Everything about real estate

Performing home renovations is an exciting and rewarding adventure as it allows you to breathe new life into such an important space in your home. One of the most common renovations is the bathroom remodel, aiming to expand the space, remove the bathtub, or give it a more modern touch.

Home security is an important concern, especially when it comes to preventing burglaries in private residences. In this article, we will provide you with key tips on how to protect your home and avoid robberies during vacations.

Today we will focus on a topic that you have probably wondered about many times: how to understand the water bill. It is essential to understand the details and concepts that appear in this document in order to properly manage water consumption and control expenses. 

Summer is a wonderful time to cool off and get the pool ready, but it is also a time of increased water consumption. That is why it is important to take measures to save water and be responsible in its use, as it is a very valuable and increasingly scarce resource.

Today we will deal with a topic of great relevance for those who are thinking of carrying out renovations in their homes: building permits. Often the question arises as to whether it is necessary to obtain permits for building work at home, and in this article we will clarify the most common questions in this regard.

With the month of May coming to an end and the desire for the good weather to arrive, after these rainy days, there is still time to prepare and maintain a garden in good condition for the summer. And so make outdoor breakfasts and dinners with family and friends more pleasant.

First of all, for those who have not yet heard of the energy efficiency certificate we will explain what it is.

The <b>energy efficiency certificate is an official document that evaluates and qualifies the energy efficiency of a building or housing, indicating its energy consumption and CO2 emissions. It is based on an analysis of the characteristics of the property, reviewing all construction systems, facilities and air conditioning systems of the property. Depending on the result, the property is awarded an energy label ranging from category A (more efficient) to category G (less efficient).

If you want to know more about all the categories we leave you the link of the related post where it details all the values of the energy certificate.

On March 20, we left the winter season behind to fully enter spring, a warmer, brighter and more colorful time of renewal and change, and there is no better way to celebrate it than by preparing your home to receive it in all its splendor.

If you are looking for a way to finance the purchase of a property, you may have heard of different types of mortgages. One of the lesser known, but increasingly popular, types is the mixed mortgage. In this post, we will explain what is a mixed mortgage, how does it work and what are its advantages and disadvantages.

If you have just purchased a home and it is the first time that you are facing the contracting of the different services that it requires, such as contracting the Internet, it is important that you pay attention to a series of things.

Sant Jordi's Day is approaching, one of the most important and emblematic days in Catalonia, an exciting day when the streets are filled with book stalls and roses, and are crowded with people strolling in search of the perfect book for gift to your loved ones.

A date marked on the calendar for many when books and roses become symbols of love and culture. If you are looking for books to give on St. George for someone who loves their home and decoration, here we present you seven books about the home that can be perfect.

When we venture into the purchase of a new home we must invest many hours of our day searching through the real estate portals for a property that is perfect for us, and when we finally find it, it is time to take other steps that are closely related, such as registering for electricity, water or internet service.

Are you looking for a way to give your home a new look? An excellent option is to change the decorative style.

If you are an animal lover, it is very likely that you want to make your home a comfortable and safe place for your pet. Next, we will give you some tips on how to make your home a pet-friendly place.

Buying or selling a property can be an exciting task, but it can also be complex and intimidating, especially for those who are not familiar with the Real Estate language. The world of real estate is full of technical terms, acronyms, and acronyms that can be confusing to inexperienced buyers and sellers.

The vast majority of us are already very familiar with the recycling of plastic and the materials that we throw away, but real estate recycling exists and is gaining more and more ground in the construction sector.

Selling a house is a complex process, you not only need to have a real valuation of your property, prepare the house before putting it up for sale, market or know negotiation techniques, but also you must be clear that it is necessary to have a series of essential documents for the sale.

When the weather is cold, coming home and finding her warm is one of the best sensations we can feel in the middle of winter. During the coldest months of the year, gas plays a fundamental role in giving us that heat that helps us through the winter, through heating, a very hot shower or in any other way. However, it is true that this can lead to an increase in bills.

¿Did you know that the number of burglaries in homes increases every year? And that a large part of them are due to small security oversights?

The pandemic has accelerated and has imposed new habits, new tools and new ways of doing things; one of them is telecommuting.

As the years have gone by, we have become aware of the importance of taking care of the planet and the environment, a trend that has led us to a clear process of evolution that puts the focus on sustainability.

When we want to sell or rent a home, the visit to the property is essential to be able to close this transaction. In fact, the first impression is extremely important, as it generally determines the decision of potential buyers or tenants.

A new year is synonymous with many things: new beginnings, new trends, new opportunities, new purposes, etc.

We want to close 2022, the year in which we began with the hope that the pandemic would be over, but which was soon clouded by the war in Ukraine. On top of all this, there has been runaway inflation, which, by the way, has led to a rise in interest rates, and which has slowed down this year's growth.

Inmobiliaria Espígul promotes the first Girona Officially Protected Housing building for 2022.

Are you thinking of becoming independent? Sometimes it can be difficult to make the leap due to lack of financial resources, especially for young people, since this has been one of the groups hardest hit by the latest crises.

Energy efficiency has always been a relevant issue, especially for owners, tenants or usufructuaries of a home, but today due to the current situation, it has still acquired a major importance.

There is just over a month left until that time of year that we all love so much: Christmas, a unique holiday that fills many homes with joy and illusion.

We already know that, despite the fact that we all enjoy Christmas very much, the ones who really have a great time are the little ones; and not only with the Tió or the arrival of the Three Kings, but also when it is time to decorate the house with the family. For this reason, in today's post we want to propose to you a lot of ideas for your Christmas decoration.

If you are thinking of buying or renting a flat in the city, Girona is the perfect place to find everything you are looking for, with many options and competitive prices.

The city of Girona preserves the tranquility and charm of the towns while offering all the services and equipment of a big city in a relaxed atmosphere. In today's article we want to introduce you to a new promotion of newly official protection located in Domeny, Girona.

Are you thinking of selling your house? Well, we can tell you that it is not an easy task, but it is not impossible either.

Nowadays, the search process is much more intensive, different prices are compared and it is difficult to make a final decision. For this reason, at Espígul we are going to give you some tips, which will help you to speed up the process and make the sale of your home a success.

Winter is a season that we love, it is full of contrasts that allow us to enjoy the environment, our home and family in a different way.

Its charm, the one that brings us home, to the fireplace, to rest, to the embers, to the blanket and the hot chocolate, contrasts with the cold, the low temperatures and the few hours of sunshine typical of this season.

The moment of buying and/or renting a flat or a house is a crucial and very important moment in a person's life and where many doubts arise, mainly due to the lack of knowledge of the real estate sector.

If you are starting a home buying process and you are starting to search for the flat or house that suits your needs, this post is perfect for you.

Owning more than one flat or one house represents a duality. On the one hand, it is a good option, since you have property assets that you can use for your own benefit: you can rent it, live in it, use it as a second home, etc. .

But, on the other hand, owning a property also represents a series of charges, concerns, expenses, maintenance... that you must take into account.

If you have a property and you have doubts because you don't know if it is better to rent it or sell it, you can continue reading this post and clear up your doubts!

Your work day ends, after a frantic and stressful day full of meetings and unforeseen events, you get in the car, plug in your anti-stress spotify playlist and head home.

 There are five minutes to go and only one image passes through your head, you sitting on the couch in comfortable clothes and sneakers, an image that quickly dissolves when you remember that, you still have the arduous task of parking! 

And once again, you think that if you had a parking lot you would already be on your couch.

Now that it's late afternoon and the duvets, quilts and blankets are starting to come out, you're probably thinking about making more than one change to your home to give it a new and cosy feel for the cold winter months.

For many people living in the Empordà has always been a dream. The combination of the colors of the land and forests with the breeze of sea and beach, we can say that it is a privilege that offers us the Empordà villages.

So today we want to tell you a little more about Albons and its surroundings.

It is very likely that more than once you have thought about producing your own electricity, more and more families are deciding to enter the world of self-consumption and clean energy.

A house represents many things, including intimacy, space, freedom and privacy.

The possibility of having an outdoor space where you can enjoy quiet breakfasts with your family, large lunches with friends and barbecues that last until dinnertime is synonymous with quality of life.

In today's post we would like to introduce you to the new development we have recently started, Jardins de Vilablareix, a series of new-build flats located very close to the Can Gruart social and facilities centre in Vilablareix.

Summer is the season when we spend the most time outdoors. We like to enjoy the long days, the good weather, the meals with family and friends...

For all those who like to be hosts and want to decorate the outdoor space of their home, today we provide you with the perfect guide to do so.

If you are trying to buy a new property, you have probably heard about earnest money contracts. But, what are earnest money agreements and what are they for?

During the last few years these concepts have started to appear in our daily lives. Even so, it is likely that their definition is not 100% understood.

At Espígul we want to make it easy for you and that is why we will now define these four concepts, focusing on the housing and property sector.

Keeping your home oxygenated and breathing is a necessary practice for your health and that of your home, as the air we breathe at home is just as important as the air we breathe outside.

As the years go by, the needs of our home change. In today's post, we want to give you some basic tips to make your home renovations a success, thus optimizing time and money.

The summer months are for disconnecting, releasing the accumulated stress of the whole year, sunbathing, bathing in the river, in the sea, enjoying family and friends, going on holiday and travelling.

But what can we do before leaving home so that we don't have any scares on our return? Well, here are a series of tips with things you can do before leaving home to have a return without surprises.

Each insurance company has its own insurance policies, so it is important to compare conditions and costs in order to choose the one that best suits your needs.

In today's article we will talk about the trends in the real estate sector that have marked the latest property searches this summer. 

At Espígul we have all kinds of properties for sale and rent, in today's post we will talk to you about the most exclusive homes and the most luxurious houses we have in Girona, the Costa Brava and Barcelona, and all they have to offer.

What are the main features that these properties have to offer?

During this week, from June 13th to 18th, and to pay tribute to our 35th anniversary, we would like to announce that our construction and real estate company Espígul will be holding a number of raffles.

If you are considering buying or selling a property, but you do not dare to do so because of the amount of paperwork and procedures involved, here are some of the advantages of buying or selling through a real estate agency such as Espígul.

There are approximately 20 days left until summer officially starts, and with the heat comes the desire to jump into the pool. In Espígul today we bring you a series of tips that will help you save water during the process of filling the pool.

Buying a new home is one of the preferred options for new homeowners. But... What exactly should be taken into account before buying a newly built home?

Every day is less and less for the arrival of summer and the heat. That is why today we bring you a post about how to decorate outdoor spaces in your home; the protagonists of the hottest summer days.

If you are thinking of buying or renting an flat in the city, Girona is the perfect place to find everything you are looking for, with many options and competitive prices. The city of Girona retains the tranquillity and charm of the villages, while offering all the services and equipment of a big city in a relaxed atmosphere. In today's article we are going to present to you a new development of new flats located in the area of the Químicos, Girona.

Coliving is a mix between sharing an apartment and having all the comforts of an aparthotel. It is a community residential model that has great similarities with coworking or cooperative work.

In Catalonia, a dwelling for tourist use is considered to be a dwelling that is rented temporarily, for days or weeks, for a period of less than 31 days. The assignment must be complete and not by rooms.

In this article you will discover this spring's trends to decorate your home. Be inspired by them and give a new look to your home, also for the summer, turning it into a space full of life and light. 

So, what are the top trends for spring and summer 2022?

For weeks now, construction companies have been warning that the shortage of materials could bring the construction sector to a halt. Well, this day has come.

Nowadays, there are many fears present in the owners of a vacant property: non-payments, tenants' reluctance to leave the property, unpaid rents, renting to tourists for short vacation periods, etc. 

In Espígul, and through this article, we are going to provide you with some keys and tips to take into account in order to rent your apartment safely.

Homes are one of the spaces where we spend the most time. That is why we want them to be cozy and feel at ease once inside, since it is a space where we can disconnect and rest. But, how can we take advantage of natural light? How can we illuminate a dark space? How can we create cozy spaces?

How does the Ukraine-Russia war affect the Spanish real estate sector?

Russia's military attack on Ukraine has caused great economic uncertainty at the international level. But what effects could the war conflict have on the Spanish residential market?

Last February, the Council of Ministers approved the new housing law. After two years of negotiations and controversies, an agreement has been reached to establish a law that regulates different areas of this sector, such as, for example, aid for access to housing, regulation of rental prices, evictions, etc.

In Spain, it is the first law of these characteristics, since it is the first to develop the constitutional right to decent and adequate housing for all citizens. 

Throughout this article, we will tell you exactly what this law consists of and what changes it brings about.

I want to have my property appraised, but what should I do?

Whether you are preparing to work as an approved appraiser or you are requesting an appraisal and want to know more about the process, in this article we want to explain in a simple and complete way the process of performing an appraisal, which uses standards and methods.

Our fresh water supply is limited and even more so now that in Catalonia we are in drought pre-alert after two months without rain. If the reservoirs fall below 40% of their capacity, restrictions may begin to be decreed. Currently, they are at 56%.

Water is one of the earth's most valuable resources, so it is important to use water-saving techniques every day that will be reflected in both our water bill and our lifestyle.

How much does it cost to build a custom home?

A house represents many things including intimacy, space, freedom and privacy. How many times have you imagined your own custom-built home, with its garden to gather with friends and family?

Owning a home brings us enormous personal satisfaction, gives us the peace of mind of securing a better future, helps to underpin economic stability and, of course, improves your quality of life and that of your family. Forget about renting, renters and moving!

Maybe you are wondering, what are Tiny Houses and why are they becoming fashionable? In today's post we will solve all your doubts and we will explain why they are starting to be one more alternative in the search for a new home.

What does "tiny house" mean?

Tiny Houses are mini houses, where nothing is missing in a reduced space of between 10 and 50 m2. It is a concept that is here to stay with innovative designs associated with a new, more minimalist and sustainable lifestyle.

The flipping house, is a concept of American origin, which comes from the word "flip" which means to flip and the word "house" house.

Real estate flipping refers to the purchase of a house in poor condition and below market price, renovate it and sell it at a high price and higher than the initial price and the cost of the renovation to make a profit.

Renting is one of the most used formats when it comes to owning a home.

In recent years the price of rents has been falling in several Catalan towns, compared to previous years.

We know that we should not rely on first impressions, but we remain sincere, on a first visit to an apartment, it is what counts. And we are not only talking about what you see, but also about what it makes us feel when we enter a property for the first time.

GreenBuilding is a commitment to sustainability without renouncing design. Environmental awareness, sustainability, improved quality of life, ethics and efficiency are compatible with all architectural styles. 

A change of year means a change of decoration trends.

We close this 2021, a year full of illusions, of new owners of flats and houses and also of new rental tenants. After another year full of uncertainties, we leave reinforced and motivated to face 2022, which we hope will be much better.

Paint a wall, renovate doors or windows, change the electrical installation, but what is the limit to make changes at home and that they become a reform? When you want to make a reform, depending on the type of work you have to do, you are obliged to ask for a building permit.

Coming home after a hard day's work or after a few days' holiday is a unique and almost indescribable feeling. With which word would you describe "this pleasure of coming home"?

As Andy Williams sang, the most wonderful time of the year has arrived: Christmas. Loved and hated in equal parts, the Christmas season leaves no one indifferent. It's a time to get together, to enjoy good food, to give and receive presents and of course to make a real display of Christmas decorations!

Today's post is dedicated to all those who do like Christmas and who always have a day marked on their calendar dedicated exclusively to decorating their homes. We will talk about trends that stay and trends that go and everything that you can't miss in your home Christmas decoration.

At Espígul we are celebrating. After more than 35 years of experience in the real estate and construction sector, both in the province of Girona and in Barcelona, the time has come to continue investing in our company, which is why, after months of work, we can announce that we are expanding and opening a new door to the market by incorporating a new Espígul office in Sant Cugat del Vallès!

Absolutely everything we consume creates an impact on our society and the environment. Our consumption habits are directly related to the sustainability of our planet. 

Changing these habits is essential to lead a more environmentally friendly lifestyle, and the home is a good place to start. This is where the famous 3Rs come into play: reduce, reuse and recycle. (Yes, order is important!)

It's official, the cold weather is here. Nobody likes to feel cold at home, that's why it's very important to have the heating system ready when autumn arrives. 

After many months without use, the heating system will start up again and as long as everything is working properly, it has to be prepared. It is always advisable, during the year, to carry out maintenance that helps to check the state of the boiler or radiators and prevent breakdowns. 

When you decide to become independent, the first thing you think about is what is best: whether to rent or buy your future home. However, not everything is black and white and there are other options that may fit your needs, such as renting with an option to buy.

Renting to buy is a very good alternative for those people who are concerned about their future and want to own a property, but perhaps their current moment is not the best to buy a home.

As we have talked about in several posts, buying a home is one of the most important steps we can take in our lives and it is not a simple process. If you want to know everything you need to know before buying a house, don't miss this post. 

Therefore, renting with an option to buy is a good solution to this possible situation. A rent to buy is a contract that does not appear expressly in the Civil Code, it is an atypical option. Therefore, in a contract like this it is very important that the agreed conditions, the object of the contract and the price are very clearly defined. 

Energy efficiency is paramount if you want to achieve a more sustainable home. Converting your home into a more sustainable space can have an impact on a personal level in terms of saving money and energy and on a global level in terms of reducing your impact and your carbon footprint.

At Inmobiliaria Espígul, sustainability is present in all our new construction projects. Sustainability is one of the pillars of our company along with innovation. Efficiency and modernity are compatible. 

If you have a flat or house that you want to rent or sell, the energy efficiency certificate is of interest to you. This certificate is an essential official document for any purchase or rental of a property. In fact, it is one of the requirements that you will always see on real estate portals.

You are thinking of making a change and buying a new flat or house, and you see that none of the options convince you. Neither a second-hand flat because it needs to be refurbished nor a new one because you can't choose the layout or the finishes and you would like to have a home more in line with your tastes.

So it is after many hours of searching, emails and phone calls. Even visits. At the end of the day maybe while you are making dinner. Maybe having dinner. Or sitting on the sofa, you ask yourself, how much does it cost to build a house?

And all at once, you visualise what you are looking for. Your belly tingles with the desire to start a new project, from scratch and where you can be part of every stage of the process and every decision.

Once you have gone through the whole process of buying your new home, you need to get it ready. And we're not just talking about furniture and decoration, you also need to take into account other aspects such as home insurance.

With home insurance you can avoid some high expenses in case of a mishap, from a leak to the theft of your belongings. That is why it is very important to evaluate options and choose a good insurance for your home.

In today's post you will find information about insurance and how to choose the best one for your home. Read on!

Buying a home is one of the most important steps we take in our lives. Obviously, it is not definitive, but many factors have been taken into account to make a good decision and end up buying the house of your dreams.

At Espígul Real Estate we have more than 30 years of experience in the real estate sector and a great team of advisors who can help you find your first home easily and safely. 

In today's post, we will talk about everything you need to take into account before buying a home: a guide of tips for buying your first home. 

In the last two years, because of the pandemic, we have all experienced major changes, including the real estate sector. Even so, it has withstood the impact with positive results.

A few years ago the trend was to buy a flat or a house. The personal situation of each person was not so much considered, you simply bought a house, without thinking about the pros and cons involved.

After the 2008 crisis, the real estate sector changed radically. Construction stopped and people stopped buying. Then another format came into play: renting.

Real estate is very much about supply and demand. Currently, we have reached a situation of saturation of rented flats. In other words, there is more demand than supply. That is why you have to look for alternatives to find your home.

From Inmobiliaria Espígul, we have all the resources to guide you and get the best rental option. Whether you are an owner and you have a flat to rent or if you are looking for a flat to rent in Girona or nearby. 

In today's post we propose two alternatives to traditional renting if you want to break with all the market trends!

With plants we have two types of people: those who start by buying a small plant to make it pretty and end up leaving their house like a jungle or those who even have a cactus die.

In today's post we bring you the definitive guide to having plants at home and making it a success! Well-being in the home is one of the priorities we have at Inmobiliaria Espígul, as professionals in the sector with more than 30 years of experience, both as estate agents in Girona and in the construction of houses and new-build flats.

Plants have a lot of symbolism, they bring vitality to any room and the colour green transports us to nature. Having them at home is a good decision for those who want to live in a pleasant and more peaceful environment.

Sustainability is the future. In our daily lives, small acts such as consuming responsibly, not using so much plastic, using public transport... contribute to the fight for a more sustainable world.

But in what other areas can we act to lead a more sustainable life? In our homes, for example. Turning your home into a sustainable space can help you personally to save money and energy and globally to reduce your impact and your carbon footprint. 

At Inmobiliaria Espígul, sustainability is present in all our new constructions. Sustainability is one of the pillars of our company along with innovation. Efficiency and modernity are compatible.

Today we propose two scenarios: 5 reforms to make your home more sustainable or, if you are thinking of moving house, Casas Espígul: sustainable new build homes.

They say that September is like starting a new beginning: it's a month of getting back to the routine, new resolutions, and making changes in everything that doesn't quite convince us of our day-to-day life. Do more exercise, eat healthier, get more sleep....

These are the most common resolutions, but what about your home?

Try starting September with new cleaning habits to have a perfect house. 

When you are thinking of selling your house, there are two very important factors that you have to take into account for a quick and effective sale: colours and images.

As a consequence of the pandemic, second homes are on the rise. The new imposed lifestyle makes us look for spaces where we can relax and telecommute at the same time and second homes are the ideal solution.

Let's put you in the picture: holidays, summer evening and dinner in the fresh air on your newly decorated terrace. What can spoil this special evening? Mosquitoes.

When you think of your future home, what do you think of? Very high ceilings, or rather a smaller and cosier space? Oak wood finishes or a minimalist style in total white? Whatever your dream home is, now you can make it come true with a new concept: Casas Espígul.

If you have a small flat, you know that it is a challenge and even a problem if you do not know how to decorate it to make the most of it and get a much wider space visually.

August and September are key months when students in Girona and other university cities start looking for flats to share with their classmates and start the new academic year.

If you want to turn your flat into a student flat in Girona and you want to make it profitable in a different way, you can consider the option of renting your flat to students who come to live in Girona to start their professional career at the University of Girona, UdG or other study centres. 

The decision to rent your student flat sometimes generates initial doubts, but it is just as valid as a regular rental. If you decide to rent your student flat, you have to consider all points of view, so here are the different advantages and the aspects that you have to take into account to rent with peace of mind. 

When you look at an advert for a flat on a real estate portal, the first thing that catches your eye is the images. To get good images you have to have a certain hand with the camera, but there must be a good base.

The objective is to show a flat that generates a good first impression to attract the maximum number of people interested in buying or renting the property, so if you want to rent or sell your property in a faster and more efficient way, keep reading this post!

You want to sell your house, but you have no idea where to start. Surely what you do have clear is that you want it to be a quick and easy process and if possible with guaranteed success.

There are two ways to choose: selling the flat on your own or selling the flat with the services of an estate agent.

What are the differences between the two options?

Summer is here in the blink of an eye. The season in which the undisputed protagonist is the heat and it is loved and hated in equal parts.

At Inmobiliaria Espígul we want you to make the most of the summer with a series of tips that you can apply to your home and make it your favourite season.

A rented flat is usually neutral and without personality. It is up to the tenant, the new person moving in, to add a personal touch. By choosing the right furniture, colours and accessories to suit your tastes and needs, you can turn a simple rented flat into a real home. 

At Espígul Real Estate we are specialists in property rentals. We have all kinds of rental properties in Girona where you can find what you are looking for. Our real estate advisors will guide you through the whole process so that you don't have to worry about anything. 

Many people think that a rented flat is just a place to stay and that it is not necessary to invest money and time to modify it. But with these tips you will see that getting a warm and cosy home is very simple.

Sustainability is in the spotlight when it comes to building new homes. Reducing the environmental impact is very important for our wellbeing and above all for the planet.

At Inmobiliaria Espígul, as a construction company located in Girona, we follow criteria for maximum efficiency, favouring the rational use of energy, while taking into account the environment, quality and indoor climate comfort.

In order to achieve homes with efficient architecture, we do not require products or materials different from those used in traditional construction, it is simply a matter of optimising existing resources through passive techniques.

Today we want to go a step further and talk about sustainable gardens. Having a garden involves expenditure of material resources and if we want it to be environmentally friendly it has to be designed making efficient use of natural resources and avoiding any alteration that compromises the natural balance.

The sustainable housing trend is here to stay. More than a fashion, it is becoming a necessity, because a sustainable home helps us to maintain an environmentally friendly lifestyle.

A sustainable house has ecological materials, uses recyclable systems and is provided with green energies. A sustainable house has as its main objective to be energy efficient, for example it cannot generate disproportionate costs in air conditioning. 

At Espígul real estate, as a construction company, we are faithful to efficient architecture with the environment in mind. Our houses follow simple and minimalist lines and we adapt to the environment to achieve sustainable housing. We believe that taking into account energy savings in the construction of houses and buildings is no longer an option but a necessity and a duty of the present, in the face of the climate emergency.

The new electricity tariff comes into force. The changes generate uncertainty and more when these affect us directly to energy consumption and extra spending money.

In Espígul Real Estate after 30 years of experience in the construction, sale and rental of real estate If you want to know how the change in the electricity tariff will affect you, read on!

Before buying a property you have to consider many factors. One of the main ones is the capital, i.e. the money and how you can materialise this purchase. Normally you usually resort to loans such as mortgages. And this is when many doubts arise...

They say that where there are plants, there is life. Plants have a lot of symbolism, they bring vitality to any room and the colour green transports us to nature. Having plants at home is a good decision for those who want to live in a pleasant and more peaceful environment. 

Looking back, it used to be normal to get up to change the TV channel. Today it is almost impossible to believe, as technology has made gadgets available to us that allow us to switch lights on and off, regulate the temperature, raise or lower blinds, play music .... without having to leave the sofa.

In recent months, terraces have become small oases where you can enjoy and disconnect from the routine and the new normality that we are living. That's why now more than ever it's worth investing a little time in arranging and fitting out the terrace of your home.

Spring and summer are ideal seasons to take advantage of the outdoor spaces of your home and do different activities such as breakfast in the sun, take advantage of the sunset to read or have a candlelit dinner.

Renew or die. We apply this phrase to many areas of our lives, including our homes. Renovating our home involves many changes to be decided and also a series of expenses to be assumed.

When you have a house with a garden, there is often the possibility of having a swimming pool as well. It is common to doubt whether the good times that a swimming pool can offer you are compensated by all the expenses and maintenance that you have to take on.

Having a second home is like having a small oasis, a place where you can take refuge from the routine. Second homes offer many advantages, but also obligations, dedication and expenses (fixed and variable) that require your attention.

There are different reasons to buy a property and use it as a second home: investment to rent it out, use it as a holiday or weekend home...

We welcome spring and the good weather. With the heat and rising temperatures it is common to look for different ways to cool down. One of the most commonly used resources in these cases is water.

In Spain, an average person consumes 136 litres of water. This is a surprising and very high figure that should make us all aware of the need to try to change and improve the situation, in summer and throughout the year.

When renting a flat, there are always many doubts about who should pay. Renting a flat involves many expenses that either the owner or the new tenant must assume in order to be able to carry out the agreement.

There are city people and there are village people. There are people who love living amidst the hustle and bustle of people and others who prefer the tranquillity of strolling through quiet streets. There are people who prefer to see new faces every day and others who love the routine of always greeting the same people.

And then there are those people who don't want to give up anything. People who want to live in a quiet environment, but with the adventures of the city close by. To be able to live in an environment that offers them all the comforts but without having to give up the luxuries of the city. 

Every year we discover new trends in the world of decoration and interior design. Of course we don't need to apply all the new trends season after season, but they are good to renew small details and update the style of our homes. 

The most important thing when it comes to applying a decoration trend is to follow your own style. If you get carried away by trends that are far from your taste, you may end up getting tired of them quickly and you will have wasted an investment of time and money because you will want to change it again. Remember, the most important thing is always to be yourself.

It is becoming more and more common to check and compare different types of systems (whether heating, electrical appliances, plumbing...) before installing them in our homes. The objectives are clear: to achieve energy efficiency, save on energy bills and contribute to the environment.

The pandemic has undoubtedly changed our lives in every way. The way we relate to each other, how we live our daily lives and of course our homes. In a very short period of time we have had to adapt to many changes and these have also been reflected in our homes.

It is common to talk about buying and selling flats or properties and we tend to forget about other properties such as land, an asset that we often do not know how to make profitable and take full advantage of what it has to offer.

It is true that sometimes land for sale is more difficult to manage than other types of property and that is why you should take into account certain points before selling it.

For many people, their home is synonymous with security. A place where they can be calm and carefree while enjoying time with their family. Having a safe home involves much more than having sophisticated security systems, there are many details that you must take into account to prevent both domestic accidents and burglary in your home. 

You wake up in a hurry because you have postponed the alarm clock three times, run, you won't make it. You drink your cold coffee while you're doing your homework at home, but you're not going to make it. You get in the car and drive to work amidst red lights and honking horns, you'll never get there. And that's how you spend the whole day, running to get everywhere because the world goes fast and doesn't stop. 

In architecture, as in life, a movement has appeared that defends the fact of stopping and taking things slowly to achieve better results. The slow home movement seeks natural and sustainable homes that evoke wellbeing and calm. In short, houses to be happy in. 

An empty floor is like a blank canvas, you have infinite possibilities to create a personalized home to your taste 100% from scratch. Moving into an empty flat has many advantages that you can take advantage of.  

Starting a new year means setting new goals, new purposes and new dreams to be fulfilled. It is usual to make a list of all these new things that we intend to accomplish throughout the year or life. 

After a year as complicated as 2020, in which we had to be confined to the house for 3 months, surely one of the most repeated purposes in the lists this 2021 will be: "To find the house of my dreams."

A very complicated year is coming to an end, but also full of learning. The year 2020 has taken a lot away from us, but it has also taught us a lot. A year that we could define as bittersweet.

This 2020 has made us value our homes much more. Before the pandemic, with the busy day-to-day life that we had, it was much more difficult to pay attention to the people around us and also to our homes. 

Buying a property is probably one of the most important decisions you will ever make, but is there anything more important? The decision to endorse the property of a family member or friend.

A guarantor is a contract in which there is a joint commitment to pay an obligation in favour of a person who will be the beneficiary and will receive a property or other resource, in this case a property.

Owning more than one flat or house represents a duality, for one band it is a good option, since you have a patrimony in property that you can use for your own benefit: you can rent it, live by yourself, use it as a second residence, etc.

But on the other hand, a property also represents a series of burdens, concerns, expenses, maintenance... that you must take into account.

The most magical time of the year, Christmas, has arrived. Homes are transformed to take on their warmest version: there are family reunion days (this year on a drip), candy and nougat days, hot chocolate Christmas movie days, reindeer and snowman pajama days...

Although this year will be a different kind of Christmas, we believe that we must not lose hope and more than ever we must make a small effort to be able to finish this year and start next year in the best possible way.

The first visits to a flat are always a bit chaotic. Nerves or haste can play a trick on you and you can end the visit by neglecting very important details that you should know before buying a flat.

In today's post we will talk about all those questions you have to ask yourself before buying a flat. Buying is a very important decision and requires you to think about it and be well informed before making it.

Following trends to decorate or build a house is all very well, but as the years go by that terrazzo floor, the famous gotelé of the walls, the extremely colourful kitchens and bathrooms, and many other elements, become obsolete and make your home look much older and lose the value it had at the beginning. 

When building or decorating your home, you should consider two options: let yourself be carried away by the trends and surely have to make reforms later or follow a more neutral style and therefore more suitable as the years go by. 

Imagine a very cold winter day and being able to decide from your smartphone what time to turn on the heating to get there and keep the house warm.

Or being on your way to work and remembering that you left the kitchen lights on and being able to turn them off in the distance.

Imagine on a Sunday morning, from your bed, being able to turn on the radio and make coffee just with your voice. 

Fast.

We want it all now, because we are always late, because time is running out and we don't get to everything.

Just like when it comes to selling your flat. If it's in a week, better than in two. Because let's not fool ourselves, we are dying to enjoy our future home as soon as possible.

Do you have a rented flat in a university town?

Have you considered renting it to students?

If you have a flat available, you can take advantage of the opportunity to rent it to students and make a profit. This is a good option if you want to earn an income and have the flat available easily.

After searching and searching you have finally found it, the house that has everything you need, the perfect candidate to be your new home. At this point you must be patient, you are making a decision that will surely impact the next thirty years of your life and you must consider all options before choosing such a large investment.

The first thing you have to consider is not to make the arrangements quickly and run. Understanding what you are signing, comparing different types of mortgage and preventing possible risks are your weapons in choosing the best mortgage for you.

Getting the house of your dreams, whether buying or renting, is a challenge. There are many steps to be completed before you have the keys to your future home, but when you get it... you still have to move!

At Espígul Real Estate we want the whole process of buying or renting a home to be as easy and convenient as possible, including moving in.

The constant increase in rental prices in the different Catalan towns in recent years is not news. What is news is the new law that came into force last September 22nd, this law regulates and freezes rental prices in more than 60 municipalities in Catalonia.

If you live in a rented flat or are thinking of renting a flat in Girona or in any of the 59 municipalities involved, you should know everything this law implies and what benefits it may have for tenants.

The real estate market is in constant flux. There is always movement in buying and selling property but it is not as easy as it may seem. If you have decided to sell your house, you have to know all the advantages that a real estate agency offers you in the management of the sale.

Selling a property is much more than taking four photos of the house and placing an advertisement. There are many factors you need to know before embarking on the whole process. Letting a professional in the sector advise you is an option you should consider before selling your flat.

Girona is a beautiful city. It offers us marvellous charms such as its imposing cathedral, the Eiffel bridge or "les Peixateries Velles" (the most famous red bridge), the charming "Barri Vell" with its narrow streets where you can get lost or the famous houses on the Onyar river.

Even so, there is a clear tendency to seek residence in villages near the city. The outskirts of Girona provide us with all the basic comforts that a city can offer and also other characteristics that may interest us.

September always means a month of change. We change the holidays for new beginnings and a return to routine, we change the sun and the beach for shorter days and leaves that crunch on the ground, the terraces and beers in the sun become afternoons of film and popcorn. In short, we change seasons and go from summer to autumn almost without realising it. 

These changes affect all aspects of our lives, including our homes. Changes at home are always good, for example, to renew the air with new decoration or to condition the house for the arrival of the cold. 

After spending a long time locked up at home we have been able to rest and enjoy our homes. But we have also had time to notice all those small (or big) details that we don't like or that during our busy day to day, we didn't give the importance that it deserves.

We are sure that in more than one house, during this confinement, we have experienced situations such as: one working in the kitchen and the other in the dining room, seeing how the bill for supplies goes up, not having an adequate space for the children to play, and surely the one that has been most noticed... Not having the terrace fixed!

Where do you imagine yourself living for the next 40-50 years? This is a key question to ask before buying a home. The home that will become your home for the next few years.

If you are very clear about your needs and want a house that can offer you freedom, privacy and space or, in other words, a house that allows you to fulfill your dreams and expectations in terms of quality of life, your best option is a tailor-made house.

f you ask us what we like best about summer, we know for sure: the days are longer, the drinks are colder, there are holidays and of course, the swims in the pool!

If you are thinking of buying a house with a pool or installing one in your home, keep reading this post to see all the advantages of a pool at home.

During the last few years, the purchase of second-hand apartments and houses has been the usual practice among people who wanted to buy a home. After the massive construction of houses and the subsequent brick and economic crisis, the real estate market was saturated and newly built flats were left aside.

This cycle is now breaking down to make way for a new trend: new-build flats. The purchase of flats to be renovated or the purchase of "turnkey" flats are left behind and the purchase of off-plan flats is welcomed.

A home can mean many things to a person. It's that feeling of comfort after a stressful day. It's calm early in the morning when everyone is asleep. It's the laughter at dinner and the sound of "chin chin" celebrating all that is to come. It's the security of having a place to come back to.

But it is also true that four walls do not always mean "home". For us it is very valuable to be able to find all those walls that do. Buying a home is a decision that is always accompanied by many doubts. One of the most frequent questions before making the purchase is what is better, to buy a house or a flat?

Buying a new flat is one of the most important decisions we make in our lives. To start a new project with all the illusion and at the same time to confront the doubts that arise to buy a house. One of the most common questions that arise is: buying an old flat and reforming it or better buying a new flat with all the finishes done?

The second dilemma that arises is the location of where to buy the flat; is it located close to the centre for the convenience of having all the services nearby or is it better to look for a property in a nearby town to have more peace of mind?

These are questions that have surely crossed your mind, because when you want to buy a flat, many factors have to be taken into account before making the final decision.

In science fiction films we have always been presented with the future with large buildings and infrastructures made of metal materials, flying cars and virtual reality glasses. In real life, we realize that this future can end up destroying our planet and we have to start making more environmentally friendly constructions.

Summer is coming and with it the expected vacation. It is normal to make some trips or go away for a few days away from the usual residence to disconnect from the routine. Leaving the house alone means having to think about some aspects so as not to have any surprises during your break.

Before you leave, it is important to make sure you check security aspects, which involve protecting our home, and organization aspects, such as cleaning and taking care of supplies and appliances. From Espígul Real Estate we leave you some tips for the home to take into account before

• The formula for keeping your home cool during hot weather

When the heat comes it is always unexpected and spending many hours in the house becomes quite unbearable. The discomfort appears during the night, if you don't have a terrace, garden or balcony to have dinner in the fresh air. Also, you can have insomnia some nights and accumulate the tiredness along with the routine of day to day.

Then comes the big question: installing air conditioning to keep the house cool or getting through the summer without air conditioning so you don't panic when the electricity bill arrives.

At Immo Espígul we have the perfect formula that is based on three essential pillars to keep in mind in order to keep your house or apartment at a pleasant temperature with the changes of temperature.

It is common that after a few years in the same house day by day we are thinking about how to improve the rooms to get more practical, cozy and modern spaces.

Maybe the kitchen has become too small and you have realized that it is where you spend more time. Or some badly used corner could become a large wardrobe perfect for keeping all your clothes or objects tidy. Or the family grows up and you need another bathroom and maybe you can incorporate one into a corner.

The passage of time brings changes and it is normal that the needs of our home also change.

With the arrival of good weather and longer days the desire to spend more hours outdoors increases. If you have a balcony or terrace now is the time to prepare the space to enjoy summer dinners in the fresh air, sunbathe with a good book in hand or simply a perfect space to relax and disconnect. 

Given the current situation, a general cleaning and hygienic conditions are essential in order to reduce the chances of infection. The virus can be deposited on the surfaces of utensils and inhabited spaces, where it can survive for a time. Now that the decontamination phases are approaching, this is when we need to consider the cleaning of our spaces the most.