A Cuban woman, who has been living in Spain for several years, recently shared her experience on TikTok about how she and her husband purchased a house without ever stepping inside. The property was boarded up at the time of purchase, leading to a significant surprise when they finally managed to enter.
The creator, known on TikTok as @belsisalbumdeunamedica, explained that the house was sealed and that the regulations surrounding property purchases in Spain made it difficult to back out: "Until you get the appraisal done, you can't really see the interior, and once you've paid for that appraisal, if you back out, you lose the money." Despite this, the couple decided to take the plunge.
Before signing, they gathered as much information as possible from the outside: floor plans, Google Maps images, the yard, and a portion of the roof. The decisive factor was that the property offered the square footage they needed and, in their words, "a lot of potential."
Once they were finally able to enter after the appraisal, they were met with a daunting sight: outdated flooring, cat droppings scattered throughout, an unbearable smell, walls so thin they had holes going right through, and a roof in severe disrepair.
Despite the dilapidated state, the couple remained undeterred. "We saw beyond all that and thought we could make a really cool home out of this for what we wanted," the creator stated.
The first step in the renovation was to visit the local town hall to submit a responsible declaration with their renovation plans and pay the necessary fees. However, this was just the beginning of their challenges.
Securing a dumpster to remove debris turned out to be a far more complicated task than anticipated. It required dealings with the town hall, additional permits for occupying public space, the payment of new fees, and coordinating the necessary signage to place the dumpster on the street. "Between appointments, permits, and all the bureaucracy, it took us about a month," she admitted, "and only after resolving all that could we truly begin the renovation."
This same creator had previously been featured in an article where she shared three things she doesn't regret about her life in Spain, including buying her first home, described as "very old and very dated," which she and her husband almost completely renovated. A similar story emerged from another Cuban couple in Murcia who bought a dilapidated house and transformed it entirely, a process that also went viral on TikTok.
The creator announced she would continue to share updates on the home's transformation, inviting her followers to stay tuned for the final result of the renovation.
Understanding Property Purchase Challenges in Spain
Why did the couple in Spain buy a house without seeing it?
The couple purchased the house unseen because it was boarded up, and the regulations in Spain complicated reversing the purchase after the appraisal fee was paid.
What challenges did they face during the renovation process?
They faced numerous challenges, including securing permits and dealing with bureaucracy to place a dumpster for debris removal, which took about a month to resolve.
What did they find inside the house?
Inside, they discovered outdated flooring, cat droppings, a terrible odor, thin walls with holes, and a roof in poor condition.