The key to a successful project is to use a good builder, but how do you find one if you don’t know the area and don’t speak the language?

Specification

The first step is to get an architect to draw up a specification or “bill of quantities”. This will be based on the basic design that would have been agreed between the architect and client. The builder then prices this up, so that even when things change during the work - and they always do - you will have established a unit price which stops the builder from taking you for a ride for any extras that will inevitably crop up.

Having lived and worked in the area for 20 years I can help you select a short list of suitable builders and architects and perhaps more importantly I can advise on which ones to avoid!

Comparing quotes

Having selected our potential builders we then need to spend time looking through the various quotations-are they detailed and professionally presented? Are the prices transparent and inclusive of labour and materials? Again having spent several years working in the building industry, I can guide you through this potential mine field to help you make the right decision.

Get to know the builder

Having established which contractor is offering the best deal in terms of quality and cost, it is a good idea to meet the builder. Do you feel comfortable in his presence? Does he give you a feeling of confidence? Is it possible to see other projects that he has worked on? Can you meet other clients of his, and do they speak in positive terms of the experience? I also feel that it’s a good idea to check on other jobs that the builder is working on, does he keep the site clean and tidy? Does he respect the adjacent properties? After all you do not want to fall out with your neighbours before you have even met them!

Financial control

My philosophy is to make sure that the builder only gets paid for what he does, this means no up front payments at all, and his monthly certificates should be subject to a 5% retention which will act as your guarantee that all snagging jobs - and there will be plenty - get finished satisfactorily. The certificates must be signed by the architect and his team to verify the quantity and quality of work is in accordance with the amount being claimed.

Progress reports

Too busy to get over to Spain to check on the way that your villa is developing? No problem, with me as project manager you’ll be getting weekly reports backed up with digital photographs, it’s the next best thing to actually being there.

Summary

With a significant investment like a villa in Sotogrande it is important that you, the owner, are in complete control of the project. Therefore having a project manager who understands Spanish building techniques and the nuances of the language and culture is not only useful but vital in order to make the project a stress free experience. I believe that I have the attributes to fill that role.