Renovating in Spain – How to Get Started…

How to do it without losing your mind???

Renovation... That word sounds like an impending monster creeping over the horizon, ready to drain your life force, strip away your patience, derail all your life plans, devour all your savings, and leave you with unfinished details that you have to patch up for months on end. Cue the Jaws theme music in the background... Okay, I started a bit intense, but I promise it gets better because I've got a handful of tips on how to tackle renovations in Spain. Where and how to find trustworthy companies is key.

...It's like getting a haircut at the salon, it's best to know what you want because it could turn out differently otherwise...

Once we have a plan in mind and know what we want to do, we can try to visualize the ideas, for example, with the app HomeByMe a cool, simple, and free browser-based program that allows us to convey our vision, whether to architects or companies handling the work. By measuring surfaces to model the space, we can estimate the prices of materials we'll be using, by checking their prices on sites like Bricomart.es or bahaus.es. It's best to go and have a look around at what's available in stores and at what prices.

Where to look for a reliable company...

There are plenty of firms and professionals out there, but how do you find the ones you can trust with your money, confidence, and keys to your home during the renovation? It can be challenging, especially if you're not familiar with the language. In that case, asking around on Facebook groups can be helpful - maybe someone can recommend someone. However, it's important to remember that sometimes companies recommend themselves from fake accounts, making it seem like many people have used their services. Renowned companies often have tight schedules, but it's worth searching, asking, and having conversations to find the right fit. Habitissimo - if language isn't a barrier, I highly recommend a fantastic website where you can specify the scope of work, read customer reviews, and get price ranges for services. The site helps you find companies in your area and facilitates contact! Additionally, apps like Wallapop and Milanuncios, as well as Facebook Marketplace, are great places to search for professionals, read reviews, and more.

Money, money, money…

To ensure that the offer is more down-to-earth than "out of this world" :), it's best to gather 3 or 4 quotes—never rely on just one, even if you really don't feel like searching... seriously... From experience... I once asked for a quote for a certain service—one company sent a quote saying they would do the work for over 7000 euros, another for 4600, and yet another for 2100 euros... So, I highly recommend market research because the price range can be very wide.
For negotiations, it is useful to know about the prices of materials.

Once we've chosen a service provider, we'll check reviews about them on every possible platform (Google, Facebook). After reviewing their previous projects, agreeing on timelines... it's time to sign a contract. Typically, the contract includes a detailed breakdown of the work, including materials used and any other costs. An attachment should include scanned documents of the person responsible for the progress of the work, the boss, or the decision-maker. The rest involves scheduling payments for subsequent installments. AND IMPORTANTLY – NOTHING VERBAL – everything important should be documented with a date and signature, and confirmed via WhatsApp or email.

Not always does expensive mean good quality, but good materials do come at a cost, and that's something to consider - whether you want to buy things yourselves, like bags of plaster, and run around construction store aisles every day, or entrust the task to the company.

If your major renovation includes installing air conditioning, familiarize yourself with prices and ask for quotes from three companies in the area. Sometimes they'll charge around 20 euros for a visit and assessment of the system, which they'll deduct later if you go with their offer for installation. But on a larger scale of expenses, it's worth asking and knowing what costs what. What else can I suggest? Well, it's worth asking how many workers will be handling each task. It might not make sense for a small apartment or room, but for a complex project, it's good to know if there will be a tile specialist, plasterer, painter, plumber, electrician, or finisher available. From experience, I'll advise that one person can't handle all aspects on a large surface because they'll eventually burn out, especially if they're working on other sites during the day - fatigue can lead to mistakes. Initial optimism may wane with each passing week, turning into a nightmare for everyone involved in the work.