Renovation
See the home it could become
Sometimes the right property is in the right location but isn’t yet the right home. We help international buyers evaluate that potential before purchase and, where renovation makes sense, carry out the work afterwards as your contractor — so you don’t compromise on location simply because the finished home you want doesn’t currently exist there.
Location is fixed. A property is not.
You can change a kitchen, a layout, flooring, lighting, bathrooms, storage and finishes. You cannot move the property, the road, the neighbouring building, the orientation, the community, the beach, the school or the view outside the plot. That’s why renovation becomes useful when you find the right location but the wrong current property — but only if the work is technically, legally and financially realistic. The first question is never “how much can we renovate?” It’s “is this the right property to renovate in the first place?”
Finished home or renovation project?
Neither is automatically the better choice.
Buy finished if…
- You need to move in quickly
- You want greater cost certainty
- You’d rather not make extensive design decisions
- The home you want already exists in the right location
- A renovation abroad would create more stress than value
Consider renovation if…
- The location matters more than the current interior
- Finished properties in your area don’t meet your needs
- You want to alter layout, style or functionality
- You’re comfortable with a project
- The completed property would suit you better than the alternatives
Don’t buy a renovation project because it looks cheaper. Buy it because the completed home has a reason to be better for you than the finished alternatives already available.
How Conrisa helps
We assess the potential before you buy, plan the project, and — as your contractor — carry out the renovation to completion.
Before you buy
A realistic first read of what the property could become — and the questions to confirm before purchase: structure, community restrictions, municipal permissions, layout, installations and practical scope. Practical judgement, backed by the right professionals where a formal survey or certificate is needed.
Planning the project
Once you own the property, we turn a broad idea into a costed, organised project — clarifying what you want to achieve, the scope, sequence, budget and the decisions to be made before work begins.
Carrying out the work
As your contractor, Conrisa delivers the renovation — managing our team and specialist trades through to completion, and keeping communication clear across the project in five languages. Where a project needs an architect, technical architect or engineer for licences or structural work, we engage and coordinate them.
If the renovation is the reason the property works, test the renovation before you buy the property.
Common questions about renovating
Do I need permission to renovate in Spain?
Possibly. There’s no single rule. Depending on the works and municipality, the process may involve a licence, a declaración responsable, other notification, technical documentation or professional certification. Marbella and Mijas currently operate different procedures depending on the works. We check the specific project before work starts.
Can I remove walls or change the layout?
Potentially — it depends on structure, building services, technical feasibility, planning requirements, common elements and community considerations. If the property only works for you if a wall can be removed, we’ll have that assessed by the appropriate qualified professional before you commit to the purchase.
Is it cheaper to buy a property that needs renovation?
Sometimes the purchase price is lower — but that doesn’t automatically make the completed project cheaper. Compare purchase, acquisition costs, renovation, professional fees, municipal costs and contingency against finished alternatives. Renovation is a route to the right home, not a guaranteed saving.
Will renovation increase the value of my property?
It may improve the property, its functionality and appeal, but we don’t promise increases in market value or profit — too much depends on property, location, market, quality, cost, demand and timing. Renovate because the completed property works better for you, and treat any financial upside as a bonus.
Who carries out the building work?
Conrisa carries out the renovation as your contractor, using our own team and trusted specialist trades. Where a project needs an architect, technical architect or engineer — for example for licences or structural work — we engage and coordinate them, and they remain responsible for their regulated professional work.
Have a property — or a location — in mind?
Maybe you’ve found the property. Maybe you’ve found the right location but nothing finished feels right. Tell us what you’re considering and we’ll help you look at what it could realistically become, what needs checking first and whether renovation is genuinely the right route. No pressure, no promises we can’t keep.