Greece is well known for its abundance of traditional old village houses and ruined stone cottages that are in need of some or total renovation. These old houses are frequently set in idyllic friendly villages, where the locals are welcoming and often ply new home owners with gifts of wine and oranges. Although many of these dilapidated houses are in need of a little care and attention they are full of charm and characters and can usually be purchased at reasonable prices. This makes them an attractive purchase for prospective home owners.

Before buying an old property that is in need of renovation there are various aspects that you should consider. Some of the first questions you should be asking yourself include: Are you going to do the building work yourself? Will you be dealing with the work from another country? Or will you need to find somebody local to help you?

Normally, Greek people prefer to build new houses and do not understand why anyone would want to bother fixing up an old house. Consequently, Greek builders are often complete bewildered by the requirements, time scales and expectations of foreigners. It is hardly surprising then, that builders are generally reluctant to renovate old houses. It is also advisable to remember that Greek renovations standards vary considerably, so it is best to ask around for recommended builders. Dealing with the builders yourself can turned out to be a more daunting task than you first realised.

You may prefer instead to find someone in the local area to project manage the renovations of your house for you. This will ultimately give you peace of mind knowing that there is somebody close at hand at all times. Your project manager will be able to oversee the building work on a day to day basis, regularly reporting back to you and ensuring that all goes smoothly. Another important point is that he will also have valuable knowledge of local suppliers and tradesmen. A good level of communication between you and your project manager will make certain that you have plenty of involvement in renovating your home even though you live thousands of miles away.

In any case, it is wise to ask a builder to look at a property before you buy it. He will be able to give a rough estimate of renovation costs. This might prevent you from making a disastrous decision and save you a lot of money in the long run. Take a realistic look at the property you intend purchasing. It is easy to imagine that you have more money to spend on your dream property than you actually have. The cost of purchasing a house and costs of repairs can spiral dramatically without you being prepared for it. This statement is one that should be at the forefront of your mind when you are making your plans.

Providing you do your research prudently you can successfully renovate an old property in Greece. Good luck with the purchase of your dream home and you will soon be sipping wine with the locals. Enjoy your little piece of paradise after all you've earned it.