Thinking of moving to Spain and taking on a home renovation? In this episode of the Live and Invest Abroad podcast, we chat with Vanessa Clements, a UK expat who shares the highs and lows of buying, renovating, and raising a family in Catalonia.

Vanessa and her husband moved to Spain with a young child, soon discovered they were expecting another, and embarked on an ambitious renovation project. From unexpected structural issues to navigating Spain’s unique real estate and construction landscape, she reveals the crucial lessons she learned along the way.

Some key takeaways from this episode:

✅ Why hiring a bilingual project manager is a must

✅ How to avoid costly mistakes when buying and renovating abroad

✅ The reality of Spain’s construction process and what to watch for

✅ The challenges of raising multilingual kids in Catalonia

View before and after photos of the reno here.

00:00 Intro

1:01  Why did you decide to move to Catalonia?

2:53  What did your family think about you moving abroad?

5:58 House hunting process

10:45  Talk a little bit about the house that you bought and why did you fall in love with it?

14:14 Learning curve during the home buying process

16:55 Renovation challenges and lessons learned

32:07 Giving birth in Spain vs UK

35:27 Nursery, child care and public schools in Catalonia, Spain

42:06 English education and language adaptation

If you're considering purchasing property overseas, we can connect you with a trusted real estate expert in your desired location. Fill out our Buyer Matching Questionnaire and get matched to an experienced local estate agent to help you with your search.

Connect with Vanessa Clements on Instagram: @Vanessa_in_Girona

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