15 Lessons from 15 Years of VillaMia

I'm Michelle Hughes, the owner of VillaMia Real Estate SL. When I bought VillaMia almost 15 years ago, I didn't have a detailed strategy, or a roadmap for what the future would look like. What I did have was determination, a young son to support, and a desire to build a life for us in Jávea.

Over the years, I've learned countless lessons - some through success, some through mistakes, and many through simply showing up every day and figuring things out as I went along. Running a business in Spain has been one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences of my life.

As VillaMia Real Estate SL celebrates its 15th anniversary with me as the owner next week, I thought I'd share some of the general business lessons that have helped me along the way!.

1. Put everything in writing—always.
2. Don´t stress - things fall into place and it is very bad for your health
3. Keep on top of your accounts monthly, not quarterly.
4. Keep money aside for quieter periods.
5. Use realistic photography—trust matters more than filters.
6. Communication is everything—clients remember how you made them feel.
7. Be honest, even when it’s not what people want to hear.
8. Support other local businesses—you grow together.
9. Stay consistent with social media—it really does make a difference.
10. Build relationships, not just transactions.
11. Be flexible with your team—they have lives outside of work too.
12. Trust your instincts—they’re usually right.
13. You need to adapt and change with the times
14. Protect your time—work-life balance matters more than you think.
15. Keep going—especially when it’s hard.

15 years in business has taught me that success isn’t about perfection—it’s about consistency, resilience and learning as you go. If you are passing our Arenal office on Tuesday 1 July, between 10am and 4pm,  please pop in for a glass of fizz.

Here’s to everything still to come!

#VillaMia #15Years #BusinessLessons #Javea