our core competencies.
You will be able to find more information about our Services on our web site. To summarize below is a summary of the expertise we bring to the tasks that will make buying and/or renovation of your property a safe investment in Spain, before and after your Home Purchase.
- Technical inspections related to Architecture: 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 entire structure or part of the house/building complies with the corresponding technical specifications according to the architectural standards of Spanish legislation.
- Property/Building Survey Reports.
- Homebuyer Surveys (also known as a Pre-Purchase Survey).
- Verbal Survey Reports(Online reports): These surveys are not accompanied by a written part. This is a visual inspection made by us with the future buyer and discussion of the building/house issues found during the inspection. This survey can also be completed with an online conversation. This type of survey report is relatively cheaper than the first one, as the written part is not included.
- “Rustic” Land Inspections:If you are buying land or a property in the country, such as a farmhouse or similar, it is essential to determine 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 must know before any purchase.
- Commercial Properties Inspections.
Due to our experience, the Studio can also assist you in the different phases of Project Management and Interior Design including but not limited to the following:
- Design process and detailed plan drawings:
- Preparing detailed drawings and final design plans
- Showing actual sizes and shapes for rooms and other spaces.
- Outlining construction specifications and listing the major materials to be used.
- Upon approval of the design drawings, our Studio will work with you to find contractors to give you cost estimates.
- House Renovation Project Management
- House Renovation Council License Control
- Construction documents: One of the most important elements of Our Studio’s services is construction documents. Our Studio will develop detailed drawings and material specifications. The contractor will use both to estimate construction costs and to build the project.
- Budgeting and cost analysis.
- Hiring a contractor: You have multiple options when it comes to hiring a contractor, including asking Our Studio to make recommendations or choosing a contractor on your own. Our Studio can assist you in selecting contractors by reviewing bids and estimates based on the construction documents.
- Building Renovation process control:
- Scheduling and controlling the different phases of the construction project from design to completion.
- Keeping you informed of new issues that come up and giving you the best solution for each scenario during the entire process.
- Licenses and Project monitoring for commercial activities
BUILDING & PROPERTY SURVEY REPORTS
“Please make sure your that future Home is free of any obvious potential risk.“
One of our primary and most useful services is a Property & Building Survey Report 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.
When should I request a Property Survey?
You can request a Survey or Technical Inspection when you consider it necessary. Usually this means during the period of negotiation prior to signing a deposit contract or any document related to the purchase of a house or property. You may also need to acquire a Technical Certificate or Survey Report Endorsed by the Official College for any official entity at a National Level or an Insurance Company that requests it.
Bear in mind that in Spain (in almost 100% of the cases) for Government Entities, Notaries, Lawyers, Official Institutes, Insurance Companies, Land Registries, and creators of Title Deeds, you will be required to furnish Official Technical Survey Reports, Technical Inspections, Official Energy Efficiency Certificates or other types of Survey Reports related to your house purchase.
What is a Property Survey Report?
Property and Building Survey Reports, are created by Surveyors (Technical Architects & Building Engineers) after an inspection of the subject property. They serve to highlight specific weaknesses of the property, including the building(s), foundation(s) and structural components. It includes a Condition Report, plus any defects that might affect the property and its value, along with advice about repairs and maintenance. Also spotlighted are any risks, potential legal issues and urgent defects.
It is an in-depth, unbiased, and transparent opinion of how the property has been preserved. The analysis contained in the Survey is meant to protect the future investment interest of the buyer should a purchase be concluded. Property and Building Survey Reports generally summarize the overall condition of the property. It also describes the soundness of the structures on the property by pointing out hidden defects that the buyer would be obliged to remedy.
Why is it important to order a Survey?
Our building and property survey reports go beyond a description of the condition of the building(s). Our combined expertise allows us to also include thorough structural and technical assessments of your property. Knowing what you are buying will save you money. Your report can be used to negotiate the price of the property and will help you decide whether to proceed with the purchase.
A building survey, which used to be known as a structural survey, is a comprehensive inspection of all accessible elements of your property. The report also provides a detailed evaluation of the condition of your property and will suggest which parts of the property might be a problem. In addition, the report will point out areas of concern that could need further investigation. Property Surveys do not establish a market value for the house.
Do I really need a House Survey in Spain?
No. A property survey is optional. But a survey can help you avoid expensive and unwanted surprises (like an unexpected rewiring job) as well as give you peace of mind by telling you that those hairline cracks don’t mean the house is falling down! A survey can confirm that a “rustic” property is 100% legal and can be renovated without any Council License problems. Given the hundreds of thousands of euros it can cost to buy a property, a few hundred euros spent on a survey by an independent expert is a good investment.
When you’re already spending a lot of money on buying a house or flat, a survey can feel like an unnecessary expense. But it’s far better to be aware of any problems before you buy a property, so you can make an informed decision about how much you’re willing to pay and, if necessary, budget for any repair work that needs to be completed.
You may also be able to use the information in the survey to negotiate with the seller. For example, if your survey finds that you’ll need to carry out repairs costing €10.000 you could ask for a €10.000 reduction in the acquisition price or ask the seller to make the necessary repairs before you sign a purchase agreement.
House surveys vs mortgage valuations
When you apply for a mortgage, the mortgage lender will carry out a valuation on the property to make sure it’s worth roughly what you’re planning to pay for it. This mortgage valuation is sometimes called a valuation ‘survey’, but this can be misleading.
A mortgage valuation is nowhere near as comprehensive as a proper house survey. In fact, it sometimes won’t even involve anyone visiting the property in person. Because of this you should always arrange your own independent survey to make sure you’re not overpaying for your new home or about to buy a property with significant problems.
A Building / Property Survey will cover basically the following issues:
Internally: Dampness and condensation; ceilings, walls and floors; chimney and chimney fissures/cracks; windows, insulation, asbestos; electrical wiring and panels; water connections and plumbing; meters for gas, water or electrical services); joinery/cabinetry and flooring; evidence of termite infestation; and any other issues.
Externally: Full inspection of the roof, chimneys, gutters, main walls, windows and doors, foundation(s), drainage and boundaries. Assessment of the condition of the facade.
Other: Garages, BBQ, wells, septic tanks or sewer connections, conservatories, tenure/tenancy, building community issues, land legality, “rustic lands”…
Surveys are suitable for all properties, but particularly appropriate for:
This kind of survey is suitable for Standard properties and relatively new homes in good condition. However, it is also valuable for properties in reasonable condition, larger or older (50+ years) properties, atypical or unusual homes, renovation projects and properties in poor condition.
- Old Properties – recommended for properties over 50 years old
- Buildings constructed in an unusual way, regardless of age
- Buildings that you intend to renovate or change in a future
- Buildings that have already been renovated or significantly altered
- Properties you are thinking of renovating
Technical Architect & Building Engineer Team
Official College Membered
Welcome! Our team is created by Technical Architects & Building Engineers in Valencia, Spain, graduated with a Technical University Degree endorsed by the Universidad Politécnica de València and completed our Studies with a Final Project Degree at the University of Applied Sciences in Oldenburg, Germany.
The Polytechnic University of València is one of the most prestigious and professional Institutions in Spain, It promotes and enforces the highest national standards in the valuation, technical management and development of the Building Construction, Engineering and Infrastructure fields.
Our Technical University was recently declared the best Spanish Technical University according to the university rankings of ARWU (Academic Ranking of World Universities)
In Spain, Building & Property Surveyors Knowledge is one of the areas of study offered by the Spanish Technical Architects & Building Engineer University in a degree program at the Universidad Politécnica. It is intrinsically connected to “the Spanish way” of construction and strongly protected by the Government through the General Council of Technical Architects & Building Engineers. The Council and Universidad Politécnica are responsible for the high quality of Technical expertise available in Spain.
Bear in mind that in Spain (in almost 100% of the cases) for Government Entities, Notaries, Lawyers, Official Institutes, Insurance Companies, Land Registries, and creators of Title Deeds, you will be required to furnish Official Technical Survey Reports, Technical Inspections, Official Energy Efficiency Certificates or other types of Survey Reports related to your house purchase.
On the other hand you can also decide to have a private Inspection, for your own safety, by ordering a Property & Building Survey Report to evaluate the possible deficiencies and different construction problems found in your future house, before the purchase is done.
One of the reasons why we decided to create “Valencia Surveyor Studio”, is to be able to assist many foreign investors, guaranteeing their investments and expectations in Spain with our fair and transparent services. Investors from the UK, United States, France, Germany & Sweden, are some of our clients.
HOUSE RENOVATION MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Would you like to make a House into your Home?
Since our early days as a Property Surveyor there have been many Survey Reports that we have completed. During this time many of our clients asked us to help them by repairing and fixing all the damages that their house needed before they moved in. Some homebuyers went further and asked us to manage their House Renovation process. After gaining experience with management of the House Renovation process it made sense for us to expand our services by offering a House Renovation Project Management Service, when my clients need them..
With more than ten years of experience offering these services, we have been able to specialize in what are the main needs and concerns of many of our clients coming from other countries. You can read the reviews from our satisfied customers in another page of the website. Valencia Surveyor Studio offers a wide range of samples of modern House renovations, some of them shown below. We can offer you multiple choices regarding the different materials, layouts, and different budgets. We listen to our clients and provide them with different proposals, according to their needs and pocketbooks!
Do you have to contract our services as a House Renovation Managers after you hire our services as a Survey Reporters?
No. They are two completely different and separate services.
Our Survey Report services are totally independent and they do not necessarily need to be linked to the House Renovation services.
SOME OF OUR HOUSE RENOVATION PROJECTS IN VALENCIA
I hope you enjoy having a look at some of our projects below, as much as we did by creating them.
