If you are looking to purchase a ruin or a restoration property here in central Portugal it is important you remember the rules of renovation although similar are quite different from your country of origin. A warning worth heeding prior to your property search.

Taking note of some simple 'rules of thumb' could save you undue heartache and thousands of Euros in your search for your dream property in Portugal.

When looking at ruined and older properties never assume the utility companies will just 're-connect' or form a new connection, as this is not always the case.

In Portugal if a property is deemed uninhabitable then then in most cases it will not be permitted to have a mains electricity supply until the property conforms to current European habitable standards.

And without a mains electricity supply this can mean for many properties applying for planning permission, which despite assurances from the government for compliance to shorter waiting times, is a long and drawn out affair, costing thousands of Euros.

Some agents and advertisers will make encouraging assurances prior to purchase that on some properties connection to mains water and electricity is an easy affair if no service has been previously provided. However here at Chavetejo we have a policy of honesty and transparency and if we believe there may be an issue relating to the connection we will advise you to delay proceeding until we have been able to clarify the situation with the relevant bodies.

Buying a property, after all, at whatever investment level, is a major undertaking and one which should only be taken after all research has been completed. If you are unsure at any point during a property purchase it is best to seek advice before spending thousands of Euros. Always keep in the back of your mind 'Would I be happy with the answer in my own country?'. If the answer is ever no, then back away, but not slowly, but at great speed.

Here at Chavetejo we are proud to offer a high level of customer care and have helped guide many customers through the perils of purchasing ruins, renovation and restoration properties here in central Portugal.

However although our agency manages to span the majority of central Portugal, and we hope we are the first port of call for anyone looking for a property in Portugal, we are aware there are thousands of tempting properties for sale throughout the country waiting to be renovated, restored and modernised.

Many of these properties will not be marketed for sale through our company. However, one of the philosophies we wanted to bring to the Portuguese property market was knowledge without a price and therefore if you are thinking of purchasing a ruin, renovation, restoration or even a modernisation property in Portugal  anywhere in the country we would like you to know our experience is still at hand. It is simply an email away.

We are happy to answer any questions about renovation and modernisation projects and even reconstruction processes and you can be safe in the knowledge all of our partners have undertaken projects - both new built and reconstruction - personally within the past five years.

Happy property hunting and we hope to hear from you soon.