Question 1

How much does it cost to renovate a flat in Marbella?

Accepted Answer

It depends on four concrete things: the size and condition of the property, what is behind the walls (if the wiring is 30 years old, all of it goes), how many bathrooms and kitchens are involved — that is where half the budget of a full renovation goes — and the quality of the materials you choose. That is why we do not quote over the phone: we come, measure and give it to you in writing, item by item, within 48 hours, free and with no obligation. A quote given blind is the one that later overruns.

Question 2

What exactly does “fixed price” mean?

Accepted Answer

It means the amount you sign in the quote is the amount you pay when the work is finished. The quote includes every item measured, materials by brand (or equivalent), the timeline by week and payment by milestones. Anything we detect during the visit — consumer unit, pipework, visible damp — is already included in the price: that is why we look so carefully before quoting.

Question 3

What if something unexpected comes up during the works?

Accepted Answer

It is quoted separately, in writing, and you decide whether it goes ahead. No surprise invoice appears at the end. A genuine unexpected issue is something that cannot be seen during the visit: a damaged joist under the floor or a broken soil pipe inside a wall. Anything visible during the visit is not unexpected — it is part of the fixed price.

Question 4

How is the renovation paid for?

Accepted Answer

By milestones: part at the start, part halfway through and the rest on delivery, once you have seen it finished. The usual split is 30 % at the start, 40 % halfway and 30 % on completion, and it is written into the quote. You never pay everything up front.

Question 5

How long does a full renovation take?

Accepted Answer

A full renovation of an 80–100 m² flat usually takes between 8 and 10 weeks if the property is empty. If you are living there it takes longer, because the work has to be done in phases. The quote includes the delivery date in writing, not an estimate: we plan week by week and show you the progress in each one.

Question 6

Do I need a permit to renovate?

Accepted Answer

For interior work that does not touch the structure or the façade, a responsible declaration or a minor works permit is usually enough in Costa del Sol municipalities. If the structure is affected, openings are made in load-bearing walls or the façade is altered, a major works permit and a technical project are required. We handle the paperwork and it is included in the quote.

Question 7

What about the community of owners?

Accepted Answer

We notify the president or the administrator before starting, respect the working hours set by the community and protect the lift, entrance hall and common areas. If the façade needs to be touched or the windows changed, we request the community's authorisation before starting, not halfway through.

Question 8

Do you take on small jobs or only full renovations?

Accepted Answer

We do both: bathrooms, kitchens, floors and painting individually, and full renovations too. What we do need is a job large enough to justify moving the crew; for changing a tap there are better-suited trades than us.

Question 9

What area do you cover?

Accepted Answer

We work in Marbella and within roughly a 35 km radius: Estepona, San Pedro de Alcántara, Benahavís, Manilva, Mijas, Fuengirola and Benalmádena. Beyond that radius the crew loses too much time travelling, and that ends up being paid for either by the client or by the delivery date.

Question 10

Do you subcontract the work?

Accepted Answer

No. The bulk of the work is done by our own crew, on our payroll: they are the same workers you see in our project videos. For installations that require certification (registered electrical and plumbing work) we always use the same trusted professionals. It is precisely the absence of a chain of middlemen that makes it possible to fix a price and a deadline and then meet them.

Question 11

I have a cheaper quote from another company. Why is that?

Accepted Answer

Almost always because it does not include the same things. Compare them item by item and check whether the other quote covers the complete electrical installation, rubble removal, the permit, finishing work and VAT. A cheaper quote that gets extended three times during the works ends up costing more than a fixed one. If ours is still more expensive for the same scope, we will tell you and adjust the scope with you.

Question 12

Do you work with English-speaking owners?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We handle enquiries, carry out the visit and deliver the quote in Spanish or in English, whichever you prefer. A good part of our site videos are recorded in both languages for the same reason: on the Costa del Sol many owners have just bought and do not live here all year round.

Question 13

What happens during the visit and how long does it take?

Accepted Answer

It takes about 45 minutes and it is free. We measure the whole property, check the consumer unit, the soil pipes, the condition of the windows, any damp and the ceiling heights, and we photograph everything. We ask what worries you most and explain how the quote will be structured. Before leaving we tell you the exact day you will receive it, which is never more than 48 hours later.

Question 14

What guarantee does the work carry?

Accepted Answer

The guarantee set by Spanish building regulations (Ley de Ordenación de la Edificación): one year for finishing defects and three years for defects affecting habitability, such as installations or damp. Appliances and materials also keep their manufacturer's warranty. All of this is set out in writing in the works contract.

Frequently asked questions.

Price and quotes