Building a villa or holiday home in Turkey is an exciting project—but for many foreign investors, the reality can become stressful when construction delays occur. Managing a project remotely is already challenging, and without the right systems and partners, delays can cost both time and money.
Here are proven strategies to help you avoid delays and manage construction in Turkey effectively.
Contents
1. Choose Experience Over Price
One of the most common mistakes is hiring the cheapest contractor without checking their track record. In Turkey, working with inexperienced builders can quickly lead to poor workmanship, timeline issues, or even abandoned projects.
👉 Our advice: Don’t be the next example in a cautionary blog post. Always verify the contractor’s previous projects and client references before making a decision.
2. Don’t Pay Too Much Upfront
A golden rule in Turkish construction: never pay more than 5% of the total cost before work begins. Large advance payments reduce your leverage and can leave you vulnerable if the contractor disappears or fails to deliver.
3. Manage Material Purchases Yourself
If the project includes material supply, handle this directly whenever possible. Leaving materials in someone else’s control can create cost inflation, substitutions, or delivery delays. By sourcing key materials yourself—or through a trusted project manager—you ensure quality and avoid unnecessary markups.
4. Work with a Professional Construction Management Firm
Even if you live abroad, you don’t need to lose sleep over your project. The smartest approach is to appoint a local construction consultancy that knows the market, the workers, and the process. Experienced firms will monitor timelines, check workmanship, and act as your eyes on-site.
At UNQ Construction, we provide exactly this through our Construction Management Panel—a digital platform where you can track progress, budgets, and updates from anywhere in the world.
5. Learn from Other People’s Mistakes
We’ve documented dozens of real-life examples where buyers tried to manage a project alone and ended up facing delays, extra costs, or unfinished villas. The lesson is simple: don’t let your story become one of these examples.
Conclusion
Avoiding delays when building in Turkey comes down to choosing the right partners, protecting your payments, and staying in control of the process. With clear agreements, direct material management, and the support of tools like the UNQ Construction Management Panel, you can enjoy the journey of creating your dream villa in Kalkan without unnecessary stress.
