Older houses on this island have real charm — stone walls, mature gardens, streets with history. Many buyers arrive dreaming of one. This article is not against the dream. It prices it honestly.
Four defaults come with almost every older building here:
No insulation. Solid walls that radiate winter chill and summer heat straight into your rooms. Every degree of comfort is bought with energy, forever.
No ventilation. As we covered elsewhere: not required by code, so not built. In an old stone house, that means humidity, condensation, and the mould line along the ceiling — the signature of Madeira's older stock.