What to look for when buying an old house in Portugal

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What to look for when buying an old house in Portugal

Posted By Castelo Construction Lda in buying property in portugal, House for sale, Living in Portugal, property problems, refurbishment February 26, 2014

Bathrooms What to look for when buying an old house in Portugal Part 3 of 4

We are heading to a scary place at least it can be, in an old house in central Portugal.

Castelo Construction — What to look for when buying an old house in Portugal

This bathroom looks fairly modern with its tiled panels. You will notice that the bathroom has an old wooden ceiling which will be cold in winter and hot in summer.

The shower tray shows no sign that it has had an enclosure or curtain fitted so it may not have ever been used. The position where the normal shower mixer taps go is there in the tiles but as there are no taps it’s unlikely that water (hot cold or both) is connected.

Also the large container in the shower tray could be what was used to pour water on people who were having a shower. It would be a good idea to test the bidet to see if it is connected to the water as well and also check that the drains on the shower tray, sink and bidet take waste water away.

This point could be a life saver. Old houses can have low ceilings so make sure there are NO 240 Volt light fittings or electrical points in the bathroom. There often are and this can cause fatalities to users of the bathroom.

If you would like a second opinion on the house that you are interested in buying we can help call 00351 927168247 or take a look at some of our projects www.casteloconstruction.com

Tags castelo construction damp damp proof course ideal refurbishment property Maintaining or increasing your home value in Portugal refurbishing property traditional walls What to look for when buying an old house in Portugal

About Castelo Construction Lda

Castelo Construction Lda are builders in Central Portugal. We have 12 years’ experience of working with and delighting clients in Portugal. Tel 00351 927168247 or kelvin@casteloconstruction.com If you need an English speaking builder for renovation or new build work we will provide free estimates, fixed prices and carry out your work to a very high standard. Many of our clients are not in the country full time so rely on our regular photographic updates and written reports. They are always surprised when they make inspection visits. New Construction and Refurbishment of Portuguese Property It’s exciting for both our team and of course our clients to mark out on the earth the site of a new home. We will have been with them during the design process and have spoken to the architect many times so we will be comfortable with what we are about to do. For many clients, this stage is a little daunting as it’s hard to see without experience just where the house is going to be in relation to other things on the property. Once the foundations are dug out the house normally looks smaller than they thought, As the pillars and foundation wall start to go you get a much better idea of scale. You can see with your mind’s eye the location of the kitchen, bedrooms and so on. Once the walls are up and the first floor is in place the rooms start to looks smaller again (something to do with the light absorbing properties of the bricks) once the walls are plastered the rooms look a lot larger and it starts to feel more like the home our clients imagined building. As the build progresses we are involved with many specialist subcontractors and it is our job the get them on site at the right time so that the trades do not overlap and time is not wasted. Once the roof is on and tiled it is traditional in this area to have a dinner on site. Everyone who is involved in the build is invited to share a suckling pig dinner with local bread, oranges and of course wine. This is a great way for the clients to enjoy some local hospitality and meet the craftsmen who are building their new home. We also invite the near neighbors so that they get a chance to see what’s going on (when the house is at a very basic stage) and it gives our clients a relaxed opportunity to make their acquaintance. As we always accompany our clients to choose, kitchens, tiles, bathroom fittings or whatever they want. We can help with translation and of course negotiation! As the house is coming to completion we always have them professionally cleaned so that when we hand over the keys it feels more like a home than a building site. 2 months after the house is finished we are back to check for any small faults that may need attention and of course we are available to help and advise should that be needed. Central Portugal builders