Patience is not only a virtue but a necessity
Our love with the house in Estoi (Casas das Bicas de Cima) dates back to January 2022. Around that time we bought the house and started the preparations for the renovations. Since we wanted to make several changes to the house, including a pool on the rooftop, we knew we needed to obtain townhall approval. It is just that we never anticipated the time it would take. If I say that we haven’t even started the works yet (after almost 4 years) you know that something is not 100% right.
Finalizing the architectural plans took some time, I admit. This is mostly due to the fact that we wanted to create not just a house but an architectural gem, a house that respects its heritage as one of the oldest houses in Estoi, the Roman presence, its history as a former olive oil press but also embraces its future as a landmark in the historical centre of Estoi. So, after many meetings with Estudio ODS and many drafted proposals, we finally submitted the project to Faro townhall in June 2023. Because at that time Estoi was in the process of becoming classified, the elements that pertained to changes in the façade had also to be submitted for approval to the Ministry of Culture in Lisbon. But, about 1 year later, we received our renovation approval (July 2024).
By that time we had engaged an engineering firm (RCAPD) to help us with the tender of selecting the builder. The request for quote was initially sent to 4 building firms. Because of the holiday period, replies were only received in September, followed by numerous back-and-forths with follow-up questions. By the time we got to compare the final quotes we had already moved into 2025. Of the total budget, 2 services (carpentry and metalworks) appeared overly expensive, so we contacted alternative providers to obtain an independent benchmarking. To cut a long story short, by May 2025 we had a finalised budget proposal from Algarelevo, a building company from Olhão. The next step was the contract drafting and negotiation which also took 2 months to finish. But then we were ready to move forward….
The architect submitted the documentation to obtain the building licence (“licença de obras”) in June 2025. This process normally takes a couple of weeks. As faith will want it, one of the documents submitted had lapsed in the meantime (proof of civil responsability insurance from the building company). Due to the combination of the holiday period and, let’s be honest, the extreme slowness at the townhall, we are now November 9 and still waiting. We are approaching the 4th birthday since we bought the house and the works still need to start (estimated to be 1.5 years). By the time we will have the house finished, almost 6 years will have gone by. And this for a renovation! Patience is not only a virtue but a necessity if you want to survive the Portuguese bureaucracy.
