MDCI Blog

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.

Construction projects are complex and feature so many aspects which require management and supervision. Red tape must be navigated and suppliers and construction teams kept on track to get the result you want. Even before you start building you will encounter difficult situations and obstacles which are hard to overcome without experienced and skilled project managers working on your behalf.

Once you’ve been assigned a project manager, they will lead you through every step of this process, constantly taking care of your interests and keeping the project on track, removing the stress and pressure from your shoulders.

The townhall in Marbella is offering informative conferences on the matter and consequences of Brexit for residents on the Costa del Sol. The conferences are organised by the Foreign Department of the Townhall and will be held in English and Spanish.