No White Boxes

• 4 bed+ detached villa
• Happy to do updating
• Good outside space
• On or close to coast
• Traditional exterior 
• Contemporary interiors

Long-distance searches are always the most challenging, repeat viewing trips from northern Europe are one thing, quite different from the US. So preparation was key and after a face-to-face meeting with the client during a business trip to London the brief was agreed and I knew what I would be targeting although the exact location was less certain. The Golden Triangle incorporates the Marbella, Estepona and Benahavís municipalities so I guided them towards the best locations to give them the mix of beach and golf they wanted. The one thing they knew they didn’t want was what they termed a ‘white box’ new-build - they wanted a more Andalucían exterior but with contemporary interiors, an already-renovated property or one that they would update themselves eventually.

Two of the three properties selected for viewing were just located in the same street, both very recently renovated, in budget and met the accommodation criteria. The one negative they both had which I had already flagged up in my written reports, was a nearby apartment complex on two floors which overlooking the gardens and swimming pools. For 100% privacy, very tall trees along the rear boundary were needed, and several neighbouring properties had such a screen, but these trees do effectively block late afternoon sun in winter.  Neither of these properties were excluded and we proceeded to the third viewing. A six bedroom house in one of the best positions in the urbanisation was next on the list and again, it met the requirements, although in this case, the very high quality interiors were too traditional and not to my clients’ taste. Not a problem, they were quite prepared to renovate. My negative about this property was the fact that three of the six bedrooms were in the basement and had no natural light. 

While we were standing on the first floor terrace my clients commented on the rather lovely garden of the adjacent house, a double plot of 2,000m². I told them it was for sale but being on such a large plot only 250m from the beach, and with five bedrooms, none of which were in the basement, the asking price was considerably above their stated budget.  When clients give us a budget to work with we stick to it until they tell us otherwise.  They told us otherwise.

We viewed the next day, they made an acceptable offer and contracts were drawn up. We then found ourselves fighting off a higher offer but were lucky enough to be dealing with a very honourable seller who stuck with my clients providing the contract was signed immediately, with completion within a month.  It was. In fact, from taking the brief, doing the research, viewings, negotiation, contracts and completion, took just seven weeks. In addition, during conveyancing, I spotted the property was incorrectly described in the title deed, something the original lawyer had missed when the property was built. We insisted this was corrected at the seller's expense.

Although the house was in excellent condition for a 20 year old house, the interiors were dated. Within a year, my clients started a major renovation. Externally, a small swimming pool in the wrong location was enlarged and repositioned alongside a covered outside entertaining area, and a modern, neutral colour gave the house a contemporary look while retaining the Andalucían architecture my clients wanted. Internally, the house was stripped right back to the brick and renovated, plus a large basement with natural light was completely remodelled with entertainment areas.  The finished result: a modern home in a location where new-build opportunities are now extremely limited and at a price well-below what an equivalent new-build would have been.