Properties of all sizes and styles abound in Portugal’s Algarve but perhaps you have considered the possibility of building your own? The thought of a dream home in the sun, designed to precise requirements and specifications is a compelling proposition to many prospective expats or holiday homeowners.

Despite its consistent popularity, the Algarve is still rather sparsely populated in some areas. Plots of land are therefore easy to find, but it’s important to do your homework to avoid falling foul of legal restrictions and long project delays.

Many of the things you need to bear in mind are no different in the Algarve to anywhere else in the world. It’s important to thoroughly investigate the local area, become familiar with local amenities, and try to see the area in all weathers. Places that look stunning in sparkling sunlight can become dark and forbidding during the winter season!

Things in Portugal don’t tend to move as quickly as you may be used to, or would ideally like! Caution should therefore be exercised if you consider any plot that doesn’t have mains electricity and water. Just because a plot is twenty metres from the mains supply and could be theoretically connected with ease, it doesn’t mean that it won’t take months or years of bureaucratic hurdles before it actually happens!

Planning permission is another thing that can take time. Another factor, specific to Portugal, is that planning permission for development can expire if work is not started within a certain timeframe. Be sure to consider this when purchasing a plot where permission has already been granted. If the deadline is missed, the process to seek permission starts over.

The best strategy to avoid delays causing undue stress is to be realistic about timeframes, and avoid ending up on a position where unexpected delays have disastrous or expensive consequences. The people who expect everything to take longer than their worst case are the people whose blood pressure remains within safe levels!

Once you have purchased your plot and it is time for work to commence, it is best to seek personal recommendations of contractors and project managers. Seek several comparative quotes and always be sure to personally take up references. Portugal is home to many skilled and experienced trades people but, like any other place, has its share of rogues too. Don’t proceed with anything without full confidence.

If you are not in the country while work is progressing, try to stay hands-on with regular visits to check how the build is going. The Internet can be a valuable tool to stay in touch when you are not in the Algarve, and good project managers will be happy to send regular photo updates or video clips to reassure you that things are going well.

Provided you exercise common sense and caution, there’s no reason why you cannot have your dream home in the Algarve built on time and on budget. Despite these times of economic hardship, you could still end up with a property worth more than the combined plot and development costs — and it will be exactly as you visualized it!

Need help finding a home in Portugal?
If you’re in the hunt for a Portuguese property, a good place to start is the Portugal Buying Guide’s new property search facility. To start your search now visit http://www.portugalbuyingguide.com/content/portugal-properties