MDCI Project Developer

This time of year, when the mercury continues to rise and the tourists flock to our sunny shores, the construction industry needs to make changes to protect workers, safeguard their health and encourage good working conditions.

During the hottest part of the summer, most construction sites work on a reduced schedule, starting and finishing early, to avoid the hottest part of the day. In Andalucía, it is usual to have an 8am-3pm or 8.30am to 3.30pm working day for construction workers to protect them from extreme temperatures.

We’ve written a blog about building in the summer which you can read by clicking the link in the first comment, to ensure you understand how things work and why it’s important.

As experienced project managers in Spain, we know that the success of any construction or development project is rarely determined during the construction phase alone. In reality, the foundations of a successful project are established long before you break ground or the first concrete is poured. Detailed programming and planning undertaken at the earliest stages of a project are among the most critical factors influencing whether a development is delivered safely, on budget, on time, and to the required quality standards.

In this article, we’re sharing why we always prioritise planning at the earliest stages of every project and how this approach can ensure your construction project in Spain is a success.

Detailed Project Planning is Essential to Building in Spain - MDCI Real Estate Project Manager Learn why detailed project planning is essential for successful construction projects in Spain. Avoid delays, control costs and manage risks from day one.

𝗝𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 "𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻" 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁?

This is a vital financial clause in a construction contract where a set percentage of the payment is legally withheld from the main contractor.

The retention is deducted monthly and essentially means that you pay 95% of each bill, up to a cumulative total amount of 95% of the cost. The remaining 5% is held on account for 12 months, or is returned to the builder on the presentation of a 5% “First Demand Bank Guarantee”.

This money is only released when the project is 100% complete, flawless, and signed off to your absolute satisfaction after the 12-month guarantee period ends.

You need to protect this retention and ensure that you are covered by a rock-solid contract. At MDCI, we negotiate and manage your construction contracts to ensure you hold the leverage until the very last tile is perfectly laid.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗤&𝗔 – 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝟱 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀?

A – We’ve seen a measured increase in demand and implementation of off-site construction and modular construction methods. We’re supporting clients to use modular building techniques and industrial production methods to speed up the process of building and remove the quality control issues that are inherent to building in-situ.

We’re also seeing a continued focus on sustainability and integrating green energy production to reduce the impact of the project on the environment reduce site waste and residuals and bring down bills generally.

𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 - 𝗟𝘂𝘅𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗩𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

MDCI are here to support you with every aspect of your luxury villa construction project. We can do it all, or offer timely advice and expert skills to obtain licences and cut through the red tape. Call in the professionals and relax knowing your luxury villa will become a reality and be completed both on time and on budget.

Find out more on our website – link in first comment 👇

Mark joined the RICS online Global Construction and Infrastructure Conference last month and learnt a lot. He was particularly interested in the presentation by Dr Nicholas Fearnley from Oxford Economics.

Here are some of the takeaways –

• Main drivers are Data centres, infrastructure roll outs, Net Zero requirements etc. Data centres use now 1% of world power (in Eire it is 20%!)
• Geopolitical risks are at the highest levels since 9-11.
• The Iran War and the closure of the Straits of Hormuz have been creating supply delays and lack of confidence and is having an impact on oil prices - which fuels inflation and higher interest rates. This has to be added and included in forecasts.
• Impact on construction is evident - higher costs for steel, concrete, finishing materials.
• The trend is a return to nuclear energy and to benefit from Geothermal energy by way of improved technology.
• AI in construction- still in a minority phase due to lack of standardised and related expertise for the construction sector.
• Global construction workforce now at 7% of total. Shortages in many countries (including Spain!) is causing major headaches.

You can never stop learning in the ever-changing field of construction project management!

Despite not receiving funding from central government for Malaga’s Concert Hall, last month Malaga Town Hall launched a pre-tender consultation. They have confirmed that the project remains a priority and that they will use a combination of private partners and bank loans to make this project a reality. Read the full article in the SUR in English by clicking the link in first comment. 👇

If you’re looking for funding for your project and want to give yourself the very best chance of success, bring in an experienced Project Manager with a great track record like MDCI.

We’ve seen that banks and financial institutions really value the involvement of MDCI, as we’ve always delivered projects on time and on budget. This guarantee of proper management and delivery, makes them more likely to lend the money our clients need.

⚠️There’s a common misconception when international individuals or investors build in Spain, that it’s better to use builders from outside of Spain. However, in our 27 years of project managing construction projects in Spain, we can tell you that nine times out of ten this is not correct.

☑️ That’s because, local knowledge and oversight is crucial to successfully complete a project on time, on budget and in line with local regulations.

❗ When international teams come over here, they bring their own working practices, materials and approach, which is highly successful in their home country, but may not be suitable, or even allowed here in Spain.

Read our latest blog for an example of this problem in practice. Link in the first comment 👇

According to the Confederation of Employers for Andalucia and Malaga, there is a concerning shortage of workers in the construction industry, with over 20,000 unfilled vacancies in the Malaga province alone.

This issue is serious and can lead to delays, rising labour costs, and pressure on project delivery timelines. This landscape makes having an independent Project Manager on your team even more essential.

MDCI will be on hand with our extensive experience, market knowledge and evaluation systems. These elements allow us to assess the construction companies bidding for your project and ensure they have the man power to deliver what they are promising – on time and on budget.

Link in comments 👇

𝗝𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 "𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴"?

It might sound like industry speak for "cutting corners," but it’s actually the exact opposite!

Value Engineering is a highly structured review of your project’s design, materials, and processes. The goal? To improve functionality and quality while actively reducing costs. It’s about finding smarter ways to build without compromising on the luxury finish.

At MDCI, our experts use Value Engineering from the tendering process and throughout the project to maximize your ROI and save you money before construction even begins.