When you look around a property on your ‘dream home’ short-list, how many times do you wish that things were different and exactly how you wanted them?
Even luxury villas and apartments may have a standard sized cooker and hob in the beautiful new kitchen; useless for those who need the capacity of a range cooker as they frequently cook for larger gatherings.
“We both work from home and need two offices”.
“I want to section of part of the house for rental and family visits”.
“I don’t need so many bathrooms”.
“Bedroom number three will be our library”.
“I want a full-height commercial wine fridge, built in”.
But isn’t life all about compromise?
I don’t think property should be about compromise, especially when you think of how much money you are being asked to spend. It is expensive to change things if they already form part of the home on offer. Many people just keep on searching or give up, and spend years going through the pain of building a home from scratch.
Rural Properties in Portugal’s Central Region has a variety of renovation projects on the go, in villages, countryside and towns, and offers layout and design options so that buyers get the layout and design that suits them, within the parameters of the property’s physical dimensions.
The company is an investment service and property developer, not a design specialist; fortunately, Concepto Studio is Portimão is such a specialist and our property buyers are encouraged to use this professional service, at no additional cost.
First, there is a simple ‘needs assessment’.
Some buyers may want to increase the number of bedrooms to maximise returns for holiday rental use, some long for wooden flooring rather than tiles, many love underfloor heating … the wish-list can be long, but if the design and layout is agreed before any detailed internal renovation starts, the result will be “exactly how I wanted”.
The redesign of many smaller properties is obvious, such as this twin property in the village of Vale Porco, four kilometres from the market town of Sertã. An inspired Concepto Studio design forms the working template with the proviso that an early buyer can influence the final layout, details and finishings.
This 100-year-old home used to be two linked houses but can be bought as one property, or two individual homes, each with a garden area. The current construction activity in Vale Porco is the heavy part; a ring beam, new roof, removing old internal walls etc.
At this stage, if a buyer has a desire for a specific kitchen design, for underfloor heating, for office space, these can be incorporated.
The business is a perfect tango for two; astute and intelligent property purchases by Rural Properties, with Concepto Studio creating plans and designs in tune with the buyer’s lifestyle and needs.
An example of a property that is nearing completion is Casa Adelina, a 200m2, three-bedroom property from the early 1800s, overlooking the old market square in Pedrógão Pequeno, Sertã.
Inside Casa Adelina, the buyer can, even at this ‘nearly completed’ stage, decide on kitchen design, whether to have a wood-burner or pellet burner (or neither as the house is centrally heated), what colour and design of bathroom tiling, whether to have Victorian or more contemporary sanitaryware, whether to opt for beautiful wooden floors or traditional tiling, what colour to have the walls painted – some buyers even have a preference as to which design of electrical sockets they prefer.
The farmhouse below, in Fonte Fria, Castelo, around four kilometres to Cernache do Bonjardim, Sertã, was bought with a new roof already installed and work had been started on stripping the walls of century-old plaster.
One existing design option for Fonte Fria shows lounge, study, dining room and kitchen on the ground floor, with a four-bedroom layout on the first floor, taking full advantage of the countryside view. This layout can easily be reconfigured to suit the buyer’s requirements.
“What’s the extra cost of having a home designed just how I want it?”
Developers love to make additional profit whenever a buyer wants even a small change. Additional charges with the Rural Properties’ process are agreed between the company and the buyer, but these are rare as the advertised price covers quality equipment, sanitaryware, heating, materials and professional installation.
The purchase process is simple, a detailed Promissory Contract followed by the signing of the Deed three-months later, unless an extended renovation timetable is required.
If, like me, you have become pickier as time goes by and no longer want to compromise, this welcome renovation process caters for customers’ particular needs when buying a beautifully renovated property in Central Portugal.
By Paul Rees
The author runs Rural Properties, an innovative business that invests in the Central Region, buying, renovating and selling properties. For investment enquiries: www.rural-properties.com or contact info@rural-properties.com
