Griffon Services
covering the Altiplano de Granada

For an informal chat or quotation call

Tel: 958 720 293

Email: Griffonservices@yahoo.es

FAQ

Buying and building a house (casa), cave (cueva), farmhouse (cortijo) etc. in Spain can be very exciting but can also be a very stressful time, especially if you are not even in the same Country.

Here are some frequently asked questions.

Q. If I buy a property for renovation purposes can I start the building work straight away?

A. If you buy any property in Spain you will need to have an architect. You can prepare your own plans but will have to work with the Architect to ensure they will be approved by the local Town Hall as they will need to be signed off. This can take a couple weeks to a few months dependent upon many factors, so please be aware of this. We cannot work on any property unless we have a copy of the license in our hands, or we can be fined for working without the adequate permissions.

Q. Can you help us with this?

A. If you do not live locally we can help you with this (additional fees may be applicable) and will be discussed at the time of any quotation.

Q. What about electrical and plumbing jobs, we hear these have to be "signed off"?

A. We work with a local Spanish electrician and plumber on larger jobs. He will give us a quotation for all works and will work with the local Town Hall for sign off. For electrical works, he will work with the Electrical Company, Sevillana, to ensure the electric can be installed without any problems or delays.

Q. Many builders work illegally - how do we know what builder to trust?

A. We are legally registered to work in Spain and will be able to provide you with documentation to prove this. We suggest you ask any builder if they are registered, as if it all goes wrong it could end up costing you more and you are liable to a fine in excess of 3,000 euros for each illegal worker on site.

Legally registered builders are normally have Inspectors come to site who will carry out health and safety checks. The builders will also need to hold Public Liability Insurance so that they are covered in case of accident.

Q. Should we go with the cheapest quotation?

A. It is important to take in all of the above factors before deciding on what quotation to accept. You may go with the cheapest quotation but that builder may not be legal and may not be paying social security/taxes, hence they can afford to work cheaply. This can amount to further problems if things go wrong.

Q. Should we ask for a contract?

A. Builders should be happy to put something in writing to cover both sides. We normally issue a basic contract stating the price (or hourly rate on smaller jobs) and advising we have adequate Public Liability Insurance. We in turn add to the contract about how payment should be made.

Q. Should we ask for references.

A. Builders should always be happy to show examples of their work or names of people you can contact for a reference.

Serving the Altiplano de Granada consisting:

Castril, Fatima, Campo Cebas, Los Almontarus, Isidoras, Fuente Vera, Huescar, Pozo Alcon, Galera, Castejillar, Cullar, Baza

email: griffonservices@yahoo.es