Hi spawny,

This is such a huge and open ended subject and will obviously depend enormously on what work is needed.  If it helps this is a quote from our solicitor:

"Our services consist of helping you get along with all the legal and paper work involved in the conveyance process.

We'll study the situation of the property before being purchased, we'll draft or look after the deposit contract, attend to the Notary on the signing day as well as deal with all the payments involved in the process such as Notary, Taxes and Land Registry.

For our services we have a flat fee of 1.500 euros plus VAT (16%)"

As for how long it takes...........we paid our deposit in January and we are still waiting for full and final approval even though the local authorities  gave the go ahead months ago.  This is mainly due to the fact that we are buying a building considered to be of 'significant historical interest' located on the edge of the national park and it appears that everyone and their mother from Tarragona to Barcelona has to look at the plans!  Plus it's now August and the Spanish rubber stamps apparently melt in the heat, so we have to wait 'til September!

On the plus side, our solicitor and estate agents have been totally upfront during the proceedings and have explained exactly what we can and cannot do and that includes not paying the balance of purchase price until all planning has been approved, however much we may be champing at the bit to get stuck in!

Our experience is that you should only consider buying a property that is already big enough for your needs as the authorities very rarely grant permission to build outside of the original footprint.

Your best bet is to contact a reputable solicitor (I can pm you the name and details of ours if you're interested) and ask them these questions yourselves.

Hope this helps.

Penny