Architectural advisory service for home buyers
Asturias, Gijón
Buying a home is probably the most significant financial decision of your life. And yet most people make it with very little technical information: they visit two or three properties, compare prices per square metre and go with their gut. What they don’t see — and what matters most — is what lies behind the walls.
What is the condition of the structure? How much would it cost to renovate it to suit your needs? Is it possible to reconfigure that layout you’re not sure about? Are there hidden damp problems, outdated services or issues that don’t show up in the listing? These are exactly the questions we know how to answer.
At AGHO Arquitectura, we offer an architectural advisory service for home buyers: we accompany you through the decision-making process with the technical expertise and experience of a qualified architect, so you can choose with confidence and without unpleasant surprises.
Who is this service for?
For anyone who is looking to buy a flat or a house and wants to make that decision with more information and more peace of mind. It is especially useful if:
- You are weighing up several options and are not sure which is the best from a technical and investment potential perspective.
- You like a property but the layout doesn’t work for you and you’re not sure whether it can be changed.
- You want to know how much it would cost to renovate before committing to a purchase.
- You are concerned about the real condition of the property beyond what is visible at first glance.
- You want the reassurance of someone you trust who knows what to look for.
What does the service include?
We tailor the service to your situation, but it typically covers the full purchase decision process:
- Preliminary review of the listings: Before visiting anything, we go through the listings you are considering with you. We identify the key points to check during each visit: condition of the facade and communal areas, age and type of structure, potential hidden issues, suitability for your needs and renovation potential.
- Accompanied property visits: We come with you to visit the properties you are interested in. We look at what you would not know to look for: the condition of the envelope, the building services, ceilings, windows, orientation and construction quality. We explain what we see and what it means, on the spot.
- Rapid layout redesign proposal: If a property interests you but the current layout does not suit the way you want to live, we carry out a quick feasibility study of the renovation possibilities: which walls are structural and which are not, what reconfigurations are viable and which works best for your needs.
- Renovation cost estimate: We provide an indicative estimate of the renovation cost you would need to budget for, broken down by trade. It is not a fixed construction quote, but it is a reliable enough figure to compare options with real numbers on the table.
- Pros and cons report: At the end of the process, you receive a clear, comparative report for each option analysed: strengths, points to watch, renovation potential, total investment estimate and our technical assessment. With all that information, the decision is yours — but you make it with much greater confidence.
A perspective that makes the difference
Experience has taught us that the purchase price of a property is only one part of the equation. A seemingly cheaper property may require a far more costly renovation than one that appeared expensive. A flat with a poor layout may be impossible to reconfigure for structural reasons. A deteriorated facade could mean a significant special levy in the coming years.
These are the nuances that only become visible with technical training and hands-on experience in construction. And they are exactly what we help you identify before you sign anything.
How many properties can we assess?
The service is designed to assess between two and four properties within a single search process. That is the typical number of options that someone looking to buy is considering, and it is the number that allows for a genuinely useful comparison. If your situation is different, tell us and we will adapt accordingly.
When does it make sense to use this service?
The sooner the better. The ideal moment is when you have a shortlist of properties that interest you and you are about to visit or revisit them. That way we can accompany you from the visits and gather all the information first-hand. We can also come in at a later stage, if you have already visited but have not yet decided and want a technical second opinion before taking the next step.
Frequently asked questions about the home buying advisory service in Asturias
How much does the home buying advisory service cost?
The price varies depending on the number of properties to assess and the scope of the service. Tell us your situation and we’ll put together a tailored proposal. In any case, the cost of the service is marginal compared to the value of the purchase and the risk of making a poorly-informed decision.
Can you accompany me to visit properties outside Gijón, in other parts of Asturias?
Yes. We work across Asturias. If the properties are in other towns — Oviedo, Avilés, Ribadesella, Llanes or elsewhere — simply mention it when you get in touch so we can factor it in.
How reliable is the renovation cost estimate?
It is an indicative estimate based on our experience with similar projects and the condition we observe during the visit. It is not a fixed construction quote — that would require a full technical project — but it is accurate enough to compare options and make informed decisions. We always clarify which items carry the greatest uncertainty and why.
What happens if I decide to hire you for the renovation after the advisory service?
We would be delighted. If you decide to go ahead with a property and want us to manage the renovation project and site supervision, the advisory work will already have given us very valuable knowledge of the property. In that case, we apply the cost of the advisory service as a discount against the renovation project fees.
Can I hire just the accompanied visits, without the full report?
Yes. We can tailor the service to what you need at any given point. If you simply want someone with technical expertise to accompany you on a visit and tell you what they see, we can do that too. Tell us your situation and we’ll find the format that works best for you.