This is my third post documenting the purchase of our investment property in Portugal and the ensuing renovations.  This particular post will mostly show additional before and after photos of more of the rooms and bathrooms.   We have put a ton of work into cleaning and updating each room to get them to a presentable, comfortable condition.  Even though they were all rented before, we felt the state of the rooms could be greatly improved with a little cleaning, painting, and decorating.   

Downstairs Front Bedroom (Room A)

This room is on the first floor and closest to the front door.  It opens into the main hallway.  

BEFORE

The original photos when we first saw the room are below.  The room was cluttered, dirty, and poorly organized.  There was also a mold issue affecting some areas of the walls.

AFTER

We dug out and re-cemented the areas showing mold, painted the entire room and the dresser and side table, replaced the overhead light fixture and bed coverings, added a desk with stool, a lamp, a couch, photographs, and mirrors.  (Cement 40, Plaster 12, Paint 40, Linens and Pillows 90, Couch 120 EUR, Desk 35 EUR, Stool  20 EUR, Mirror 50 EUR, Another Mirror 25 EUR, Photos and Frames 70 EUR, Curtains 20 EUR, Overhead Light Fixture 30 EUR, Lamp 15 EUR.   Total = ~567 EUR)

Downstairs Back Bedroom (Room B)

The downstairs back bedroom was a complete disaster.  The tenant had kept his windows closed and refused to run the dehumidifier that was provided to him by the prior owners.  This resulted in significant mold issues in the room.    He also made no attempts to decorate or clean the room in the three years he lived there.  It looked like a dungeon.  

BEFORE

The original photos when we first saw the room are below.  

LAFTER

We required the prior owners to do the mold remediation and paint the room prior to sale.  Then we replaced the overhead light fixture, added new linens, photographs, mirrors, a fold down desk, a side table and lamp, a rug, and a wooden wardrobe with hangers.  (Light Fixture 28 EUR, Photos and Frames 70 EUR, Mirror 45 EUR, Long Mirror 20 EUR, Wardrobe 45 EUR, hanging desk 59 EUR, Curtains and Rod 35 EUR, Side Table 19 EUR, Lamp 15 EUR, Stool 20 EUR, Rug 25 EUR, Linens and Pillows 85 EUR.  Total = 466 EUR).  Now the space is quite nice!

Downstairs Boiler Room (Room C)

This is a tiny room that includes the water heater.  We fixed it up mostly in case we fly back in town and already have the other rooms rented out so we can stay here.  However, it could also be rented out at a discounted rate if someone is interested.    

BEFORE

The original photos when we first saw the room are below.   No mold issues but some water issues on one wall that backs onto a bathroom.  

AFTER

We cleaned and re-caulked the bathroom to ensure no leaking through that wall.  Then we cleaned and freshly painted the room, installed a new light fixture, curtains over the water heater, built a custom wooden bed frame and small table top, installed a hanging cabinet, added a mirror, plants, a stool, a lamp, and a sliding wooden door and lock.   (Paint 20 EUR, Light Fixture 25 EUR, Curtains and Track 40 EUR, Bed Frame 45 EUR, Table Top 15 EUR, Hanging Cabinet 30 EUR, Mirror 19 EUR, Plants 9 EUR, Stool 20 EUR, Lamp 15 EUR, Sliding Door 70 EUR, Lock 20 EUR.   Total = 328 EUR).  The photo only shows one angle but there is a hanging wardrobe on the right that is inset into the wall and there is a hanging cabinet overtop of the wardrobe.  

Upstairs Front Room (Room D)

This room is just to the left when you reach the top of the stairs.  It’s a large room with a closet on one side and two windows with ocean views on the other side.  I think it’s the best room in the house.

BEFORE

The original photos when we first saw the room are below.  The paint was somewhat yellowed and the room was cluttered and had an enormous couch in one corner, tarnished old pictures on the wall, and a large rack in the middle piled with items.  Interestingly, the ladies who were in charge of cleaning the house lived in this room.  

AFTER

We freshly painted the room, replaced the overhead light, added mirrors, photos, and wall decor, changed the bedding, installed a small white desk, added a dresser, side tables, lamps, stool, rugs, a smaller couch and new curtains.  We also added pegs on the doors to hang coats and towels and a new door lock on the closet.  Photos and frames were added over the bed after we took the photo and the circular wall decor was moved over the desk.  (Paint 30 EUR, Overhead Light 45 EUR, Mirrors 110 EUR, Wall Decor 30 EUR, Photos and Frames 60 EUR, Stool 20, Rugs 30, Bedding 70 EUR, Desk 30 EUR, Dresser 40 EUR, Side Tables 15 EUR/Each, Lamps 12/Each, Couch 70 EUR, Curtains and Rods 65 EUR, Pegs 10, Door Lock 15.  Total = 679 EUR)

Upstairs Back Room (Room G)

When you reach the top of the stairs, you turn right and go past Room E (see Article #2) on your right and the bathroom on your left and then go through a doorway onto an outdoor but covered hallway.  Room F (see Article #2) is then on your left as you proceed down the hall and then G is at the end of the hallway.  It’s a large room a window that overlooks the neighbors outdoor patio.  

BEFORE

The original photos before renovating the room are below.  The room was piled with clothes and random items.  The window had concrete bars which blocked half of the light.  Otherwise, the decor was sparse or non-existent.  

AFTER

First, Bi spoke with our neighbor and gained approval to knock out the concrete bars on the window.  Then, we had a contractor jackhammer the bars out, re-concrete the area, and paint it (Cost:  117 EUR).   Then we freshly painted the room and bedframe (69 EUR, replaced the overhead light (30 EUR), washed the curtains, added Photos and frames (60 EUR), a macrame (50 EUR), a mirror (30 EUR), a desk (15 EUR), a wardrobe (85 EUR), two side tables (50 EUR), a lamp (15 EUR), a chair (40 EUR), and a cushion (25 EUR), and changed the bedding (80 EUR).  (Total Cost: ~597 EUR).  

Removal of Kitchenette and New Half Bath

Just outside Rooms F and G was a kitchenette that the tenants usually kept cluttered and dirty and which had become quite an eyesore.    Bi had the idea to remove it and replace it with a half bath.  

BEFORE

Here is how it looked prior to renovations.  Disgusting, smelly, and an invitation for bug and rodent infestation. 

AFTER

The contractors cost 1200 EUR and the materials cost around 2500 EUR (Toilet, Vanity, Light Fixture, Concrete, Pipes, Tiles, Mirror, Door, Handle, Lock).  We then also added the outdoor light fixture (30 EUR) and had a contractor paint the outside (39 EUR).  Total ~ 3,769 EUR.   So, this ended up being quite expensive but it removed a major eyesore that affected the views from three of the rooms and added a half bath which was needed.  

Summary

As I mentioned previously we are trying to keep costs down by purchasing second hand furniture as much as possible from either Facebook Marketplace or the local charity shops like Nandi (where the proceeds also go for a good cause).  We did most of the cleaning and painting ourselves as well as most of the installation of light fixtures.  However we used contractors to do the major renovations like the half bath and concrete work.  We found one contractor that does good work with little supervision but the contractors doing the half bath made a lot of mistakes that required rework.  They installed the toilet about 20 cm from the wall in the half bath.  Since the bathroom is tiny this put it almost in the middle of the bathroom!  They also installed the mirror in the wrong location and didn’t fully think through how to install the sliding door.  All that created re-work that was enormously frustrating from both sides.  So, if you have any construction work done in Portugal, Make Sure You Monitor the Work and Speak UP!  At the end of the day, the improvements are not perfect but we feel we have made huge progress and are excited with the results so far.  What do you think?  Let us know your feedback!