Greek property news

By Jonathan

As the end of the year approaches I was going to write a straight forward season greetings to wish you all a very happy New Year from Angels Greek Island Homes.

I thought that now as it is winter and cold, Skopelos would be a pleasant memory far away in most of your minds as you rush around preparing for the festivities.

Just as I started to relax in front of a roaring fire with a glass of hot mulled wine, an article on Mamma Mia the Movie making money for the Aegean Island of Skopelos appeared in the Guardian newspaper.

The way I found out about it was by the many people who emailed us links saying ‘have you seen this?!!’ Or ‘wow! Check this out!’

It seems that the success of Mamma Mia the Movie could not have come at a better time for Greece, a country that has experienced anti government rioting on the streets of Athens and other cities. Tourism may now be down prompting the Greek government to announce emergency measures, but Mamma Mia has also managed to lighten the mood of the people.

The ‘Mamma Mia effect’ means that that people from all over the world want to come to Skopelos, The Island where the movie was filmed.

Some people want to get married in Agios Ioannis the small church perched high up on a rock (see photograph above). Some people want to dance on Kastani Beach or hire it for a party.

There are also people interested in buying land on Skopelos to build their dream Greek Island Home. Now there are good opportunities to invest in land.

In my Blog dated 30 November 2008 Roger Fox from Glossa Houses and I discussed investing in land to build on in Skopelos. We said that it is the one thing they cannot make more of”. This certainly holds true for today’s property market in Skopelos. Once you own land you can decide when to build on it and how you would like your house to be built.

We also mentioned that because of the current economic downturn and the slowdown in the Greek property market there are bargains to be had. We wrote that It is possible to snap up an 11,000 sq metre property with good views across rolling countryside to the sea beyond for as little as €82,000 whereas a similar size property with breathtaking 180 degree sea views can be had for around €150,000. And for those happy with 4,000 sq metres, bargains are there for the taking from €45,000.

People want to experience a piece of heaven, the rugged and beautiful Skopelos, Greece’s greenest Island.

We wish you all well over the festivities and a happy New Year

Angels Greek Island Homes

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By Sam Bevers

Scientia Potentia Est Often shortened to “knowledge is power” by modern culture; this is the basis of the design process. Without knowledge of everything in relation to the project, there can be no easily made plan. When designing a house there is no substitution for the facts. Knowing one’s client well makes the rest of the design infinitely easier, likewise so does knowing the area you are designing in. While this sounds simple, the interview, client survey and research process should be detailed. The client may also demand many redesigns of the house on the basis that the house is not to their standards.

The client survey should give the architect a detailed look into the thought processes of the client. There is nothing the architect should not query about in the survey. Often the building codes of an area will be different than the client imagines, and as such, compromises must be reached.

Skopelos and especially Skopelos Town has been honoured by a presidential decree as a traditional settlement of outstanding beauty. Therefore the building codes mandate that all new constructions must carry the exterior Greek themes, as seen throughout Skopelos. The building code for new constructions and renovation within the town reflects some restrictions due to this Traditional Settlement decree. Some restrictions stipulate that no new buildings shall be of more than two stories. There must be a sloped ceramic or stone roof in the traditional Skopelos style. Doors, windows and balconies should be made of wood.

There will always be nuances to check, so research is absolutely necessary. Even the small things, like for example; The orientation of a house on a plot of land that can make or break a project. Having a deck to enjoy the sunset does no good if the deck faces north on Skopelos, Greece’s greenest island. In the northern hemisphere the sun will be setting more to the south-west. It’s all about the details.

So, ask about everything. Make sure you know your client well, so well that you know their favorite type of jam, where it is in their fridge, and what day of the week they will be putting it on their toast. If you don’t know the details and are not thorough then building a house gets exponentially more difficult. By knowing everything about your clients needs, building codes and nuances of the area the house is to be built in, you can make the correct decision on how to amend with confidence, if there is a snag. You can design a better house than the client could have imagined, and possibly even come in under budget.

Email Sam Bevers

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By Sam Bevers

I am Sam Bevers. This is my first time writing a blog, I can only hope to keep it informative and entertaining.

Architecture is a subject I have liked since childhood, it stems from my thirst for knowledge. My current location is in Lakewood, Colorado, United States of America. I am in the first semester of Civil Engineering and Architecture.

Here is what I intend to accomplish:

For the next several weeks, I will be conveying a good portion of what I know in the field of architecture to you. For my end-semester project, I have been assigned to design a dream home. My client has shown an interest in the Island of Skopelos as a location, and hence, I will be giving you a glimpse into the world of Greek Island House Designing and simple architecture.

In this blog, I shall examine interviewing, research, preliminary design, zoning, Skopelos Island building restrictions, client/architect relations, designing within a budget, and more.

During my inquiries into the zoning and restrictions on the Island of Skopelos, Jonathan asked me to write this blog for Angels Greek Island Homes, and I have agreed.  I would love to answer any questions I can relating to this blog, as far as I am able. Please see my email at the bottom of every blog. You may of course also add your comments by pressing the comments link.

Email Sam Bevers

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