The reformed ‘cortijo’ or farmhouse sits in 2 hectares, or 5 acres, of flat mature olive grove, interspersed with vines, and with cultivated areas, a kitchen garden and orchard, and a poly tunnel, all used to grow the owner’s vegetables and flowers.
The property was totally renovated and the new guest wing added in 2002/3.
The property includes:
• 6 double / twin bedrooms, each with en suite shower, WC and basin
• A further, very large, bedroom, with ensuite bath, WC, and twin wash basins
• (7.9m x 4.6m)
• Self contained owners’ / staff accommodation, with double bedroom, ensuite
• bathroom with bath, WC and twin washbasins,
living and dining room, kitchen
• area, and an office/computer room. All opening onto the dining terrace and pool.
• Main large kitchen and dining room (7.7m x 7m)
• Large lounge ( 6.9m x 4.4m) with Sky TV, DVD, bookshelves and a log burning
• stove
• Utility room with WC and basin, washing machine, tumble drier, and linen storage
• Large garage / workshop / storage room (7.9m x 4.6m)
• Under stairs cleaning cupboard and linen storage
• Shaded car port for 3 vehicles
• Parking on gravel for many more vehicles
The building is in the traditional form of three wings surrounding a charming patio, with a central well feature, ‘Lion head’ fountain, chairs and table, and many flower tubs. There is a fine water-misting system for the heat of the summer, and automatic irrigation for the plants.
The three first floor rooms open onto a wide balcony, which also has chairs and tables, and give open views of the Sierra de la Nieves, and the Sierra de Grazalema.
The large dining kitchen, and the owner’s quarters / staff quarters, open onto a 17m long covered dining terrace, 3.4 m deep, with built-in seating at the cooler end, and a large built-in barbecue with its own chimney.
This terrace which opens onto the pool and the lawn, gives panoramic views to the South and West, and is a perfect spot to watch the sun set over the Sierra de Grazalema, or at night to watch the stars.
The ‘infinity end’ swimming pool is 20m x 5m, and 1.2m deep, with a shallow area for children, is surrounded by a sun terrace tiled in traditional terra cotta. There is a further large sun terrace on the South aspect. The pool uses a system of salt electrolysis for sterilisation. There is also a revolutionary ultrasound system to prevent the growth of algae, and a robot pool cleaner.
To the West of the pool is a large flat lawn 18m x 22m, with mature specimen trees, suitable for croquet, children's games, sun batheing, and relaxing. This is maintained through the summer months by an automatic sprinkler system.
The property benefits from a small annual income from the sale of olives from the 286 low maintenance olive trees. The total varies each year according to the harvest, but there are also two government subsidies available to the owner for the oil production.
The central heating for the winter months is by underfloor water pipes, heated from a new generation boiler which uses crushed olive stones (orujo) as fuel. This material is a biomass by-product of the olive oil industry and costs less than 20% of the diesel equivalent.
There are plans to construct a stable block, with tack room and feed storage, to the North side of the property. Riding is a major pass-time in this area, and the region is criss-crossed with “Vias pecuarias”, or “Cañadas reales”; public bridle paths and ancient droving roads created by Royal Decree, and open to the public.
A mature fruit orchard and kitchen garden lies to the North of the house.
The property is currently used as a thriving and very popular Bed and Breakfast ‘2 star Pension’, attracting visitors from all over the world. The 7 letting bedrooms allow for at least 14 guests, and full use of the family room takes this figure to 16. Supplementry beds can be added in the larger bedrooms, making a total of 18 persons a real possibility, and one which has occurred several times in the past.
The sale includes all fixtures and fittings, kitchen equipment, cutlery, crockery, beds and bedroom furniture, bed linen, towels, tables, chairs, settees, TVs, DVD machines and so on. A full list can be obtained from the vendor, but examples include
• 14 single beds 90 cm x 200 cm, which can be pushed or zipped together
• to
form King-Size doubles 180 cm x 200 cm
• 3 X 3 -seater settees in the lounge
• Long dining table with two separate small tables which can be added
• on
the ends, plus 18 high quality dining chairs in the dining kitchen
• Chairs and bedside cabinets in every bedroom
• Large antique bookcase in the guests’ lounge
• Teak outdoor furniture including one large dining table, three smaller
• square tables, one round table and 20 chairs
A portfolio of photos of various parts of the property and the land is enclosed.
Parts of the property may be viewed on www.laguzmana.com which allows a virtual tour of some of the property and rooms.
The property is sold as a private dwelling, but could also be run as
1 A thriving B&B business. In this case the sale would include the existing S.L. company, and access to all the business documentation, the VAT registration, contact with the existing accountant, and all other necessary details, including the web site, email address, mobile phone number, web links to other sites, and access to the owners of existing contracts (by arrangement and with the agreement of the other parties)
2 An Hotel. By simple conversion of the existing dining kitchen into a smaller preparation kitchen and a large separate formal dining area, the property could then be officially registered as a 3 Star Hotel. In this case the S.L. company would also be included in the sale, as above.
3 A large family house.
4 A country retreat, staffed appropriately
5 A large staffed country villa for letting
Finca
The finca has received recent modifications to the land for the equestrian activities of the current owner.
There is a stable, a post and rail fence corral, a hay barn, a prepared circular exercise ring, and a 350m canter track round the property. All this has been achieved without changing the original nature of the olive grove. Unless a purchaser specifically wished to include these items, the stable and barn will be dismantled and removed , the post and rail fencing and all the jumps will be removed, and the prepared areas can then be allowed to re-grow.
