Building vs Buying

When buyers come to the Costa del Sol looking for their dream property, whether for retirement or as a holiday home, they may search for quite a while and then conclude that the property that ticks all their boxes simply doesn’t exist yet. The answer to this is – build the home you want.

Build your home in Spain instead of buying

This may sound like a challenge, and there are plenty of people who will warn you about the drawbacks of this undertaking, but we are confident that it needn’t be the nightmare that some make it out to be, and at Terra Meridiana we have the experience to assist you with your building project in multiple ways.

First, we will discuss with you what kind of location you want and your preferred views (sea, mountain or panoramic) and source the perfect plot for this aspect of the project. Our professional team will then advise you regarding the process of buying a plot, with input from your independent lawyer.

Creating your dream property

Depending on your taste we can introduce you to a selection of architects to design your chosen style of home, and if deemed necessary can help you appoint a project management company to oversee the build. We also work with full service companies who act as developers, taking on the role of architect, builder and project manager under one roof. We can explain the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. It is very important to have a reliable and experienced building company on board as well as a professional project management company that is familiar with all the relevant Spanish building regulations, particularly if you won’t be in Spain full time to keep an eye on progress. It is the responsibility of the builder, or contractor, to obtain the correct permissions prior to work beginning on a new build, although we would point out that it is also the responsibility of the property owner to ensure that this has actually been done.

We also assist clients with choosing if required an interior designer who will source the fixtures and fittings that will create the look you want for the best possible price.

Choosing the right team

Obviously, building a home takes some time and we always advise owners that ‘patience’ should be your watchword from the start. This doesn’t mean that Spanish contractors take the stereotypical ‘mañana’ approach to their work; times have changed in that respect, but there may be hold-ups with building licences, which is why it pays to have a contractor who knows their way around the Town Hall departments.

Finally, we’d point out that buying a plot and building your bespoke dream property can actually work out less expensive than buying a property ‘off the peg’ and prove a very good investment.

Contact us for more information about available plots of land and advice about taking this exciting route to owning a property on the Costa del Sol.

contact Terra Meridiana
Building or buying a property in Costa del Sol
Adam

"Looking to buy a plot? Ask us for expert advice"