Builders estimates Portugal

Posted By Castelo Construction Lda in Building in Portugal, buying property in portugal, Living in Portugal, low cost build May 5, 2014

I was thinking about using a new subcontractor recently and was given a recommendation by a reliable friend.

I am using this example of Builders estimates Portugal to help people new to Portugal so they know what to expect and how things are very different here to what you will have been used to in your home country.

Setting the scene, I contacted the Portuguese builder and arranged to meet him so that I could take him to the house and explain to him the work that was required. He turned up on time which was a major + as I was expecting to have to wait 20 to 30 minutes.

We went to the house and I explained in Portuguese what work was required this took around 20 minutes. I explained that I wanted an estimate for this property and if the work quality was good I would give him two more properties to price. I I also said that the quotation was urgent and that I would like it within a week.

Then I waited, nothing so after a week my friend dropped by the Portuguese builders office and told him that he must arrange the price quickly as I was talking to other construction companies. Another two weeks later (three in total) I received a call from the Portuguese builder saying that he was outside my office but I wasn’t there.

I already knew that I wasn’t there I was working in the Algarve.

I asked him to leave the quote and that I would see it wen I returned to the office. Elapsed time now 4 weeks.

Here is the quote.

The work is has a value of 2400.00 Euros + Iva = 2952.00 Euros

Personally I would like a quotation for work that I could show a client so that they could clearly see what the quote covered.

The result is a few hours wasted by me and no work for the builder.

Make sure that you understand everything on the quote from your builder. If not ask them to explain in writing so that you can be confident that you are getting what you asked for.

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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