Protect your money and dream home by spotting dishonest contractors before you pay a single euro.
Based on: Do NOT Buy a House in Portugal to Renovate Until You Watch This: 10 Contractor Red Flags by Our Rich Journey
What if the biggest threat to your Portugal dream home isn't the property — it's the contractor you hire to renovate it? Most people moving abroad to buy and renovate property focus entirely on finding the right house, the right location, the right price. But the Our Rich Journey team discovered the hard way that who you hire to do the work can make or break everything — long before a single wall goes up.
Imagine driving two hours to meet a contractor who simply doesn't show up. Twice. Or handing over a large deposit only to watch demolition begin, then all work grind to a halt — and the contractor vanish. These aren't horror stories from the internet. They are real experiences shared by real people renovating in Portugal right now. The construction industry there is full of talented professionals, but it also has its share of operators who will take your money, cut corners, and leave you with a half-finished shell of a house and no legal recourse.
Picture this instead: you walk into your first contractor meeting with a clear checklist in hand. You know exactly what documents to ask for, what a proper proposal looks like, how much money you should ever hand over upfront, and which behaviors signal that someone is not worth your time. You move through the process with confidence, filter out the bad actors quickly, and land on a contractor who shows up, communicates, and delivers. That is not luck — that is preparation.
The Our Rich Journey channel is run by a couple who left traditional careers to pursue financial independence and an extraordinary life abroad. They bought a lakehouse property in rural Portugal on nearly four acres with private waterfront access and are in the thick of a major renovation and expansion. They have spoken to dozens of contractors, been stood up, misled, and given vague quotes — and through all of it they have identified the exact warning signs that separate trustworthy professionals from costly mistakes. This checklist captures every one of those red flags in a clear, step-by-step format you can use immediately.
Use this checklist before your very first contractor meeting. Bring it to every site visit. Run every candidate through it. It will save you thousands of euros, months of delays, and the heartbreak of watching your dream renovation fall apart.
Every checklist item comes with actionable notes to guide you — things like "Don't forget to do this before you start," "Avoid this common mistake," or "Set a reminder for 30 days out." Nothing vague, just clear next steps.
+ 5 more action items inside...
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