Case report · Mallorca

Practical case Mallorca: Villa in Campos – Own labour in the renovation cleverly factored in

The husband had run a skilled-trades business for many years and planned to take on part of the interior fit-out work himself together with his team. His wife worked as a tax adviser.

Key figures

At a glance

  • Purchase price: 1.140.000 €
  • Renovation: 210.000 €
  • Financing required: 798.000 €
  • Equity: 700.200 €

Anonymised case figure · not a binding statement for other projects · §34i GewO

Typical, anonymised case. Names, places and individual financing figures have been adjusted to protect privacy. The process reflects a typical advisory situation for non-resident financing in Spanien.

More living quality instead of a perfect starting condition

A couple from Lower Saxony were not looking for a turnkey luxury property on Mallorca. Far more important were a large plot, peace and quiet and enough space for family and friends. After several viewings they decided on a villa on the outskirts of Campos. The house was well kept, but the kitchen, the bathrooms and parts of the building services still dated from the early 2000s.

For the buyers this was no disadvantage – on the contrary. They saw the opportunity to develop the property according to their own ideas.

Initial situation

The husband had run a skilled-trades business for many years and planned to take on part of the interior fit-out work himself together with his team. His wife worked as a tax adviser.

Both had a solid income and sufficient equity. At the same time, they wanted to plan the renovation fully from the outset, rather than spreading individual measures over several years.

Financing overview

  • Purchase price: 1.140.000 €
  • Additional costs: 148.200 €
  • Renovation: 210.000 €
  • of which own labour: 70.000 €
  • Total investment: 1.498.200 €
  • Equity: 700.200 €
  • Financing required: 798.000 €

The financing share corresponded to around 70 % of the purchase price.

The challenge

The planned work included new bathrooms, a high-quality kitchen, modern air conditioning, the replacement of the windows as well as the redesign of the outdoor areas.

Part of these measures was to be carried out as own labour. Nevertheless, all material costs and the work to be performed by specialist firms had to be calculated realistically.

Analysis

Before the purchase, all renovation measures were assessed individually and backed with quotes. For the own labour, only the labour costs actually saved were taken into account, but not materials or external services.

This resulted in a robust overall calculation that already reflected all investments before the purchase.

Financing solution

The financing covered around 70 % of the purchase price.

The additional costs as well as a considerable share of equity were paid from available funds.

The full renovation costs were already included in the overall plan. While the planned own labour was able to reduce the construction costs, the financing was based exclusively on realistically calculated expenses.

Outcome

Within a few months, the villa was comprehensively renovated and brought technically up to date. The own labour shortened the construction time and reduced the total costs, without changing the financing plan.

Today the couple use the property several months a year and plan to spend their retirement permanently in Campos later on.

What other buyers can learn

Own labour can reduce renovation costs. Nevertheless, it should be assessed realistically. Solid financing is always based on verifiable costs and not on optimistic assumptions about time or effort.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can own labour make sense in a renovation?
Yes. Anyone with the necessary professional qualification can take on certain work themselves and thereby save costs.
Should material costs still be planned in full?
Absolutely. Even with own labour, material costs and the services of external specialist firms remain fully in place.
Why was the renovation calculated before the purchase?
So that all measures could be carried out immediately after handover, without having to make additional financing decisions later.

Conclusion

The purchase of a villa in Campos shows that existing properties with renovation needs can also be an excellent choice. Anyone who realistically assesses own labour, plans all investments early and builds the financing on a complete overall calculation creates the best conditions for a long-term successful property project on Mallorca.

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Anonymised individual case, not a binding statement for other projects · Siegfried Perini, BAFA-notified for the cross-border activity of the owner Olga Nikushkina · §34i GewO · no tax or legal advice · no financing commitment; conditions depend on creditworthiness, loan-to-value and bank