MDCI Blog

The most common problem for self-builders and developers alike is running into unexpected problems, issues or costs, and going over budget. The scale of this issue industry wide is staggering.

Unfortunately, the construction industry was already under pressure due to COVID, as the three-month lockdown caused a shortage of materials, and labour supply was affected by teams coming down with the coronavirus and therefore not being able to work. Now they are really suffering from the increase in material costs, as well as the continued material shortages.

As project developers in Spain, we often work with investors to maximise the value of their project, ensure that budgets and timelines are hit and that all stakeholders are informed throughout. We will also work with developers from the very earliest stage to ensure their investment is viable and the plan is sound, through project feasibility studies.

Many people ask us what a Project Developer does and why they are an important part of any construction project, big or small. As they are involved with so many things, have so many different roles from the beginnings of a project through to completion, and can turn their hand to so many issues depending on the project, we wanted to explain what skills they need and take you through an average day, to help you better understand their role.

Building your own luxury villa in the sun is a dream for many. People imagine the property that they have always wanted, built to their own exacting standards, to allow them to holiday, live, or retire in style. They want to live the dream, lying by their private pool, eating al fresco and entertaining friends and family in sunny Spain. But if not handled correctly, this dream can quickly become a nightmare.

In the years before COVID hit we saw a steady increase of new building projects in the area of the Costa del Sol and once again - after a long pause - cranes appeared on the skyline. This was something that was in very short supply after the crash in 2008, so the return of the new developments, along with buyers’ appetite for them was very promising.

MDCI have their own contract, which is the result of over 30 years of experience and the successful completion of over 100 projects. It includes all the key details and specifies every service and agreement discussed with suppliers. It ties those suppliers in to deliver what they promised for the price they agreed and in the timeframe discussed.

Many people don’t realise, but any building work that you do within your Spanish property requires a building licence of some kind. These must be applied for and are issued by your local Town Hall. For small remedial works within an existing property which doesn’t fundamentally change the nature of the property, for example changing your bathrooms or laying a new floor, you need a licence called “Licencia de Obra Menor”.

Here in Spain, Mark and his team of project managers are definitely seeing a change to what customers are demanding from their buildings. There’s no doubt that sustainability and eco-friendly buildings are growing in popularity here, as well as globally. There is a pressure to build green and minimise waste, environmental impact and reduce energy use.