Terms & Conditions

1. General

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") apply to all services offered by Gerardus Koetje ("we", "our", "us"), located at Avenida Monte das Amoreiras 4b, 6230-788 Vale de Prazeres, Portugal.

We provide construction, renovation and advisory services, plus the supply and setup of cabling, finishes, alarm systems and networking equipment. Electrical, gas and main-water connections are subcontracted to licensed specialists.

By using our website or services, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, please refrain from using our services.

You confirm that you are at least 18 years old and legally able to enter into a binding agreement.

2. Personal Information

We collect and process personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy. By using our services, you consent to this processing.

View our Privacy Policy

3. Quotations and Estimates

All quotations are estimates based on information available at the time. Final pricing may vary depending on actual site conditions, materials used, and changes requested by the client.

Quotations are valid for 30 days unless otherwise stated.

Changes in scope after accepting a quotation may result in adjusted pricing and delivery timelines. We will inform you in advance of any additional costs.

By accepting a quotation, the client agrees to these Terms, including the version published on our website.

Delays from weather, suppliers, or third parties are not our responsibility.

Changes or cancellations may incur fees.

4. Terms Hierarchy

In case of discrepancy between terms attached to a quotation and the terms published on our website, the website terms shall prevail.

5. Updated Terms Application

New work requests on previous installations trigger the application of current terms to the entire project.

6. Advisory Services

Listing Check: delivery within 3 business days. Exterior Report: delivery within 5 business days after the visit.

Renovation Review and Contractor Review are delivered based on materials provided by the client. Delivery time starts after receipt of all required documentation.

Each report includes one round of revisions. Additional revisions are charged at €32.50 per hour.

Right of withdrawal (consumer, 14 days) — For distance or off-premises contracts, the consumer-client has 14 calendar days to withdraw from the contract without giving any reason, in accordance with Decreto-Lei 24/2014. Email support@gerarduskoetje.pt to exercise this right.

Withdrawal exception — If the client expressly requests that the service start within the withdrawal period (e.g. a scheduled inspection or pre-delivered advice), the right of withdrawal lapses once the service has been fully performed, in line with article 17 of Decreto-Lei 24/2014. For partially performed services, work already delivered is invoiced.

7. Inspection Conditions

Inspections are no longer carried out by Gerardus Koetje — they are performed by Inspecto (inspecto.pt), under Inspecto’s own terms. The conditions below continue to govern inspections previously carried out by Gerardus Koetje.

Scope of service — Our inspection is a visual, non-invasive assessment of the property. We do not move furniture, open walls, floors or ceilings, or access unsafe roofs. We do not test for asbestos in a laboratory. The report describes only what is visible on the day of inspection.

Not a structural engineer — Gerardus Koetje is not a licensed engineer, architect, or chartered surveyor. Our report does not replace a structural assessment, energy audit, or any legally required certification.

Limitations — We cannot see behind walls, under floors, or inside sealed cavities. Hidden defects are by definition not covered by the inspection. Conditions may change after the inspection date.

Moisture meter readings — Moisture readings are indicative and do not replace destructive investigation or laboratory analysis.

Drone shots — Aerial images are for general overview purposes only. They do not replace a close-up roof inspection by a roofer with scaffolding access.

BUPi cadastral check — Provided as a courtesy service. We are not a topographer or lawyer. Boundary and registration issues should be verified by a qualified professional.

Access and cooperation — The client or agent must provide access to all areas of the property. Areas to which access is not granted are excluded from the inspection and fall outside our responsibility.

Report accuracy — The report reflects conditions observed on the inspection date only. No guarantee is given that conditions have not changed since.

Liability cap — Our total liability is limited to the fee paid for the inspection.

No purchase advice — We document the condition of the property. We do not advise whether to buy or not buy. That decision is the client's.

Confidentiality — The report is intended for the named client only. The report is non-transferable. Third parties cannot derive any rights from it. We are not liable if the report is shared with third parties who act on it.

Image usage — Anonymized images and findings may be used by us for portfolio purposes, unless the client objects in writing beforehand.

Payment — The report is not released until full payment has been received.

Complaints — Complaints about the report must be submitted in writing within 30 days of delivery. Complaints are handled within 14 business days.

Governing law — These inspection conditions are governed by Portuguese law. Disputes fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the court of Castelo Branco.

8. Resource Subscription

The yearly subscription (€39.99/year) is billed annually. Upon cancellation, you retain access until the end of the paid year. No refund is provided for the remaining period.

We update content regularly but do not guarantee that all information is complete or current at all times.

9. Advisory packages

Advisory through our personal online panel is sold as a package: a package covers the intake & setup and a fixed maximum number of written questions. Prices per package (excluding and including IVA) are shown at the point of purchase on our website; the price displayed on the website at the time of purchase governs the price.

A package is valid for 12 months from the date of payment, is non-transferable to third parties, and cannot be exchanged for cash. Questions not asked expire at the end of that period.

At purchase, the client expressly requests immediate performance of the intake & setup and immediate availability of the package, and acknowledges that an answered question is a fully performed service, in line with the withdrawal exception in section 6 above and article 17 of Decreto-Lei 24/2014; these questions are not refundable. The part of the package not yet performed is subject to the right of withdrawal as set out in section 6 above.

If a question falls outside the scope of the advisory service, it is not charged: the question becomes available again within the package and the client is referred to the appropriate professional.

Advisory does not cover legal, tax, architectural or engineering advice, including contract reviews, permit assessments or structural judgments. Such questions are referred to a lawyer (advogado), certified accountant (contabilista certificado), architect or civil engineer.

Advisory answers are practical, experience-based advice grounded in the information provided by the client. Decisions and contracts remain the client's responsibility.

Every package includes a one-off intake & setup, carried out immediately on purchase at your express request: your personal panel and project file are created and your situation is researched up front. This component represents 35% of the package price, is fully performed at the moment of purchase and therefore falls outside the right of withdrawal; the right of withdrawal covers only the part of the package not yet performed.

Each question covers one topic. A package is a unit of service, not an hour meter: how much time, research and follow-up goes into an answer is determined in good faith and can vary considerably per question. An answered question counts as a fully performed service regardless of the time spent.

10. Custom Requests

Custom requests are reviewed within 3 business days.

Work will only commence after written confirmation of the price by the client.

Pricing is determined individually based on the nature and scope of the request.

11. Payment Terms

Online payments are processed via Mollie. We accept iDEAL, credit card, bank transfer, and Multibanco.

For on-site work, we also accept Multibanco/MB Way.

50% on signing/before start (covers materials, travel costs and applicable IVA) · 40% at the agreed halfway milestone · 10% on completion and handover after joint walkthrough.

Each payment invoiced; work may be suspended while an invoice is overdue; materials remain our property until paid in full; cash only under €3,000 (Lei 92/2017); larger amounts by transfer/Multibanco/MB Way.

Unpaid invoices may result in suspension of services. Unpaid materials remain the property of the installer until fully paid.

Late payments may incur fees or interest according to the service agreement or applicable law.

12. Workmanship Warranty

We stand behind the quality of the work we carry out ourselves (such as plastering, painting, tiling, carpentry, finishing and non-structural building).

The statutory warranty periods under Portuguese law apply. Under Article 1225 of the Civil Code (Código Civil), construction work carries a 5-year warranty for structural or serious defects and a 2-year warranty for other defects, counted from handover. These periods cannot be shortened to the consumer's detriment.

Work that must legally be carried out by a qualified tradesperson (such as electrical or plumbing work) is, where requested, performed by qualified third parties we arrange; that tradesperson's warranty applies to it.

Without prejudice to the consumer's statutory rights, our warranty does not cover modifications or interventions by third parties after handover.

13. Configuration & Programming Exclusion

For the supply and installation of equipment (such as networking, security or smart-home devices), the warranty covers the installation work but not the configuration, programming or software-related issues.

Configuration or programming issues fall outside the warranty and are charged as a service call.

14. Equipment & Materials Warranty

Warranty on equipment and materials is the responsibility of the manufacturer.

We are not liable for manufacturer or supplier defects.

15. Service Call Fees

Service calls are chargeable and cover issues not covered by the workmanship warranty, including equipment or material failure and configuration problems.

16. Client Responsibilities

The client must provide safe access to the work site.

The client must not make unauthorized modifications to installed systems.

Suspected faults must be reported promptly to the manufacturer, not to us.

Support questions should be self-researched first. Use search engines and manuals before contacting us. Repeatedly asking questions that are easily found online may result in communication being blocked and you being referred to email only (support@gerarduskoetje.pt).

17. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Gerardus Koetje will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, including loss of profits, data, or business interruption.

Our liability is strictly limited to the value of the labour associated with the specific workmanship that caused the damage.

We assume no liability for materials, equipment, or third-party products, nor for damage arising from their failure, malfunction, or manufacturer defects.

We are not liable for grid failures, weather conditions, lightning, manufacturer defects, third-party modifications or interventions.

18. Website Availability

We do not guarantee uninterrupted access to our website. Maintenance may suspend service without prior notice.

19. Third-Party Links

Links to third-party websites are provided for convenience only. We are not responsible for their content or privacy practices.

20. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Portugal. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the court of Castelo Branco.

21. Modifications

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be posted on this page. By continuing to use our services after such changes, you agree to the updated Terms.

22. Contact

Gerardus Koetje

Avenida Monte das Amoreiras 4b

6230-788 Vale de Prazeres, Portugal

Email: support@gerarduskoetje.pt