Today we would like to start with a series of articles to show how aspects 
of modern, lasting and healthy architecture may be combined in harmony
As well we would like to point out the facts around buying a plot, a house, 
house construction or reconstruction.

At first let's have a look to the practical things connected to the purchase 
of property in Spain. In principle there are existing different possibilities 
when buying a flat:

buying an existing house or an existing apartment in a village or a 
settlement. Construction of a new building in a village or a settlement 
and living in an estate outside a town.

At an existing building, for example, a prospector may see the subject 
of interest. In case he is insecure about the building's quality it is 
recommended to hire an expert. It is, for instance, not only a financial 
anger if a house could be heated up during wintertime only with an 
extreme amount of energy because of missing or worse insulation, while 
during summertime warm and stuffy air could not be removed from the 
house. A health problem will easily occur because mould, caused by the 
humidity,  will appear everywhere.

Anyhow, an expert should be hired in cases of reconstruction or remodeling.
Background of that is not only the determination of effort, costs and 
controlling of construction measures.  The architects planning is 
indispensable to get the building permit. Additional it is necessary to comply 
with the local laws, rules and regulations, which might be very different from 
town to town. Differently from what we people from northern- or central 
Europe are thinking: we are not the world champions in bureaucracy. 
While we almost meet friendly, courteous and helpful Spanish people in our 
daily life, the Spanish red tape can create nerve racking scenes … and in 
this country a paper is needed for nearly everything connected to building 
construction. 

At the end of the first part: some hints if it is planned to buy an existing 
house. In the past occasionally houses have been built illegal, without a 
building permit. Therefore it makes sense to ask for this paper. Here in 
Spain the town council makes up a paper that confirms the habitability of 
a building  when the   architect presets the corresponding certificate. 
Without this paper the supply with gas, water and electricity is not ensured. 
So it is wise to pay attention to the existence of this document.

If the language skills are missing or inadequate it is recommended to ask 
a reliable translator for help or to instruct multilingual suppliers  
(craftsman, architect, notary).

We hope that we have assembled information that is useful for you. In 
the next edition we are going to consolidate the given information.
Until then we wish you a whale of time.

Your team of architects, the consultants for 
everything that is connected to buildings and building construction