Constructing a property for your own use has always been an alternative for those people who decided to become a designer of their own home. And although it seems like a difficult idea, the truth is that letting your house sit in Spain is one of the best decisions you can make if you want to have the home of your dreams.
Although there is no clear definition in the law, we can say that a person who builds a house for himself is a developer who decides, promotes, programs and finances the project not for sale, but for his own use. In other words, the person who builds the object is at the same time the developer, owner and user of the house he is building.
Self-building in Spain has many advantages. In fact, this trend has become a very interesting developing business in the country in recent years. While this requires an investment of time and energy, it is also important to note the cost savings and the level of personalization and quality of the home.
ADVANTAGES OF INDEPENDENT CONSTRUCTION
Saving money
One of the main advantages is that there is an opportunity to save money. You can save 30% on the cost of purchasing a new home from a developer or real estate agent. Savings are achieved mainly in two ways. On the one hand, by paying for the work, the owner saves on the developer’s profit. They can be up to 15% of the cost of the material construction of the house plus the cost of the plot. As well as saving the profit of the real estate company, which ranges from 5% to 10% for administrative procedures and commissions for purchase and sale. But still, with the participation of the developer, the entire process is under the clear guidance of specialists and construction proceeds according to an established scheme.
Specific tasks from the very beginning
The architect is involved in the decision-making process from the very beginning, and the owner can determine and calculate not only how much and at what time each part of building a house will cost, but also whether the construction will comply deadlines, unforeseen circumstances and project dynamics.
Therefore, from the very beginning, the architect must evaluate and offer the owner his professional opinion in the sector. He must inform him of the cost of the site, all licenses and permits required for construction. Help the owner interpret municipal regulations or communicate project milestones and costs.
Design and customization
One of the greatest advantages of building a property yourself is the very high degree of personalization and participation in the project, which is not possible in the case of buying a ready-made house. Thus, it is the owner who defines and adapts his house to personal or family needs.
In this way, the owner himself defines and arranges his home in accordance with his personal needs. For example, self-building allows you to decide and set conditions such as window size, build larger bedrooms, add a basement, etc.
You can distribute the layout of the house differently, for example, designing a children's playroom or making an enclosed kitchen.
The fact that you customize your home will have an impact on your budget and the final price of your home. However, this also affects the materials and finishes chosen. In this sense, you can invest your money in what you really like.
HOW TO BUILD A HOUSE YOURSELF?
Below we will explain in detail and clearly how to idle an object for your own use in Spain, so that you are left with no doubts.
Search for land
The choice of land is one of the most important aspects that you must consider. It is on this land that your house in which you will live will stand. Therefore, it is important to choose a place that actually has good infrastructure nearby and all the necessary services, even if you want to sell the house in the future. Here are some important aspects when choosing a site:
- Good location, it is important that the site is close to public transport stops, as well as shops, pharmacies, supermarkets.
- Easy and convenient access to maintenance. It is important that the site has connections to water and electricity, as well as waste removal.
- Topography. If you want to build a one-story house, the site should not have a steep slope.
- Plot type. The most important thing is to find out what official classification the site has. Is it suitable for development?
Purchase of land
Before purchasing a plot, you must contact the Land Registry and make sure there are no debts. In any case, whatever your strategy when searching for land, we always recommend seeking technical advice before purchasing, knowledge of building regulations, as well as knowledge of the condition of the land and its buildability is key before taking the step to signing the purchase and sale agreement.
Hire the services of an architect
The implementation of the project involves the participation of an architect in the project. We recommend that you contact several architectural firms in your area to review their previous work and check aspects such as:
- Qualification level
- Work experience
- Quality of work
- Reliability
Project
The architect will be responsible for the as-built design and health and safety studies. It is he who will have to present the project to his professional association in order for it to be approved. As part of the project, the architect calculates the budget for implementation.
Building permit
After the project is approved, a building permit is submitted to the mayor's office.
In order to begin construction, you first need to obtain a building permit. The City Council, upon payment of the appropriate fees, will issue a building permit which allows work to begin, provided that planning permission has previously been granted.
Construction
Choosing a construction company that works to high quality standards is also very important. And you need to remember this from the very beginning, when you decide to start self-construction, because the quality of the final result largely depends on this.
Among other factors, where the economic difference is usually minimal, we may also consider the construction company's experience, reputation, recommendations or impression of professionalism.
Object management
To control construction work and the work of the developer, it is necessary to conclude an agreement with the architect and cost estimate engineer. Once the work is completed they will issue a final certificate of completion.
Completion of work and notarization
At this stage it will be necessary to carry out several important procedures, which we will introduce you to right now:
- Issue of a certificate of completion of work. The project manager will be responsible for issuing this certificate, which will indicate that the construction work has been successfully completed.
- Libro de edificio. Es provisto por el arquitecto que dirigió la obra
- Preliminary work acceptance certificate
- License for first occupancy
- Certificate of final commissioning
After completion of construction work, in order to register real estate, it is necessary to register a deed of ownership for the new construction project with a notary.
Building a house yourself in Spain
Building your own home yourself is not an easy, quick or simple process, but if you want complete control over the entire process from design to completion, this is a good idea for you.
We hope that you found the information presented in this publication valuable, useful and interesting.
But if you want to know more about building a property for your own use, we invite you to contact our Arcostec team.
REQUEST MORE INFORMATION
Contact the Arcostec team to get all the information you need. We will reply to you as soon as possible. We are committed to providing our clients with professional and personalized advice.
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