Building a luxury villa is a challenging process during which the support of experts is necessary to achieve the goal effectively. In this blog, we will take you through the basic five steps needed to realize your vision and describe how Croatia Sotheby’s International Realty can facilitate every step, from idea to realization.
Step 1: Vision
Before starting construction, it’s important to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve, considering your wishes, expectations, and lifestyle. Our team of experts enriches ideas, puts the concept into a realistic and feasible framework, and informs you about the means and time required for implementation.
Step 2: Location
The location of the building land is one of the most important decisions at the beginning. It strongly affects the value of the property, and the life quality of those who will stay there.It’s also important to consider the privacy aspect, the land’s orientation, and the accessibility of the facilities. It’s essential that you collaborate with a trustworthy partner to find the ideal location for your investment, ensure that all of your needs are satisfied at a reasonable price, and discover the market possibilities relevant to your vision.
Step 3: Design
Croatia Sotheby’s International Realty cooperates with renowned architects and interior designers who, taking into account the details of your vision, create architectural projects and an idea of the interior appearance to know the cost parameters and the possible sale price before construction. What sets us apart from the competition is the implementation of world design trends when creating the book of standards so that you can assess the details as clearly as possible and make the necessary decisions more simply. Obtaining a building permit is the crown of quality project preparation, after which construction begins.
Step 4: Construction
During construction, the support of everyone initially involved in the project is crucial. During construction, Croatia Sotheby’s International Realty can also offer you the possibility of “pre-sale”, that is, sell your property while still under construction. The fact that we were involved in the project from the beginning allows us to guarantee the quality of planning and execution to the client, in cooperation with the investor.
Step 5: Sale
If you decide to sell, the best moment is immediately after the completion of construction, when the property is finalized and equipped, because the luxury that our prestigious clients prefer can only be experienced in its full glory when all the requirements of the initial vision have been met.
The end of the construction cycle brings satisfaction to everyone involved in the process because the investor’s expectations have been fulfilled, the buyer’s dream has come true, and we are overjoyed because we’ve fully justified the demands of our clients.
The luxury real estate market is experiencing a real boom in Croatia as one of the emerging sectors during the ongoing global pandemics. Even after we win the fight against Covid, the real estate market will probably not look the same. For over a year now, circumstances have been unfavorable for mass tourism. Consequently, the demand for carefully selected dream villas has increased and set new travel trends and investment opportunities.
Josip Krnić Photography
High-end photos of villas and surroundings – a necessity or a luxury?
Looking at the current situation from a photographic and marketing point of view, nowadays, more than ever before, the overall quality presentation of luxury real estate on websites and social media comes to the fore. When people generally travel far less, more and more buyers and travelers want to find out everything they need to know about the property in one place – whether they are looking to purchase or rent. Therefore, investing in high-end premium photography today is becoming a necessity, not a luxury, as many property owners are prone to think.
Photographs of the real estate are often the first and fundamental way for the client to get acquainted with your offer. Research has shown that clients spend more than 60% of their time reviewing photos of the property they consider interesting and only subsequently studying the accompanying content.
Josip Krnić Photography
Furthermore, the fact that objects must be accompanied by equally high-quality landscape photographs of cities, sights, and natural beauties of the region where the property is located is often understated. When purchasing photographic licenses for the use of landscape photographs, it is important to request that potential copyright elements be removed from the photograph.
Josip Krnić Photography
Aerial, i.e., drone photography, is a great way to show your object and landscape from a different and unusual perspective. In this comprehensive way, you can be sure that your property will be presented to the clients in a modern way which represents a standard in the world of luxury real estate.
Josip Krnić Photography
Professional real estate photos – advantages and current trends
One cannot stress enough the importance of original and exclusive photographs whereby the techniques of photo post-processing and basic marketing knowledge come to the fore and easily set you apart from the competition.
Some of the important benefits of high-end photography, to name just a few, include the following: leaving an impression of professionalism and savoir-faire on prospective clients and depicting the property in a luxurious light, luxury real-estate agencies can market your property more successfully and reach out to clients more efficiently, you are favored by algorithms of social networks and web browsers, boosting your visibility and allowing you to sell the property significantly faster and within higher price range.
Josip Krnić Photography
Photographing real estate only in classic photographic landscape formats is a thing of the past, and it should be adapted to the requirements of modern platforms like Instagram that favor the vertical format of photography.
You cannot afford yourself the luxury of having subpar quality photos of your luxury real estate, least of all in today’s world, which is changing at an incredible pace towards increasing digitalization.
Josip Krnić Photography
@dreamer4787
We are only a few weeks away from the official beginning of summer, and sunny spring days have been inviting us for quite some time to enjoy the outdoors and spend more time in nature. And while we are slowly leaving the pandemic behind and returning to old habits and life pace, it seems that long quarantine days have motivated us to return to living in harmony with nature and devote more time and attention to our terraces, balconies, and backyards.
It comes as no surprise that outdoor patios have never been more luxurious. New trends and innovations in the decoration of outdoor spaces encourage villa owners to push the boundaries of luxury and comfort. The interiors and exteriors harmoniously complement and intertwine, and the result is an almost idyllic blend of interior and exterior spaces, as befits the Mediterranean way of life that takes place outdoors for most of the year.
Pool area design trends
Lounge area surrounded by greenery
Since all life has turned within four walls, people most often find relaxation zones in nature today, to move away from everyday stress and the monotony of work within the living space. Just facing nature, there is a growing trend of creating lounge zones in the exterior of real estate that is often surrounded by lots of greenery to fulfill the desire to go to nature and rest in it within the living space.
Villa Hedonist Dream
What is widely sought in the field of the landscaping of a such zone is multi-purpose outdoor furniture that will have different ways of use with minimal changes. Taking into account the need for physical distance when gathering, with such furniture in the blink of an eye, the sofa is transformed into several seats that will allow distance. Drinking compartments or simple snacks can also be set up inside the tables and then served to guests. When it comes to designer outdoor furniture, standard traditional materials such as wood and fabrics in soft tones in contrasting wood colors still prevail. Opposite the wood, we come across anthracite rattan with pillows of the same or contrasting color. Indispensable parts of outdoor furniture are corner sets, dining sets, deck chairs, and auxiliary furniture such as relaxation bags, swings, and side tables.
Villa Sunrise
Firepit as a gathering place
Fire has always been a gathering place, and as such, is an indispensable part of the lounge zone of modern villas today. The gathering around the fire comes in several forms, all depending on the wishes of the user. Often part of the lounge zone is an outdoor firepit which during the night becomes a favorite gathering place for family and friends. Around the fire pit usually is located a piece of circular outdoor furniture, with the designer’s signature, which with its decor fits into the very motif of the fire. The second most common form of gathering around the fire is certainly the one around the outdoor fireplace, which will also serve as a place for preparing meals, but also as a place for socializing and talking. Many villas today like to connect incompatibly, so next to, or inside the pool itself, they design a part that will contain a fireplace that will illuminate the pool and its swimmers, especially at night.
Villa Authentic Retreat
Modern swimming pools with sun deck
Today, the relaxation zone extends to the area of the pool itself, where the deckchairs are no longer in their immediate vicinity, but they occupy a position inside the pool itself. This innovation is characterized by specially made lounge ledges that are located in the shallower part of the pool and are partially immersed in water, which allows you to lie down comfortably with constant refreshment by the pool water. An umbrella can be added to these sunbeds so that lying down is carefree even in the early hours.
Villa Appeal
In addition to the pool and sun loungers, you can often find a hot tub as a luxury accessory that equates the relaxation zone with that of the best spa. With the classic whirlpool tubs that can accommodate 2 to 5 people, and are located as a separate unit, today we encounter a growing trend of implementation of whirlpool units within the pools so that they are separated by a safety barrier. This innovative technology allows you to switch from a relaxing position in a hot tub to a slightly more active one in the blink of an eye by swimming from one end of the pool to the other.
Villa Ventura
Innovative luxury accessories – outdoor showers
An indispensable part of every pool area is its outdoor shower, which ensures quick refreshment during hot summer days. Today, there is a unique outdoor shower from the Infinity Luxury company on the market, which with its appearance, represents a luxury sculpture enriched with shower and lighting functions. This innovative combination of natural materials, water, and LED lighting can completely change the design of the exterior of the property and raise it to a completely different level. It is adorned with a modern inverted L design with simple lines that fit into any exterior completely naturally. Showers are a fusion of tradition and innovative technology because they are made of natural materials, while at the same time they contain special technologies for saving water, filtration, and lighting of the shower itself.
Black Marbella Shower (Photo credits: Dominik Benčan)
Infinity Luxury showers come in 3 models: Marbella, Infinity, and Safari. The Marbella model is made of natural stone, the Infinity is adorned with ceramics from the renowned Italian brand Marazzi, while the Safari is created from an environmentally friendly material, HPL. The outdoor shower can be created according to your wishes and the style of the exterior of the property. If you have a traditional-style property made of stone, the Marbella shower is the ideal choice for you. The type of stone is chosen by the client, often the type that corresponds to the one on the front of the property or from the exterior area. If ceramics dominates the property, the Infinity model and a large selection of Marazzi decor will fit best as part of the exterior. The Safari model will fit perfectly with properties of modern design that do not run away from atypical decors and materials, and at the same time, are focused on sustainability.
Marbella Shower (Villa Crystalline)
Infinity Luxury showers cannot be compared to anything on the market, so they are considered unique in the world, and their approach in making is based on the client’s choice of the model or material, followed by the selection of the desired decor or type of stone, and the additional possibility of ambient lighting of the shower itself. The personalization of this unique sculpture ends with the possibility of engraving the logo or name of the property itself on the front of the shower.
By choosing this eco-friendly shower, the preservation of nature and water is affected regarding the shower’s special ECO-tech shower rose that saves water up to 50%, while the NATURRA water filtration system improves water quality and neutralizes the negative effects of chlorine and its compounds.
When designing the exterior itself, it is possible to plan this shower to ideally fit into the design of the property and its exterior.
Marbella Shower ( Photo credits: Villa Lucija)
We are happy that architects and investors have started to pay particular attention to outdoor spaces. In the Mediterranean, which enjoys a mild climate all year round, the outdoors is a kind of a living rooms extension, so the tendency is to connect the interior and exterior in one harmonious area adopting innovative methods; therefore, the border between the two becomes almost imperceptible since all the beauty and fullness of life in the Mediterranean comes to the fore precisely by staying outdoors in a picturesque environment of magnificent nature and crystal clear sea.
We hope that we have inspired you with the latest trends and innovations in landscaping that enhance the outdoor experience and allow you to enjoy the outdoors even more. Spending more time outdoors has a beneficial effect on health and enriches our everyday life. We are convinced that, with luxury and innovative accessories, you will succeed in creating an idyllic oasis that you will be proud of and enjoy in the company of family and friends.
Lush greenery, open spaces, blue sky, amazing design, and lots of privacy – is there anyone who would not want this? Estate living offers it all and even more! Estate living in Croatia comes with numerous advantages, making this form of living very hard to resist. Great square footage on exclusive locations in Croatia enables you to live your days to the fullest, with an endless choice of hobbies you can dedicate yourself to, right there in the privacy of your own estate. Spoil yourself with comfort and luxury, as nobleman used to!
Estate living in Croatia
Set in an unspoiled natural environment in the small picturesque town of Klek, the 30.100 square meter Bellaria estate represents a true oasis of comfort with scenic sea and island view. Its top of the notch modern apartment is beautifully combined with a stunning, cascading vineyard.
Unique pebble beaches are just around the corner. Autochthonous plant species are present throughout the estate, perfectly framing the estate’s pool and barbeque area.
Located only an hour’s drive away from Dubrovnik, this estate offers the city’s proximity and all its perks, yet always enabling you to come back to enjoy the peace of your estate.
Those looking for more rustic real estate in Croatia will surely like the Ambient estate. Extending over 8.500 square meters, this gorgeous estate borders the UNESCO-protected Stari Grad Plain. Located between Stari grad and Vrbovska on Hvar’s sunny island, it offers utmost privacy and a unique Mediterranean ambiance you cannot resist.
The location also offers great proximity to the beach, while the closest town center is only two kilometers away! The total of four homes on this estate, a 28 – square meter heated swimming pool with a sunbathing area, a summer kitchen, and lots of other additional amenities make for a unique private oasis.
Yet, when it comes to privacy, there is an extraordinary place that must be mentioned. Right in the heart of the island of Vis, the Topiaria estate has found its place under the golden Mediterranean sun.
This 31.088 square meter estate boasts a spectacular view of the sea and the sunset. The estate is cultivated with a grapevine of high quality and 200 olive trees, surrounding the amazing stone villa with a swimming pool. Additionally, a smaller stone house and a wine cellar are also a part of this amazing estate in Croatia.
Going up north, Istria has a Jewell of its own. Surrounded by the picturesque countryside, the Fantasia estate is a true paradise for the romantic Istrian landscape’s nature lovers and admirers. Forty kilometers away from any larger city, Croatia’s estate offers full privacy and comfort to its residents.
Two main buildings and several additional smaller objects can be found on this estate, complemented by high-quality equipment, a heated swimming pool, and 700 types of trees brought from different parts, lavender fields, and a tennis court.
Last but certainly not least, feast your eyes on the Aroma estate. Located in the Istrian peninsula’s interior, this energy class “A” property consists of 10 hectares of owned land and more land in the concession. The farm is cultivated with plantations of gardens, vineyards (2,400 tbsp), olives, orchards, figs, plantations of medicinal herbs, and aromatic plants.
The estate possesses excellent infrastructure, a 5.000 m2 plateau planted with a young xeranthemum, and an amphitheater in three cascades. The amphitheater is engraved in the rocky hill’s natural stone and is enclosed in the form of hexagonal horseshoes in three buildings – an area of 1,000 m2.
When in the mood for visiting the city, only a 12 km drive will lead you to the charming town of Rovinj. The rest of the time, you can use it to enjoy the privacy and comfort of your own natural oasis.
