Good discussion guys, I am always happy to get different viewpoints. I tend to agree with preparing one's own layout as it will then include all the important aspects of your own personal living space, and then get involved with a professional who can take it forward and advise on tweaks that may improve things.

I have just drawn up my own design for a small place that should suit me (using a nifty piece of free software) and I am very pleased with the result. That was the easy bit, now I just need to find a piece of land to build it on, someone to build it, and yes even an architect, and start the whole process rolling...

Have you guys been through this already?

Visit this address and will be without doubts.
Moradia no norte de Portugal + cinco Bungalows Amares

i think were both basically talking about the same thing,
what i said was.

"I dont tottally agree with getting an Architect to design your property, depending on how skilled you are personally at ideas, vision, design etc, then laying out the design yourself is the best thing to do"

if someone has a clear idea of what they want, the type of property, the layout etc then thats fine, they know what they want, they have a clear vision of what they want to build, they dont require an architect to help them design it.

others may not have the vision to see or imagine a property, these people could probably benefit from the services of an architect, to help understand what they want and translate that into a workable project/design.

everyone is different, some people can design a property on their own, others may require some help.

__________________
www.gekkoportugal.com A guide to living, working and buying property in Central Portugal
www.chavetejo.com Central Portugal Registered Estate Agents AMI 7856

we first moved to Portugal about four and a half years ago, we bought and old farmhouse to restore, we have been through the whole planning process for ourselves and for clients, so pretty much upto speed on whats involved, how long it takes, costs etc.

right now were building a new 3 bed house (that we designed ourselves) and a 2 bed cottage (also our design)

you cant beat the experiance of building your own house, it can get difficult dealing with, architects, builders, engineers, council etc. but as long as you do your homework and know what you want and dont allow yourself to be advised/bullied into building something you dont fully like or using a builder, architect, engineer that you are not fully cumfortable with then its a fun experiance. make sure you budget well and allow for some overspend, and be realistic about timeframes for planning and building.

what area are you looking in?

__________________
www.gekkoportugal.com A guide to living, working and buying property in Central Portugal
www.chavetejo.com Central Portugal Registered Estate Agents AMI 7856

I have looked at central areas, between Torres Novas, Pedrogau Grande and Coimbra, and enjoyed them all...Where are you based now?

What would be a good rule of thumb for a quality finish build, say about 120m2 single storey? and what would be a reasonable time-frame from your experience?

Ady

Please don't take it personal because it is not, but designing your layout for a plot that still doesn't exist might mean that all your work might be wasted.

Your designing a layout that could be placed anywhere and that means that you are not getting the best from the location you'll find. Better consider finding the place that you like and then designing the house taking advantage from views, solar angles, existing vegetation and all the particular conditions of the site.

We're currently working on a project for Penela (beautiful area by the way) and the layout and shape of the house as changed so much since our first sketches and it will change until we find the best solution. That is how the work should be done. And yes we have fixed fees and will not charge more for the changes.

Hi Ady
well the design time can be as little as a month or as long as several months depending on time restraints you place on yourself and the complexities of the design.

the planning period in the local council, will take anything between 8 months and 14 months depending on which council your plot is in, some work faster than others,

you will then have one or two years to build depending on what time you applied for, normally to build a new one level house of 120sqm your looking at 6 to 8 months, average.

costs can be anything between 400 to 600 euros per square metre, again depending on the standard of materials and finish you want to achieve.

architects costs should be around 2500 to 3500 for that size of build.

the building license will vary from council to council but can be as little as a 1,000 euros to as much as 15,000 for a large new build.

these prices are correct in our area of central Portygal, expect to pay more nearer the cities and the Algarve.

we are near Tomar at the moment but the houses we are building are in Martinchel, near the lake of Castello do Bode.
did you see the link to some pics of our current project that i posted before?
regards
Derek

__________________
www.gekkoportugal.com A guide to living, working and buying property in Central Portugal
www.chavetejo.com Central Portugal Registered Estate Agents AMI 7856

Hi!

Assuming that one has experience in building construction area, otherwise one will have a lot of problems

Best regards

luis

the more work you have to do (if you lack experience) the more stressful it will become evidently.

If you have to paint some walls, it will be less stressful than planning a building and erecting it obviously.

Also, think about whether you are fluent enough in the langage to talk to planning officers etc. in Portugal (i don't know the procedures there)

But whatver you decide on doing.
Good luck! and best wishes! x

Well said f Ribeiro. Too many know all Brits in Central Portugal, I know cos I am here.