Sally Veall

Born in London but having spent many of her younger years between the UK and Tuscany, Sally gained a taste living abroad at an early age. Having gained her A-levels, she “fell” into journalism, which saw her work as a freelance before changing career direction and studying interior design. She speaks several languages: French, Italian and Spanish which became useful when she moved to northern France in 1996 because of her husband’s work. There she helped him as a translator and also had her own business renovating and decorating rural houses for people from the UK and The Netherlands. In 2000 she moved to south-west France and re-established her property career, often working with Notaires as an independent translator for English-speaking clients. In 2006 she moved to Catalonia in Spain, again due to her husband’s work. At that time she had very little Spanish but quickly learnt it and also attended the local adult college to gain a basic understanding of Catalan. To begin with, she continued to renovate and decorate properties but then an opportunity arose in 2010 to return to writing and since then she has worked for the SpainBuyingGuide as the resident copywriter and freelances for other online websites. She says her aim is to tell the truth about moving to another country and to ease the way for new arrivees. With over 25 years’ experience as a “foreigner living abroad” she understands the joys and hardships of making a new life in another country. Books: Richmond, Surrey, As it Was. 1976  Historical and Archeological Section of the Richmond Society. (John Cloake, John Wright and Sally Albrecht (Veall).) Property:  Spain Buying Guide. Resident copywriter since 2010. Interior Design: Owner of Salvia Decor, Salisbury Wiltshire. Showroom/interior design. Working independently in France from 1996 to 2006 and in Spain from 2007 to 2010.

Articles in Spain by Sally Veall

Finding a good builder in Spain

Finding a good builder in Spain

Whether you’re having your home built from scratch or just need your patio resurfaced, finding a builder in Spain is easy. But where do you start, what will you pay and what are the local rules about building? In part 3 of our series on self-building in Spain, we’ve got to the business end of the process.
Spanish homes for watersports lovers

Spanish homes for watersports lovers

Spain is famous world over for its wonderful climate and coastline. But not everyone wants to laze around on a beach! For the more active of us –and those taking up a new hobby in retirement – Spain’s waters offer every kind of water sport imaginable.
News update: eco-homes, cheap mortgages, and Spain’s priciest streets

News update: eco-homes, cheap mortgages, and Spain’s priciest streets

It has been a hot summer here with the majority of people on holiday, including the politicians, and the news has been quite upbeat with Brexit taking only a secondary place. The property market is stable, eco-homes are on the rise and Spain’s most expensive streets are revealed! Plus, mortgages are cheaper, as are petrol and diesel.
Spain’s top 10 family-friendly islands

Spain’s top 10 family-friendly islands

Sun, sea, sand and short flights from home – Spain’s islands have been firm family favourites for decades among tourists and property buyers alike. Our recent survey showed that almost 1/4 of our readers want to buy in the Balearics or Canaries, so this week, I’m looking at the very best, family-friendly islands to purchase a home.  
Building your own home in Spain

Building your own home in Spain

Could you build your own home in Spain? Maybe not personally, but planning it, designing it and finding the professionals to built it ? A surprising number of British and other international buyers do.

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