Buying a House to Renovate in Alicante: What If Your Perfect Home Doesn’t Exist Yet?

You Love Everything… Until You Open the Door

The location is exactly what you were looking for.

The plot is a good size. You like the orientation. There’s outdoor space. The price fits your budget.

And then you step inside.

Outdated tiles. A small kitchen. Too much hallway space. A living room that practically turns its back on the garden.

Next property.

It’s a completely natural reaction. But it can also lead us to rule out interesting properties because of the very things that can actually be changed.

This isn’t about buying any old house and hoping a renovation will work miracles.

It’s about learning to distinguish between a bad property and a property whose potential simply hasn’t been used well.

The Same House Can Work in a Completely Different Way

This is where architecture starts to become really interesting.

Perhaps that hallway could become part of the living room.

The kitchen could be opened up to the main living area.

A larger opening could make the living room, terrace and pool feel like one connected space rather than three separate areas.

It may be possible to create an additional bedroom, bring in more natural light, upgrade the installations, improve energy efficiency or completely rethink the outdoor areas.

And when planning regulations and the characteristics of the property allow it, more substantial changes can also be considered, such as extensions, new terraces or a swimming pool.

We’re not simply talking about installing a beautiful new kitchen.

We’re talking about making the house work for the person who is actually going to live in it.

Try This Before You Rule It Out

Imagine the house completely empty for a moment.

No furniture. No curtains. None of those tiles you’re trying to forget.

Now look again.

Do you still like the location?
Does it have a good orientation?
Is the plot worth it?
Does it have plenty of natural light?
Do the dimensions work for you?
Does the outdoor space have potential?

If you’re starting to answer yes, perhaps it deserves a second look.

Because changing a kitchen can be relatively straightforward.

Moving a house two kilometres closer to the sea is considerably more difficult.

Now Comes the Less Exciting Part: Can It Actually Be Done?

This is where those Pinterest ideas need a reality check.

“We’ll knock down this wall.”

“We’ll extend it here.”

“We’ll enclose that area.”

“And we’ll put the swimming pool over there.”

Maybe you can.

Or maybe you can’t.

A major renovation may require an assessment of the structure, available buildability, plot occupancy, setback requirements, installations, planning status and necessary permits, among other factors.

That’s why, before falling in love with what a property could become, it’s important to know what can actually be done.

Feasibility first. Design second.

And Now the Question That Could Ruin All Our Plans

How much does it cost?

There’s no magic price per square metre that works for every project.

Updating a kitchen and bathrooms is very different from replacing installations, windows and insulation. And the costs can change considerably when structural work, extensions, façades, a swimming pool or a full renovation are involved.

In addition to the construction budget, there may also be professional fees, licences, taxes and other expenses, depending on the work involved.

That’s why, when assessing a property to renovate, the right comparison isn’t:

Cheap house vs. expensive house.

It’s this:

Purchase price + costs + renovation = real project cost

Only then can we properly compare it with an already renovated property or a new-build home.

Some Unattractive Houses Are Great Purchases. And Some Beautiful Ones Aren’t.

This is probably one of the hardest things to see clearly when viewing properties.

A freshly painted house, beautifully decorated and perfectly prepared for photographs can win us over in ten minutes.

Another may seem impossible because it has old-fashioned furniture and a bathroom we wouldn’t choose even for a film set in the 1980s.

But underneath the decoration are the construction, installations, orientation, square metres, plot and location.

And that can completely change the story.

We’re not saying that buying a property to renovate is better.

In fact, for many buyers, a new-build property or an already finished home will make much more sense.

The important thing is simply not to confuse an outdated house with a house that has no potential.

New Build, Renovated or Ready to Transform?

It depends on you.

If you want to move straight in with your suitcases and forget about building work, a new-build or finished property will probably make more sense.

If you want to choose the layout and materials and create something much more personal, a property to renovate can open up other possibilities.

And if you’re looking for a very specific location where there is little or no new-build availability, expanding your search to properties with potential may reveal options you hadn’t even considered before.

There is no single winning option.

There is simply one that fits you better.

Have You Found a House and You’re Already Moving Walls in Your Head?

Then, before ruling it out — or buying it assuming that everything will be possible — we can take an intermediate step.

Through independent architecture and renovation professionals, we can assess the property’s potential and help you better understand what changes may be feasible.

The conclusion might be:

“It’s not worth it.”

And knowing that before you buy is already a valuable answer.

Or perhaps that property you almost dismissed will suddenly start to look completely different.

The Next Time You View a Property…

Before saying “I don’t like it,” try asking yourself a different question:

Do I dislike the house… or do I dislike the way it is now?

Because those are two very different things.

And perhaps the home you’re looking for isn’t waiting for you fully finished on a property portal.

Perhaps it still needs to be created.

SalyMar Advice

If you’re thinking about buying a property to renovate, try not to make two major decisions at the same time.

First decide whether the property is worth buying. Then decide how you want to transform it.

Before making a reservation or committing to the purchase, calculate the full cost of the project: purchase price, buying costs, renovation, potential professional fees, licences and a contingency budget for unexpected expenses.

And if the renovation is an important part of your decision to buy, check its feasibility before assuming that the work you have in mind will be possible.

A property with potential can be a fantastic opportunity. But its true potential isn’t what we imagine when we view it — it’s what can actually be done with it and at what cost.

And One Final Tip...

Don’t compare a property to renovate for €250,000 with a finished property for €320,000.

Compare what each one will actually cost you once it’s ready to move into.

That’s when you’re really comparing like for like.

NOT READY TO BUY YET, OR WOULD YOU PREFER TO MAKE YOUR DECISION WITH GREATER CONFIDENCE?

Explore our free resources to learn more about the different areas, understand the buying process and avoid common mistakes before choosing your property on the Costa Blanca.

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