Renovation & home setup
Turn your Portuguese property into a home that works
Older homes, villas, countryside properties and rental investments often need practical work before they are comfortable, safe and ready to live in.
01
Technical inspection
Before any work starts, we make sure you understand the true condition of the property.
- Roof.
- Damp.
- Structure.
- Electrics.
- Plumbing.
- Heating and cooling.
- Windows.
- Pool.
- Garden.
- Drainage.
- Septic tank.
- Internet.
02
Renovation coordination
We bring the right trades together and keep the project moving while you are still abroad.
- Builders.
- Electricians.
- Plumbers.
- Painters.
- Tilers.
- Carpenters.
- Architects/engineers.
- Permissions.
- Quote comparison.
- Timeline.
- Budget tracking.
- Photo updates.
- Snagging.
03
Home setup before arrival
So your first night feels like coming home, not starting a project.
- Cleaning.
- Locks.
- Utilities.
- Internet.
- Beds.
- Appliances.
- Furniture.
- Curtains.
- Kitchen basics.
- Bathroom basics.
- Dehumidifiers.
- Safety checks.
04
Outdoor setup
Gardens, pools and outdoor spaces made safe, tidy and ready to enjoy.
- Garden clearance.
- Fencing.
- Irrigation.
- Pool service.
- Outdoor furniture.
- Lighting.
- Fire-risk clearance.
- Pet safety.
Good to know
Renovating a home in Portugal from abroad
Renovation is where many international buyers lose the most time and money. A clear plan, the right permissions and someone on the ground make the difference.
Start with the real condition of the property
Many Portuguese homes, especially older townhouses and rural properties, were built without insulation or central heating, so damp, roof leaks and outdated electrics are common. A technical inspection before you buy, or before work starts, shows what is urgent, what is cosmetic and what it is likely to cost.
That inspection becomes the basis for a written scope of works, so every builder quotes for the same job and quotes can be compared fairly.
Permissions and paperwork
Some works need approval from the local council (câmara municipal) before they start, particularly anything structural, changes to the outside of the building or work on listed or protected properties. Smaller interior jobs may only need notice or no permission at all. The rules vary by municipality, so we check them with an architect or engineer before work is booked.
Ask for itemised quotes that state whether VAT (IVA) is included, the payment stages and the expected timeline. Paying in stages linked to finished work protects you if a project slips.
Keeping a project moving while you are away
Remote renovations fail when nobody is on site to check progress. We visit regularly, send photo and video updates, track the budget against the agreed quotes and flag problems early, so decisions can be made from wherever you are.
When the building work is finished, we arrange cleaning, furniture, appliances, utilities and internet, so the house is ready to live in on the day you arrive.
Make your home ready before you arrive.
From a fresh coat of paint to a full refurbishment, we coordinate the work and keep you updated at every stage.