What are the first questions you should ask to your future Architect?

You could need an architect to renovate your property or for building your new build villa.

Let’s check the case of the new build villa but many of these questions would be the same for a renovation case.

The questions for your new build architect

We could regroup the questions into 3 different sections:

1. The Architect

The first questions are related to the experience of the architect:

• Could you provide some references with your last realization?
• Have you done similar projects?
• Describe a recent project? With costs experienced vs budgeted? What about the timing for the realization?

Don’t forget to ask about his style?

• What is your design philosophy?

Finally, check if he is insured.

• Are you insured against claims?

Review this wonderful villa in Calpe created by one of our partner architect: House on a cliff

2. Your Project

• How do you collaborate with your customers?
• Who will be my contact within your company?
• How documented is your project?
• Do you have ideas for this project?
• What are the challenges for this project?
• What potential do you see in this project?
• What is the expected budget?
• Do you help to find / negotiate with contractors?
• Do you do the on site follow up?
• Environment and building efficiency?
• How difficult is it to get the building permit?
• When should I get the building permit?
• How long will it take to build my project?

Another wonderful design villa in Spain, follow the link to discover it

3. The contract

• Fees: What are the items covered? Are there items not covered? For any item not covered, what is the hourly rate?
• What is the schedule for the architect work? For the building?
• What materials will I receive on the property?

Ask us to be put in contact with our partner architects in Spain.

You don’t have time to wait to enjoy the Spanish sun but you like new build?

Discover the best new build projects in Spain available right now

Further reading?

• We wrote another article on a similar subject: Buy a new build property in Spain
• Discover wonderful new build projects build in Spain and find all our news in our Architect news category
• Read our legal article on the same subject: Do you want to build your own villa in Spain?

Looking for an expert in Spain? Ask us directly!

Stéphane

Senior analyst and strategist at HTBIS

Check the full HTBIS team here

The post The first questions for your future Architect? appeared first on How to buy in Spain.

House on the Cliff

A wonderful realization respecting its wonderful environment

We like the virtue of architecture which makes possible constructing a house on air, walking on water…

An abrupt plot of land overlooking the sea, where what is best is to do nothing. It invites to stay.

A piece that respects the land’s natural contour is set in it.

Above, a shadow, the house itself, looking calmly at the Mediterranean.

Under the sun, the swimming-pool brings us closer to the sea, it becomes a quiet cove.

In the inflection point, the stairway proposes a evocative path, a garden in the basement…

Due to the steepness of the plot and the desire to contain the house in just one level, a three-dimensional structure of reinforced concrete slabs and screens adapting to the plot’s topography was chosen, thus minimizing the earthwork. This monolithic, stone-anchored structure generates a horizontal platform from the accessing level, where the house itself is located. The swimming-pool is placed on a lower level, on an already flat area of the site. The concrete structure is insulated from the outside and then covered by a flexible and smooth white lime stucco. The rest of materials, walls, pavements, the gravel on the roof… all maintain the same colour, respecting the traditional architecture of the area, emphasizing it and simultaneously underlining the unity of the house.

Have a look at all the pictures of this project

Fran Silvestre Arquitectos is working everywhere in Spain and in some parts of the world, ask us to be put in touch with them and benefit from the strength of our network.

The good news is that it is affordable for everybody.

Why wait to live your dream?

Are you looking for a lawyer, an architect, a property hunter anywhere in Spain?

Ask us directly an access to our network of local experts!

Stéphane

Senior analyst and strategist at HTBIS

The post House on a Cliff appeared first on How to buy in Spain.

Aluminium house – Madrid

A consolidated landscape surrounded by gardens with big trees within the metropolis of Madrid is the fortunate starting point of this house.
The piece, of metallic and horizontal nature, produces the effect of having just one storey. With its proportions and materiality, it both contrasts and blends with the tall trees of its environment.
The scale of the house is moderated through the understanding of the day area as a base emerging from the same natural stone which paves part of the plot. The night zone is placed on it and focuses the view to the north and south while protecting itself from the eyes of the neighbours and generating shaded terraces in which to enjoy the exterior.
The substantially square plan is designed to unite the program in a compact way. The staircase and central inner atrium distribute the rooms, establishing a functional hierarchy in which all spaces open up to the garden.

Twenty-one plateaus and seven volumes tell the story of this house.

The aim of the project is to give a new and even identity to a house belonging to the same family for several generations. The original house formed by the aggregation of different interventions at different times, with different construction systems. Each of the rooms in the house describes a moment in the life of this family story. Thus it was essential to maintain the structure, spaces, uses, garden and memories, presenting them in a new way.

The further layer built in the history of this place employs new volumes used for new parts of the program. In this way leisure areas are projected, containing always the scale of the building and are presented as a sort of aggregation of small parts, which draws courtyards and narrows areas, as the traditional Mediterranean architecture does.

Have a look at all the pictures of this project:

Fran Silvestre Arquitectos is working everywhere in Spain and in some parts of the world, ask us to be put in touch with them and benefit from the strength of our network.

The good news is that it is affordable for everybody.

Why wait to live your dream?

Are you looking for a lawyer, an architect, a property hunter anywhere in Spain?

Ask us directly an access to our network of local experts!

Stéphane

Senior analyst and strategist at HTBIS

Check the full HTBIS team here

The post An architect house in the region of Madrid appeared first on How to buy in Spain.

Do you want to build your own villa in Spain?

1. Let’s start with your plot of land

Most of the time, you may construct on a certain proportion of the plot, let’s say 20%… so if you want a big villa, you’ll need a big plot.

• Check the spatial planning of the plot and of the adjacent plots.
• Think about the views.
• Check the format of the properties you may build: High? Large?
• Style? Check what you may or may not do in that region / that city: Mediterranean style, Modern style,…
• Is the area already developed or not? If not, you will have to install utilities, street lighting, sewage,… and it could mean extra costs.
• Is your plot of land precise? What about its measures? If any doubt, a professional will double check it. (about €400)

2. Buy the land

You will have to pay VAT on that and a local tax to register the plot and create the legal act to the local authorities of about 2%.

3. Find an architect

If you want an excellent architect, you could have a good one here: Don’t search further, we found it! Your architect design dream house in Spain! This architect works all over Spain and even started to work in Europe on a few different projects.

Your architect will:

• create a first draft of the project
• ask for the authorisation for building the project with the local authorities
• The tax for the authorisation is about 2-3% of the price of the works and varies between the different
• check the authorisation

In general, the cost of the architect is about 10% of the construction costs.

4. Contractor

Your architect could help you with this step. You will have to compare between contractors. Check the financial health of those companies… and of course negotiate to get the best all-in price. Check for warranties and ask for a precise schedule of payments. You will have to pay the VAT of course on the works of 10%.

5. Follow up of the works

This is the job of the architect. At the end, you should get a technical control of the site as well.

6. Get the delivery of your villa

You will receive a certificate of conformity. You will need as well the license of the first occupation on which you will have to pay a tax. The local authorities will control the property then finally the Contractor will deliver the property.

Last but not least, you will get a bunch of Certificates for your utilities.

You will need to go to the notary to get the “Escritura de Obra Nueva” which is a precise description of the new build property with a valuation of the property. It will be registered in the Register of properties. For this act you will have to pay a tax of 1.5% to 2%.

The contractor should have a insurance for his responsibility for the next 10 years. If not maybe you should ask for an insurance.

Do you think that it’s too much work to build your own property but you really want a new build property?

Picture Credit of the “featured image” at the top of this article, follow this link to review the full project: Fran Silvestre Arquitectos working everywhere in Spain and in some parts of the world, ask us to be put in touch with them and benefit from the strength of our network.

Discover the best new build projects in Spain available right now

New build for sale in Spain € 320,000

2 beds 1 bath 61.3 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 313,000

2 beds 2 baths 61.3 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 540,000

3 beds 3 baths 191 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 520,000

3 beds 2 baths 109 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 345,000

2 beds 2 baths 97 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 435,000

3 beds 2 baths 114 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 350,000

3 beds 2 baths 106 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 273,000

2 beds 2 baths 83 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 368,000

3 beds 2 baths 103 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 315,000

2 beds 2 baths 90 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 245,000

2 beds 2 baths 83 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 335,000

3 beds 2 baths 98 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 250,000

2 beds 2 baths 90 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 420,000

2 beds 2 baths 81.7 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 475,000

3 beds 2 baths 101.9 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 490,000

3 beds 2 baths 119.8 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 540,000

3 beds 2 baths 129.2 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 530,000

3 beds 2 baths 106.9 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 370,000

2 beds 2 baths 88.9 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 440,000

3 beds 2 baths 106.9 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 367,000

3 beds 3 baths 177 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 262,000

3 beds 2 baths 84 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 242,000

2 beds 2 baths 72 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 277,000

2 beds 2 baths 73 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 255,000

3 beds 2 baths 85 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 220,000

2 beds 2 baths 71 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 240,000

2 beds 2 baths 80 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 280,000

3 beds 2 baths 88 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 585,000

3 beds 3 baths 162 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 348,000

3 beds 2 baths 220 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 355,000

3 beds 2 baths 100 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 385,000

2 beds 2 baths 76 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 325,000

3 beds 2 baths 97 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 269,000

2 beds 2 baths 81 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 631,000

3 beds 2 baths 123 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 345,000

2 beds 2 baths 154 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 430,000

3 beds 2 baths 116 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 730,000

3 beds 2 baths 149 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 529,000

3 beds 2 baths 133 m²

New build for sale in Spain € 319,000

2 beds 2 baths 87 m²

Have a look at our paper on buying an apartment in Spain off Plan.

Looking for an expert in Spain? Ask us directly!

Stéphane

Senior Analyst and Strategist at HTBIS

Check the full team of HTBIS here

The post Do you want to build your own villa in Spain? appeared first on How to buy in Spain.

Buying a new build property off plan in Spain?

You may buy a property off plan, or you may want to build it with your architect.

If you want an excellent architect, remember this article we wrote about a beautiful project in the Valencian region: Don’t search further, we found it! Your architect design dream house in Spain! This architect works all over Spain and even started to work in Europe on a few different projects.

What should you pay attention to?

• Check the pictures you received representing the project.
• What about spatial planning in the plot of lands adjacent to your new property?
• Is there a valid building permit for your new property?
• Check the building permit
• Check if the contractor has an insurance or a bank warranty (see next point)

Please note that you have to pay VAT on the total amount: the value of the land AND the building costs. You have to pay a local tax for creating the legal act of between 1 and 2% to the local authorities.

Bank Guarantees in Spain: Law 57/68

Check the warranty from the contractor, before doing your first downpayment, it is a legal obligation.

• Either a Bank warranty or insurance
• The law forces banks (or the insurance) to refund payments for unfinished properties.
• The payments’ dates for all the different payments should be clear and it should be clearly stated what works should be done for each of those.

What should your purchase contract mention?

• The delivery date
• The payments’ dates for all the different payments
• Detailed plans for the property
• Check the square meters build vs the usable square meters in a condominium
• The standard set of specifications
• If the building permit was not yet given to the developer:
  • it is important to add a clause that the contract will start AFTER the building permit is granted!
  • Make the first payment, ONLY AFTER the building permit is granted.

Delivery of your new build property

• Snagging the property
• Check the property act
• Sign at the notary

You have a 3-year warranty on the building works from the contractor and a 10-year warranty from the architect on design faults and the main parts of the structure but pay attention, not everything is covered so you could need to take an insurance for that.

Discover the best new build projects in Spain available right now

If you prefer to build your own villa in Spain, read our paper on that.

Have a look at one of our most read paper with more on that: What is the real cost of buying your Spanish Property? and read the paper written by one of our local legal partner: What should you pay attention to when buying a property in Spain?

We listed more than 30.000 plot of lands from bank repossessions, have a look at our last paper on that: Spanish bank repossessions: Your ultimate guide to 120.000 properties or at our main page with all the real estate bank portals in Spain. We are quite proud to say that our paper was read more than 300 times in its first week.

Even if it looks quite simple, in order to avoid any bad surprise … that will cost you much more than the cost of an excellent lawyer. Find a local independent lawyer speaking your language in our network.

Looking for an expert in Spain? Ask us directly!

Stéphane

Senior Analyst and Strategist at HTBIS

Check the full team of HTBIS here

The post Buy a new build property in Spain appeared first on How to buy in Spain.

Your architect design dream house in Spain

Two weeks ago we were in Valencia and had the unique opportunity to meet with a very talented Architect team.

We are very proud to present one of its last projects.

A privileged place within a golf course near to Valencia is the starting point of this project.

The proposal is drawn with elliptical traces which contain the program and maximize the possibilities of local urban law by minimizing the volumetric impact on the site. Thus, a piece with a continuous façade that seems to lodge only one floor is set on the site. The aerodynamic visuals of it guide the eye towards the deepness of the neighbouring landscape.

The volume is placed leaving as much free surface as possible towards the southern edge of the plot for it to be used as a garden, while the lateral limits are blurred with vegetation. The other elements that compose the urbanization resemble the curved nature of the place’s topography.

The inner space of the house is articulated through a central void which contains communications. Service spaces, installations and the kitchen are used to orthogonalize the curved trace of the lower floor, which opens to the garden. The upper floor with the rooms and the underground opened to the patio, provide the house with more bounded spaces.

Four concrete supports on the lower floor hold the arched roof, from which the room’s floor hangs. This structure is covered by a monolithic, ventilated façade, which is realized with a Solid Surface with a simple curve that doesn’t require thermoforming to adapt to the geometry of the piece. The rest of materials used in the construction range from white to black, covering all scales of grey.

Other explanations can be superposed to this description, as the carpet of light which transforms the inside of the house as the hours go by.

Check all the pictures of this terrific project!

SITE AREA 1200 m²

BUILT AREA 772 m²

Fran Silvestre Arquitectos is working everywhere in Spain and in some parts of the world, ask us to be put in touch with them and benefit from the strength of our network.

The good news is that it is affordable for everybody.

Why wait to live your dream?

Looking for an expert in Spain? Ask us directly!

Stéphane

Senior analyst and strategist at HTBIS

Check the full team at HTBIS here

The post Don’t search further, we found it! Your architect design dream house in Spain! appeared first on How to buy in Spain.