Can anyone recommend: General Builder, Bathroom re-modeller, Tiler, Carpenter

Hi 

Whatever the nationality, you should use a local tradesman that is licenced to work in your area. Be careful to make sure they are legal or you can be fined, and the fines can be heavy. (I've also heard there are many British 'builders' out there that are not qualified and you will have no recourse if things go wrong).  Also remember that for a great deal of work you need permission from the Adjuntament (Town Hall) and may need to pay a small fee and additional taxes. (Even for things like changing your windows and reforming bathrooms). You could try asking on local facebook group pages such as 'Ontinyent, Xativa and surrounding Area Whats on and Where'. Someone there may be able to give you the names of any that speak English. If there are none perhaps you can use a local translator. (Our plumber brought along his daughter to translate the first time, and another bought his girlfriend).

A good thing about using local Spanish tradesman is they know the local rules (and officials and neighbours), plus you build relationships with them and their families and friends, and it is a great way to improve your Spanish/Valenciano. Also, it was our Spanish Electrician who recommended our plumber and other workers. All the Spanish tradesmen we used have been fantastic. (As has the one British carpenter we used but he came recommended and has been legally working in Spain for many years).  I would recommend getting written quotes first, and stressing that you do not have a lot of money - but then that is common sense in any country. (With our plumber he didn't want to give a firm quote until we stripped out the kitchen and bathroom and exposed the pipes, as he didn't know if all the pipes in our old house would need replacing or not, so I asked him to give us a 'worse case' estimate on the basis that I didn't want him to do the work and us not be able to afford it - he understood my reasoning and his final bill was much lower.

Another tip is ask the locals where they would buy tiles etc. We've found that many of the places that cater to the Brits are much more expensive and the customer service lacking, whereas when we went to a smaller tile place not only were the prices better they called the factory then and there to check the tiles we wanted were in stock and how quickly they could be delivered. (We had ordered some really expensive tiles from one place and planned the work around the agreed delivery date and they then just sent me an email  on the due date to say it would be another week - not much good when we had the plumber and builder on site waiting for the tiles...).

Remember too that everything normally shuts down in July/August and plan accordingly, although who knows what will happen this year.

Good luck with it all.

Gail

Hi! I’ll recommend Graham Ellis; he is a star! Really good service and does excellent jobs! See 

https://www.facebook.com/ellisproperty/ 

/ Regards Lisa in Mirador