By Stan Dickens, Villa Surveyors Solar panel in Spain At Villa Surveyors we sometimes get asked if the installation of ...
SPAIN ⎢ PORTUGAL ⎢ ITALY
Chartered Surveyors and Registered Valuers
Over 40 years experience in residential property markets at the service of our clients.
Contact Us
Get a free quote or ask for advice:
OUR SERVICES
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY FINDERS
We act exclusively for occupiers and investors to help them secure the best deals available.
SPAIN | PORTUGAL | ITALY
We help buyers secure the best deals available:
- Market Analysis
- Property Analysis
- Price Negotiation
- Final Recommendations
- Legal Advisor Liaison
RICS BUILDING SURVEYS AND CONDITION REPORTS
Protect your next property purchase. We can help you avoid making an expensive mistake.
SPAIN | PORTUGAL | ITALY
Property inspections and preparation of:
- Building Surveys
- Condition Reports
- Accompanied Visits
- Floor Plans
VALUATION AND EXPERT WITNESS REPORTS
Valuation and expert witness reports prepared by highly trained and experienced RICS Registered Valuers.
SPAIN | PORTUGAL | ITALY
Valuation and expert witness reports:
- Divorce procedings
- Sales / Rentals
- Acquisitions
- Tax Purposes
- Accounting
NEW BUILD SNAGGING REPORTS
An inspection of your newly built property to check for defects in workmanship and other issues.
SPAIN | PORTUGAL | ITALY
We check on all of the following:
- Specification
- Floor Areas / Layout
- Defects in Workmanship
- Substandard Materials
BUILDING WORKS AND REFURBISHMENTS
small building projects.
MADRID | CENTRAL SPAIN
- Refurbishments
- Extensions
- Kitchen Renewals
- Bathroom Renewals
- Maintenance Works
- Redecoration
COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL INVESTMENT
Over 40 years experience in
Property Finder Assignments
and Portfolio Valuations.
Property Finder Assignments
and Portfolio Valuations.
SPAIN | PORTUGAL
- Property Finder Service
- Office Portfolio Valuations
- Industrial Valuations
- Residential Valuations
- Due Diligence
- Agency / Transactions
ABOUT US
Villa Surveyors was started in 2018 by Stan Dickens, a UK trained independent Chartered Surveyor, and RICS Registered Valuer. Stan has over 40 years experience of undertaking property searches, transactions, building surveys, snagging surveys, and valuations of investment, commercial and residential property. His professional experience in Spain, Portugal, and Italy stretches back to 1989. He is a fluent Spanish speaker and has a good working knowledge of Portuguese and Italian.
For several years Stan was Chairman of RICS Spain. He was also the founding director of the prestigious Real Estate Company Management Executive Programme at Instituto de Empresa (IE), in Madrid. Stan has also lectured on investment and development valuation techniques, ethics, and best practice in the property industry at IE Business School and the European University.
SPAIN
Including:
- The Costa del Sol
- The Costa Brava
- Greater Madrid and Central Spain
- Canary and Balaeric Islands
- Greater Barcelona
PORTUGAL
Including:
- Greater Lisbon (Lisbon city, Cascais, Estoril, Sintra, etc.)
- Central Portugal
- The Algarve
- Madeira and The Azores
ITALY
Including:
- Rome, Milan, and Venice
- Tuscany
- Liguria
- Lombardy
- Sardinia and Sicily
Contact Us
Get a free quote or ask for advice:
Submit Or contact us anytime via:
+34 610 418 654 (Phone and WhatsApp)
[email protected] (email)
testimonials
We have received many positive Google and Facebook reviews. For more reviews please take a look at our testimonials page.
- I'm buying a second home in The Algarve near Silves Portugal. Although I was told it was not as common in Portugal versus... read moreI'm buying a second home in The Algarve near Silves Portugal. Although I was told it was not as common in Portugal versus the US where I am from, I'm happy I had a home inspection done, and even happier Stan did the work. Stan's credentials and skills are excellent. He provided a good education and sage advice prior to us entering an agreement.Stan's work included a site visit, analysis and building survey with snagging list. Although I consider myself somewhat savvy around a house, Stan found many items that I would have never found. The report clearly articulated what was working, marginal and needed fixing/replacing. I am now in a much better negotiating position when I go work with the owner to address the snagging (punch) list. I heartily recommend Stan and Villa Surveyors. read less
Michael Mellick08/03/2022I had a building survey undertaken on a house in Madrid by Villa Surveyors. I was very pleased with the result. The report was well... read moreI had a building survey undertaken on a house in Madrid by Villa Surveyors. I was very pleased with the result. The report was well laid out and went into sufficient detail so that I could understand the issues. I spent some time talking to Stan Dickens about some issues with the property. He was very friendly and helpful and thanks to his advise I was able to negotiate a reduction in the price. I can't recommend them enough. Thanks Stan. read lessPilar Morales11/12/2019Stan flew over to central Portugal to survey a property for us. He is a great communicator, reliable and efficient- the report was excellent- do... read moreStan flew over to central Portugal to survey a property for us. He is a great communicator, reliable and efficient- the report was excellent- do not buy a property without a survey. Surveyors tell you way more than many lawyers! So avoid false economies ---we highly recommend Stan.......Steve and Jilly read lessjill hughes02/05/2022 - We were looking for a professional building survey for a refurbished farm building in Portugal that we were buying, what is called a quinta in... read moreWe were looking for a professional building survey for a refurbished farm building in Portugal that we were buying, what is called a quinta in Portuguese, we were worried about potential damp and timber infestation as it is a 200 year old stone house that was completely renovated some years ago, with many timber elements installed throughout the property. Being expats we do not speak any Portuguese so we were looking for someone reliable who is fluent in English and has lots of experience with surveying properties in Portugal. We initially looked for someone local to provide us with a house survey near Coimbra which is the area where the property is located, however we could not find anyone local who satisfied our requirements for reliability, fluency in English and a high level of expertise. We were then very fortunate to have received a very warm recommendation for Stan, who agreed to come all the way from Madrid to perform the building survey for us. On the day of the survey Stan was punctual, very polite and he performed his work meticulously and to our utmost satisfaction and so we are very pleased to have worked with him on this purchase and whole heartedly recommend Stan to anyone who is in need of his services. If you are looking for a true professional to perform a building survey for your future home in Portugal, do not look anywhere else, Stan is the right man for the job! Thanks again Stan for a job well done. read lessUncle Boy03/12/2020Very professional engineer, i'ld recommend to anyone. Works with you as if he is a partner on the project and not just another client. Very... read moreVery professional engineer, i'ld recommend to anyone. Works with you as if he is a partner on the project and not just another client. Very detailed and knows everything there is to know about working in my area of Mendham TWP. read lessAri Mantzoros03/03/2018He encontrado un profesional, muy comprometido con el encargo.Ha dado el 200%,, para ayudarnos con nuestros objetivos.Finalmente hemos quedado muy satisfechos y le recomendariamos a... read moreHe encontrado un profesional, muy comprometido con el encargo.Ha dado el 200%,, para ayudarnos con nuestros objetivos.Finalmente hemos quedado muy satisfechos y le recomendariamos a nuestros conocidos , sin dudarlo. read lessCarlos Gelis11/12/2019
- We came across Stan from Villa Surveyors after looking at some properties that where in need of renovation in the Lourinah area of the Lisbon... read moreWe came across Stan from Villa Surveyors after looking at some properties that where in need of renovation in the Lourinah area of the Lisbon District in Portugal. After doing a Google search of Rics registered property surveyors we contacted a few companies to get information regarding a survey for a house that we had found and wanted to buy.Within a few hours we received a very pleasant call from Stan and we talked about what we needed and what we where looking to do, within two days Stan had the survey on the house done and his advice saved us from buying a property that required a lot more work then we realised needed to be done after our initial viewing.We could not recommend Stan enough for the work Stan did for us in the professional and efficient service Stan provide within 3 days from our initial email a full report on the property and also some great advice to us and saved us a lot of money, we are still waiting for the other companies that we contacted to even reply to our email, Stan has the Job done 👍We will certainly be using Stan again in the future and will be certainly be recommending his company to friends and family thinking of purchasing a property in Portugal or Spain.Many thanks again StanRegardsLuke & Michele read lessM Cratz04/10/2021Stan investigates in detail. He writes succinct and clear reports. He is also happy to deal with any follow up questions both by email and... read moreStan investigates in detail. He writes succinct and clear reports. He is also happy to deal with any follow up questions both by email and on the telephone. I have no hesitation in recommending him as a thoroughly professional Chartered Surveyor operating in Spain. I believe he has good market insight read lessA. Mira11/12/2019Brilliant service from Stan. An amazingly prompt response time and an invaluable advice call, settled our worry regarding our property. Very professional and polite. We’d... read moreBrilliant service from Stan. An amazingly prompt response time and an invaluable advice call, settled our worry regarding our property. Very professional and polite. We’d definitely use Villa Surveyors again. read lesspaige chattaway25/09/2023
- Building Survey & Property Inspection, Madrid, SpainIt was my first time buying property so with all of the natural added stresses it was essential I... read moreBuilding Survey & Property Inspection, Madrid, SpainIt was my first time buying property so with all of the natural added stresses it was essential I had a Chartered Surveyor come to the property for review. From the moment of my initial enquiry, Stan provided quick responses, and was extremely informative. The first contact via telephone, with excellent customer service instantly put my mind at rest. On the day of the inspection Stan was extremely knowledgeable, supportive and even provided me with tips on maintaining the property going forwards. This is a company that goes the extra mile! read lessZara Thomas25/08/2021Un magnífico profesional. Si vas a comprar una casa y necesitas conocer todos sus detalles antes de escriturar, Stan resolverá todas tus dudas.jose luis perez mateos17/03/2022Brilliant service from Stan. An amazingly prompt response time and an invaluable advice call, settled our worry regarding our property. Very professional and polite. We’d... read moreBrilliant service from Stan. An amazingly prompt response time and an invaluable advice call, settled our worry regarding our property. Very professional and polite. We’d definitely use Villa Surveyors again. read lesspaige chattaway25/09/2023
- Stan was fantastic to work with. His survey was of an incredibly high quality, and provided easy to understand advice that we could draw on... read moreStan was fantastic to work with. His survey was of an incredibly high quality, and provided easy to understand advice that we could draw on in discussions with the real estate agent. Most of all I appreciated the extra work Stan put in after completion of his report, advising us on follow-up issues. I wouldn't have gone ahead with the purchase without his advice. Thanks! read lessRichard Garratt11/12/2019We came across Stan from Villa Surveyors after looking at some properties that where in need of renovation in the Lourinah area of the Lisbon... read moreWe came across Stan from Villa Surveyors after looking at some properties that where in need of renovation in the Lourinah area of the Lisbon District in Portugal. After doing a Google search of Rics registered property surveyors we contacted a few companies to get information regarding a survey for a house that we had found and wanted to buy. Within a few hours we received a very pleasant call from Stan and we talked about what we needed and what we where looking to do, within two days Stan had the survey on the house done and his advice saved us from buying a property that required a lot more work then we realised needed to be done after our initial viewing. We could not recommend Stan enough for the work Stan did for us in the professional and efficient service Stan provide within 3 days from our initial email a full report on the property and also some great advice to us and saved us a lot of money, we are still waiting for the other companies that we contacted to even reply to our email, Stan has the Job done 👍 We will certainly be using Stan again in the future and will be certainly be recommending his company to friends and family thinking of purchasing a property in Portugal or Spain. Many thanks again Stan Regards Luke & Michele read lessM Cratz13/10/2021I found Stan through Google Maps searching in Madrid for an English speaking surveyor to check a house before making an offer. As a foreigner... read moreI found Stan through Google Maps searching in Madrid for an English speaking surveyor to check a house before making an offer. As a foreigner thinking of purchasing real estate I needed someone to help navigate all the local customs, with the house and with contracts. Stan was exactly who I needed, very professional, super helpful, and saved me lots of $. Will use Stan again when the right home comes along. Thanks again, Matt read lessMatt Hibbard03/08/2019
- 저희 주택검사 때문에 Algarve Surveyor를 찾아보다가 Villa Surveyors의 Stan Dickens씨에 대해 알게 되었는데, 이 분이 영국에서 훈련받은 공인검량사라고 하셔서 신뢰가 가서 선택하게 되었습니다. 또 영어랑... read more저희 주택검사 때문에 Algarve Surveyor를 찾아보다가 Villa Surveyors의 Stan Dickens씨에 대해 알게 되었는데, 이 분이 영국에서 훈련받은 공인검량사라고 하셔서 신뢰가 가서 선택하게 되었습니다. 또 영어랑 스페인어 둘 다 하신다고 해서 소통이 한결 편리했어요! 문의사항 여쭤보면 응답도 빠른 편이고, 무엇보다 제일 중요한 견적 금액도 거품 없이 합리적이어서 만족스러웠습니다. 검사도 타 업체에 비해 상세하게 해주시고 모든 면에서 제가 기대했던 것 보다도 더욱 더 만족스러웠어서 Stan씨 덕분에 안심하고 주택 구매를 결정할 수 있었어요. 다음에 또 주택 구매할 때 다시 이분께 맡길 것 같아요! 스페인이나 포르투갈 쪽에서 surveyor 찾으시는 한국인 분들께 강추합니다 🙂 read lessDahyun Ko14/01/2022We recently had a building survey undertaken on a Villa in El Chapparal Golf, Mijas Costa (Costa Del Sol) by Stan of Villa Surveyors. I... read moreWe recently had a building survey undertaken on a Villa in El Chapparal Golf, Mijas Costa (Costa Del Sol) by Stan of Villa Surveyors. I was very pleased with the result. The report was very clear and concise and identified several areas of concern, including damp to the lower floor of the Villa. Some of the damp issues had been purposely concealed by the vendors, but stan was extremely vigilant! He was very friendly and helpful and thanks to his post survey advice we were able to avoid, what could have been a costly mistake. I can't recommend them enough; I will be using him again when we find our next property. read lessStephen Kennedy11/10/2021We asked Stan Dickens from Villa Surveyors to make a full survey report and we are very pleased with the result!The report was very clear... read moreWe asked Stan Dickens from Villa Surveyors to make a full survey report and we are very pleased with the result!The report was very clear and includes everything we asked for and much more. The fact that he was able to schedule very soon made it even better. Thank you! read lessevelien van zonneveld11/08/2020
- I employed Stan Dickens of Villa Surveyors to undertake two building surveys of villas in Loule, Portugal and Ayamonte, Spain. Stan spent around four hours... read moreI employed Stan Dickens of Villa Surveyors to undertake two building surveys of villas in Loule, Portugal and Ayamonte, Spain. Stan spent around four hours at each property and produced two very detailed reports which included photographs and floor plans. The costs estimates for repairs proved to be very accurate. My solicitors in Portugal and Spain were both impressed with the reports and found the floor area calculations very helpful to identify possible illegal construction. Based on Stan's findings we decided on the Ayamonte property and are now very happily installed. Thank you Stan. I will be happy to recommend you to anyone seeking a condition survey in the Algarve or Southern Spain. read lessPilar Morales González09/01/2022Stan Dickens conducted the survey and prepared the snagging report for a an apartment in a new built project I recently bought in Sotogrande. The... read moreStan Dickens conducted the survey and prepared the snagging report for a an apartment in a new built project I recently bought in Sotogrande. The survey has been very detailed and professionally prepared. Stan also took the time to go through the defects with the developer’s after sales representative to ensure clarity on what needs to be done. Response time and service has been very good read lessEduard Massier10/08/2021I found Stan through Villa Surveyors while searching the internet for Surveyors in Portugal and after speaking to some others that I had come across... read moreI found Stan through Villa Surveyors while searching the internet for Surveyors in Portugal and after speaking to some others that I had come across decided that Stan sounded exactly what I was looking for. I'm so glad he was able to look at a rural property in Alentejo that I was interested in, he gave a very professional and informed report on the property which put my mind at ease knowing that there would be no surprises later! He responded very quickly to all communications and produced the report very promptly. I would thoroughly recommend him and believe it is money well spent for the peace of mind alone!! Thanks again Stan. read lessPeter Hopkins18/10/2021
- Stan worked at very short notice to provide us with a very detailed report on a property that we were interested in. He kept us... read moreStan worked at very short notice to provide us with a very detailed report on a property that we were interested in. He kept us informed about the process, as getting necessary documents proved difficult. He has written an extremely helpful report, describing issues we had not thought of ourselves (e.g. the structural integrity of the city wall immediately adjacent to the property). We spoke on the phone to go over some of the key findings, and Stan was able to provide a clear rationale for his estimation. We would certainly recommend Stan highly. read lessRobbert Duvivier11/12/2019We were looking for a professional building survey for a refurbished farm building in Portugal that we were buying, what is called a quinta in... read moreWe were looking for a professional building survey for a refurbished farm building in Portugal that we were buying, what is called a quinta in Portuguese, we were worried about potential damp and timber infestation as it is a 200 year old stone house that was completely renovated some years ago, with many timber elements installed throughout the property. Being expats we do not speak any Portuguese so we were looking for someone reliable who is fluent in English and has lots of experience with surveying properties in Portugal. We initially looked for someone local to provide us with a house survey near Coimbra which is the area where the property is located, however we could not find anyone local who satisfied our requirements for reliability, fluency in English and a high level of expertise. We were then very fortunate to have received a very warm recommendation for Stan, who agreed to come all the way from Madrid to perform the building survey for us. On the day of the survey Stan was punctual, very polite and he performed his work meticulously and to our utmost satisfaction and so we are very pleased to have worked with him on this purchase and whole heartedly recommend Stan to anyone who is in need of his services. If you are looking for a true professional to perform a building survey for your future home in Portugal, do not look anywhere else, Stan is the right man for the job! Thanks again Stan for a job well done. read lessJ J06/03/2021We asked Stan for a report on a chalet in Manzanares El Real. He was excellent, really helpful and I would certainly recommend Villa Surveyors... read moreWe asked Stan for a report on a chalet in Manzanares El Real. He was excellent, really helpful and I would certainly recommend Villa Surveyors to anyone looking for a survey or condition report on a property in Spain Portugal or Italy. read lessRichard Dunwoody27/11/2020
- Looking for an English building surveyor/ home inspector fluent in Spanish in Andalucia and more specifically along the Costa del sol was quite a challenge... read moreLooking for an English building surveyor/ home inspector fluent in Spanish in Andalucia and more specifically along the Costa del sol was quite a challenge for me. I fortunately found Villa Surveyors who from their website, undertake a wide range of home inspections of which a condition and structural building survey is what I was after. I was drawn to Stan’s profile as he has many years of experience as a home inspector so I reached out and he immediately got back to me with a very clear, concise and professional quote detailing each aspect of the condition survey he would undertake. From first contact Stan was able to carry out the building structural survey within 3 days which is incredible considering he operates in Spain, Italy and Portugal. Following the home inspection, Stan invited me to attend the property where he gave me a full and detailed walk around visually showing me his findings which helped me make a very informed decision on whether or not to proceed with the purchase and a full report was to follow within a couple of days of the home inspection. Very professional and reliable service! I couldn’t recommended this service more; especially to all expats that are looking to buy in the Andalucia/Cadiz area. read lessKurt Takundwa25/02/2023Thanks to Stan's recommendations and assistance, I was able to purchase a beautiful apartment in Lisbon. I highly recommend Villa Surveyors. Stan was easy to... read moreThanks to Stan's recommendations and assistance, I was able to purchase a beautiful apartment in Lisbon. I highly recommend Villa Surveyors. Stan was easy to communicate with, extremely professional and the service was very reasonably priced. His report was detailed and paid careful attention to particular concerns that I had raised with the building. He discussed the report with me over the phone, and continued to work with me for several weeks to ensure that I was able to get all the necessary information from the seller. I really appreciated his advice based on his many years of experience. Thank you Stan!! read lessKeavy N11/12/2019I contacted Stan for a Lisbon building survey and he did a top job. You can't find English speaking surveyors in Lisbon for love or... read moreI contacted Stan for a Lisbon building survey and he did a top job. You can't find English speaking surveyors in Lisbon for love or money. He pointed out a number of things of concern which I had overlooked and which I now can put right. He was prompt and courteous and I will surely use him again. read lessDave Adeane11/12/2019
- We were very happy with the Building Surveyor Services of Villa Surveyors in the process of our acquisition of a property in the Costa Brava.... read moreWe were very happy with the Building Surveyor Services of Villa Surveyors in the process of our acquisition of a property in the Costa Brava. It is a great feeling to have a totally independent, and qualified Chartered Surveyor adding the necessary technical perspective to the emotionally driven decisions of choosing a home in a foreign country. The service was tailored to our needs, kind, knowledgeable, trustworthy and at the end gave us the confidence to decide on the way forward. The report was structured, clear, detailed, complete, yet zoomed in on the details that we particularly were unsure about. So well done and thanks a lot! read lessPaul Hiltermann25/03/2022The quality of Stan's work is first class, highly professional and of the highest standard. He carried out a RICS level 3 survey in Andalucia... read moreThe quality of Stan's work is first class, highly professional and of the highest standard. He carried out a RICS level 3 survey in Andalucia and the report was extremely thorough, exhaustive and very detailed and exactly what was needed to make an informed decision. Highly recommended. read lessG09/03/2023We bought a house in Aranjuez, the house its a little old so we hired Stan to come to have a look.He was puntual, professional... read moreWe bought a house in Aranjuez, the house its a little old so we hired Stan to come to have a look.He was puntual, professional and very nice.He was there as long as it took him to evaluate the big house, he did not leave a spot without checking, the report was extremely complete.Even though I am Spanish, my husband is English, and we Spanish do not usually do a survey when buying a house, I would recommend every Spanish to do so and I would totally recommend Villa Surveyors to everyone.Thank you! read lessMarta Jover11/05/2020
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By Stan Dickens, Villa Surveyors In general, every house built in Spain after 1975 should have been built with a...