Today, we sit at the table with Pablo and Joanca. They have been able to fulfill their Spanish dream with the help of Quality Estates and its team.
Noah: First of all, I'm very curious about your experience in buying the house. I can imagine that you came with an idea to buy a house in Spain. How did you end up on the Costa Brava and then with Quality Estates?
Joanca: It was actually very easy. We have friends who have been through this process. They already have a house in Calonge, also in Cabanyes, and they have had a good experience with Quality Estates. These friends also live in the Netherlands, in our village of Zeist. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we got the idea, due to limited travel possibilities, to look for a house in Spain. So, we called Quality Estates. Arjan was working there at the time, and he helped us in finding a house.
Noah: How long did that search take? Or was it a quick match?
Pablo: Very quickly, I think we had the house within 6 weeks. We bought it unseen. We made an offer on the first house, and it didn't work out, so we started looking at websites ourselves, and that's how we found this house. If you were to see it in photos as it was, it's 100% different from how it is now. The house has changed, and so has the terrain. We now have a garden where there used to be open space, so we've really transformed the property.
What really stood out with Quality Estates were two things - we already saw potential in the house, but we had a condition that we could position the pool well in the garden and make some changes to the house because the way it was, was not good. That's where Danny's spatial insight came into play, and also the ability to see and create something beautiful out of such an old house. He saw the potential in the foundation of the house and the location to make something beautiful. So, we started the process with trust in the knowledge and skills of Quality Estates.
Noah: So, the potential Danny saw and the good feeling he gave you basically convinced you?
Joanca: Yes, we fully trusted Danny in that because we had to make a decision about the purchase. Of course, we had already seen the beautiful work Quality Estates had done for our friends, so that gave us hope as well.
Pablo: Exactly. It started with the insight when Danny said, "I can work with this." So, we bought it. Then Danny and Albert (the designer) started working, and, to visualize it for us because everything was done remotely, they created 3D plans. And that was even more beautiful than we had imagined, so we said, "Yes, let's go for it." And thankfully we did. What we saw in the design is exactly how it turned out, and we still find that very impressive.
Noah: Were you in the house before the renovation? Or not at all?
Joanca: Yes, before the renovation started. We bought it and spent the first summer in the existing house. That way, we could see how and what we wanted to tackle. So, we didn't change anything that summer and lived there comfortably. Then, in the autumn break, we emptied the house, and the renovation started in November.
Noah: So, the renovation started, and it went in a certain way, right? Because you could be there little to none, so everything was done remotely?
Pablo: We have 1500 photos! That process was fantastic. Every Friday afternoon between 4 and 6...
Joanca: around happy hour!
Pablo: Danny would send a message: are you ready? And then it came, ping ping ping ping... All the photos of what had been done that week. He did that every week, and it really made us feel like we were there all the time. Even though you are remote, it was so detailed and precise, so it was fantastic to follow.
Joanca: Yes, not just the work - also selecting different things like tiles, kitchens, etc. - had to be done remotely. But Danny was very helpful; he sent detailed photos, videos, and even tiles by mail or truck for us to make choices. All the stores were closed at that time, so we couldn't go to a store in the Netherlands to make those choices. So, everything had to be done in an alternative way, and Danny filled that role so well and flexibly that we were able to make really good choices.
Noah: So, the collaborative thinking was also perfect?
Joanca: Yes, always solution-oriented.
Pablo: Danny is very pleasant to brainstorm with, always positive, and looks for possibilities. It doesn't matter which direction you want to go; he's flexible. If you say it's too expensive, can it be cheaper? He'll arrange that. If you want a bit more, he'll make it happen. He's always positive and in a cooperative mode.
We still see that now. If you call Danny to ask about this or that, nothing is too much for Danny; Danny is always available.
Noah: Those are all really positive things! Now, of course, in many TV programs like 'Ik vertrek,' you often see many things go wrong, and there are also setbacks. Have you experienced any setbacks?
Joanca: Haha, we won't tell those! No, not really. Maybe the costs, but that's something you control yourself, of course.
People sometimes ask, "Oh, is this one of those 'Ik vertrek' scenarios?" And actually, the opposite happened.
Noah: So, it's not like you encountered unexpected things? Even though you bought the house remotely?
Joanca: No, it was the case that the owner came to look again. He was very impressed. He also said he was glad that we had taken everything so thoroughly because he was a bit worried that some pipes might not be in order. But because we renovated so thoroughly, everything was renewed.
Noah: So, the end result fully meets your expectations?
Joanca: Yes, definitely, as Pablo said. If you compare the designs and photos now, it's a copy.
Pablo: Yes, what's most pleasant when you buy a house remotely and abroad is that you depend on what happens there and how it goes there.
If you talk about things that might have been disappointing; coming from the Netherlands, you assume that water, electricity, and sewerage, the utilities, always work well. Well, I didn't know that a circuit breaker could trip so often. Figuratively speaking, every time it thundered, something broke. And at such a moment, you need someone who doesn't make it difficult and says, "Oh, I'll fix that, I'll send someone over!"
That's the most valuable thing and why we, after hearing the stories from our friends, chose Quality Estates. If something comes up, we can just 'text' and it gets sorted out. They also do it in a very neat way. It's not like they make a big deal out of every little thing or there are a lot of costs involved. 100% trust and well organized.
Joanca: Yes, and you have Danny; we have the most contact with him, but what Pablo says applies to the whole team.
Noah: That's great to hear! In your enthusiasm, you're already answering questions I haven't even asked yet. My next question was actually: what about the rest of the team, do you have experience with them too?
Pablo: Haha, definitely. We know well that when we want to know about the administration, invoices, and other paperwork, we can approach Herminia. We know that we can approach Romy if we want to arrange something related to the cleaning of our house.
But in the end, it doesn't really matter who you approach from the team because it gets sorted out or passed on. You know who takes care of it, but if we approach Danny, then it's good. And otherwise, we know that if we say Xavi, it will always work out because he is either the painter, the electrician, or the plumber... ?
It's nice to have one point of contact who then takes care of everything. You know that Danny discusses it, and then it's taken care of. That service is very nice when you're remote.
Joanca: Maybe something else nice to tell; we were in Spain around Christmas, and the house had just been completed. We walked past the restaurant where Quality Estates had their Christmas lunch, and they saw us and called us in for a drink. All the employees and builders were there, and because almost everyone had contributed to our house, we knew everyone. That was really nice, and you also felt a sense of pride among the builders that they had been able to work on our house. That was a very nice experience!
Noah: That's nice. And how often are you on average in Spain?
Joanca: We try as often as possible. We try to go there at least once a month.
Pablo: Yes, whenever possible, we head that way!
Noah: Nice, maybe we'll meet soon!
