Greece is renowned for its abundance of traditional old village houses and ruined stone cottages that are in need of some or total renovation. These older properties are frequently set in idyllic friendly villages, where the locals are welcoming and often ply new home owners with gifts of wine and oranges. Although many of these dilapidated properties are in need of a little care and attention they are full ofcharm and characters and can usually be purchased at reasonable prices.  This makes older properties an attractive purchase for prospective home owners.

Before buying an older property that is in need of renovation there are various aspects that you should consider. Some of the first questions you should be asking yourself include: Are you going to do the building work on the property yourself? Will you be dealing with the work from another country?  Or will you need to find somebody local to help you?

Normally, Greek people prefer to build new houses and do not understand why anyone would want to bother fixing up an old property. Consequently, Greek builders are often completely bewildered by the requirements, time scales and expectations of foreigners. It is hardly surprising then, that builders are generally reluctant to renovate older properties.  It is also advisable to remember that Greek renovations standards vary considerably, so it is best to ask around for recommended builders.

Dealing with the builders yourself can turned out to be a more daunting task than you first realised. You may prefer instead to find someone in the local area to project manage the renovations of your property for you.  This will ultimately give you peace of mind knowing that there is somebody close at hand at all times. Your project manager will be able to oversee the building works of your property on a day to day basis, regularly reporting back to you and thus, ensuring that all goes smoothly. Another important point is that your project manager will also have valuable knowledge of local suppliers and tradesmen. A good level of communication between you and your project manager will make certain that you have plenty of involvement in renovating your home even though you live thousands of miles away.

In either case, it would be wise to ask a builder to look at a property before you buy it.  The builder will be able to give an estimate of renovation costs. It is best to have a good idea of the work that you require as this will give you a more accurate approximation of building expenditure. It is also vital to inspect the property for any obvious faults.  Most importantly it should have sound walls, without which it may be cheaper to build a new house. Any other problem can be overcome (at a price).  It is desirable to have a roof that doesn’t leak ensuring the property is waterproof particularly if funds are limited.  It is always better to have a roof replaced rather than repaired. Patch work never proves to be successful and is not cost effective in the long term. Old properties often need damp-proof courses, timber treatment, new windows and doors, re-wiring, new kitchens and bathrooms and central heating. (Yes, it gets cold in the winter even in Greece!) Furthermore, when renovating an old property it is important to have a sensitive approach and keep as many of the original feature as possible reflecting the property’s natural rustic charms. Use local building materials and reflect the local building styles.

            Old village house before renovation                                 After renovations

The cost of renovation is dependant on the type of work required, the quality of materials used and your budget. Building works such as plumbing, masonry and electrics are charge by the square metre. As a rough guide you should expect the cost of making an old property habitable to equal the cost of purchase.  If you are restoring an older property for investment it is easy to spend more than you will get back. On the other hand if you are restoring a holiday or permanent home you can spread the work over a longer period of time.

Planning permissions is required if you plan to make external alteration such as extending the property or enlarging windows and doors. This is obtainable from the local town hall. Never start any building works until you have received official permission.

Having a property inspected and considering the works that you will need before you buy it might prevent you from making a disastrous decision and save you a lot of money in the long run. Take a realistic look at the property you intend purchasing. It is easy to imagine that you have more money to spend on your dream property than you actually have. The cost of purchasing a property and costs of repairs can spiral dramatically without you being prepared for it. This statement is one that should be at the forefront of your mind when you are making your plans.  

Providing you do your research prudently you can successfully renovate an old property in Greece.  Good luck with the purchase of your dream home and you will soon be sipping wine with the locals. Enjoy your little piece of paradise after all you've earned it.