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Buying a plot of land and building your own house is a big decision,but it is the most common approach in Greece. The basic reason is that in this way you can avoid a number of taxes, which would otherwisebe payable on a completed house.Additionally you are able to design a villa exactly to your requirements and budget.
On this page we try to help you by analysing the various steps in the process
As a service we offer a complete building package which requires only one signature- we do all the paper work, registration, planning permission, construction, ready for you to move in. More...
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What exactly do you want?
Is it a permanent or holiday home? How many bedrooms do you need? Will you do alot of entertaining? Do you need an office? Do you like cooking and need a large kitchen?
If you have children, what are their needs? Will you want to retire there? make sure that communications are easy and that there are services like hospitals within easy reach.
Do you want a large garden ? |
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Is the house an investment?
If so you have to think about capital growth and rentals in the future ?
This is important because you have to consider the local rental market.
Is it for holidays - summer only. Can it be let in the winter? Can it be let permanently?
One of the major advantages of Evia is its proximity to Athens(by road, rail or ferryboat), which means there is both a holiday and residential market |
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Will you manage it yourself?
If you intend to rent it out or are not going to live in it for a substantial part of the year you will need a local agent to look after things for you while you are not there
Remember - that lovely blue pool that you were sipping drinks around during your summer holidays can turn to a beautiful shade of slimy green in the winter, if not looked after.
Apart from this there are the local bills to be paid for electricity and water |
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Land and Building permission - Finding the plot of land
Plots of land are relatively easy to find, and building permission can be obtained for most plots over 1 acre, unless the land is in designated forestry or agricultural areas.
The important thing , however , is to be very careful about title BEFORE giving a deposit . These can be very complex and you need to depend alot on your estate agent to ensure there are no problems |
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Identifying an architect - planning permission
There are many independent architects , who can design your villa. There are generally standard charges set down by law for doing the design, all the technical studies, obtaining planning permission and supervising the basic construction. |
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The Building Process
Finding a good builder
In many cases your architect can also supervise all the construction, finding sub-contractors and tradesmen. He may charge a fee based on construction costs or you can agree a fixed price for the whole project(even including electrical equipment etc.).
Alternatively there are a few construction companies who provide a similar service. |
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Day-to-day follow-up
This is most important since projects have a habit of slipping on their timescales. Often small problems , which can be easily solved if there is someone available to make on the spot decisions, can cause large delays due to lack of communication. |
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Payments / financing
Many builders will try to ask for up-front payment of a large portion of the construction cost. This should be resisted and a stage payments system agreed based on project progress, although it is normal to pay the design fees when the planning application is being made.
Financing is available through local banks, for whom we can provide introductions |
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Taxes etc
There are basically two types of taxes you need to be careful about
VAT - in order to get electricity supply you will need to show that you have VAT invoices for an amount specified by the planning authority
Social security payments (IKA) - The number of working days for each type of tradesman is agreed at the time that planning permission is issued, and the payments for IKA have to be regularly made as the project progresses |
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Supervising agent
All of the above can be supervised by you , if you are here in Greece, but our clients have found that it is much more effective to have a supervising agent, who provides all the day-to day project supervision, authorises the release of stage payments , liaises with all the various authorities and generally sorts out any little problems that may arise.
This is a service provided by ourselves . We can deliver your new villa complete and ready to move in.........with only ONE signature.
Contact us on - 0030-6945 382158 |
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