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25 More Tips on Buying
Property and Moving to Spain
Rule 1 & 2… Don’t make
assumptions and don’t pass over small details.
DISCLAIMER: The Information
provided is intended to give anyone looking to purchase a property in
Spain a brief guide on how the process works. The laws in Spain can and do
change on a regular basis so we always advise that you seek suitable
professional advice.
26. Children and School. I’m
pretty sure you cannot register a child in school prior to having a
Spanish address. No different to schools in the UK, here they give
priority to children who live close to the school. If they only have 10
places then they will fill up from the local area first.
27. International schools
have their obvious advantages because they are both modern and have up to
the date technical equipment. Some have a computer terminal on every
child’s desk. The schools in the campo generally don’t have these
facilities; this is because the government fund the schools on the
quantity of children. Although the advantage of smaller classes are a
better one to one teaching.
28. In certain provinces, it
is strange that children need to be re-registered every school year. It is
not a formality as in the UK, although the re-register is a relatively
simple process the lack of the Spanish language will hinder your progress.
29. Renting before you buy
is always a good option, but don’t forget the rent is dead money; by that
I mean non-recoverable. I have spoke to many people about the renting
option and they have been looking around the internet for prices per month
to rent. Generally those prices you see will always be above average as
anyone advertising their property must accommodate the advertising expense
within their rental charge.
30. If you are renting
include such viewing within one of your prior visits. There are many
rental agents, English and Spanish; but be aware the Spanish have a habit
of charging for acquiring you some accommodation. I’ve hear of anything
between 250 – 500 Euros.
31. If you have become
familiar with your estate agent who is searching for a house for you, they
can be a good point of contact for rental property too. If they don’t
service your needs while you look then they’ll loose your custom.
32. However, as you look for
property, looking for your own rental property can also save you money.
Visiting the area a couple of months before you move and picking up a
local English newspaper is a good source of varying rental properties.
33. Be aware however that
renting is no easy thing to organise. As in the UK, and I mention this
because those who’ve owned their own house can tend to forget, that their
will be a bond… which is generally one months rent, plus they will want
one months rent in advance.
34. If you recall the bond
is to cover any breakages or damage. From my various conversations,
Spanish property owners seem to always find some reason not repay your
bond. This is not every occasion however, but nonetheless it is prudent to
comment and write down anything that can be blamed on you 6 months down
the line. Broken chair leg or damaged lamp, faulty electrical equipment,
stains on bed covers or carpets, broken ornaments… I think you get the
gist.
35. Finding work! This seems
to be a casual throw away phrase when you’re back in the UK. But 50% of
people return back to the UK within 2 years because they can’t find enough
permanent work.
36. Okay we all say we can
do anything… but the Moroccan’s and other North Africans come and take the
lower paid jobs working the fields. The hotel jobs are often taken by
Rumanian cum Russians who all come to live here during the summer months.
For every English bar there are 10 Spanish bars. This means that often
there can be 10 English men or women fighting for one job when it becomes
available in an English bar. The Spanish bars will employ but you’ll need
an average command of the Spanish language.
37. Supermarket jobs are
pretty much a good bet, but again you’ll need average command of the
Spanish language. But you’ll only get these in the summer months when the
tourism trade picks up.
38. 9 till 5? Having a job
nine until five is unlikely. During the hotter summer months the Spanish
break off for the siesta at 2pm and start again from 5 or 6 till 8pm. Us
UK people are used to this time frame, but this other culture we’re
entering into has a completely different emphasis on the day.
39. Word of mouth and
Networking. Networking with a capital ‘N’. Everything you’ll ever need to
know will be found out through networking. Talking to other British and
attempting to communicate with the Spanish. You can find jobs, you can
find cheaper places to rent, you can find doctors, chemists, dentists,
emergency doctors… the list is endless. If you are bit quiet and don’t mix
very well, you’ll struggle finding out new things and places that are
important.
40. Generally speaking the
other British will help. But one tip to remember, repay them with
gratitude and you’ll have a good source for further enquiries in the
future. Some of my own best networking has been done in the bars and
cafes. A shame… but true.
41. Most people send one of
their family down in the car as they move to Spain. Here is my experience
in this short paragraph…
A trip down to the port 3
hours… Avoid if possible any busy areas during the rush hours. Leave
plenty of time to find the port, and in case of any temporary problems,
flat tyres and the sort, be prepared. I kept in contact by mobile with the
other half of my family during the moment up to here, but you loose your
signal once you’re out at sea. So your other half begins to worry… Prepare
them for a loss of signal… If you are ferrying to Northern Spain you’ll
loose your signal for a day and a half. As you leave the port area, keep
calm! Otherwise you’ll miss your turn and stay in the port area for an
hour. The Mediterranean costa’s can be anything between 8 to 15 hours
drive. This is one hell of a drive if you’re not used to it.
If you intend to drive
through France then expect the journey to take two days, or three
comfortably, stopping over for generous rest periods.
42. Ferrying Over to
Northern Spain. I was checking for the prices 6 months in advance and was
intending to come to Spain in June. June of course is the early stages of
the summer tourism boom so the prices were pretty expensive. But patience
was the key. It was about April time, and I guess it must have something
to do with the economics of the ferry business, but the prices came down
two thirds. I’ll never know how long that lasted because I jumped in and
booked.
43. Back to a few more tips
on buying property. The weather. Please we all know the weather is so much
better than the UK, and one of the main reasons we’re buying property, but
what do you really know? I’ll describe the two extremes…
The heat in summer can be
dangerous. Falling asleep sunbathing is a no no! You’ll be in hospital
with severe sun stroke. Other than that there are no hard and fast rules,
you’ll have your own system of ideas in place, my only word to add to that
is be ‘cautious’.
The heat in winter seems
glorious when you’re visiting… because you’re used to the biting cold back
in the UK. But when you live here the coldness will surprise you. By mid
day the temperatures are reasonable, but as the day goes dark the coldness
sets in. So don’t throw away your fleeces! You’ll need some form of
heating in your house, gas bottled fires seems to be the most economical.
44. Now you’ll wonder why I
mentioned weather in buying property? Property facing north maybe fine in
the summer when the sun is high in the sky, but you’ll need as much winter
sun as possible to keep your house warm. So buy if possible with the main
rooms in the house facing south.
45. Rain. When it rains in
Spain it really does rain. Very heavy down pours. In the UK there are
plenty of drainage systems in place. So much so in fact we don’t even know
they are there. Here in Spain they have few drainage principles in place.
Avoid property at the bottom of a valley, although fine when the sun
shines, can be flooded when it rains. This applies also to any property on
a hill. Rain will flow wherever it chooses and little will stop it. Check
for evidence that rain has a free flow across the front, rear and sides of
your intended property.
46. Spain and Health and
Safety. There is evidence that Spain is 40 years behind the UK in certain
aspects of their culture. You don’t appreciate health and safety
regulations that seem to throttle you back in the UK. Here in Spain their
health and safety issues are almost non existent. The paths and roads;
that are off the normal beaten track, are generally in a bad state of
repair. If you expect such disrepair in these places then it won’t offend
you as much.
47. Power cuts! They’re
happening less often nowadays in the major resorts, but as often in the
campo areas outside the major towns. Be prepared… As you will probably
know, everything is manana (tomorrow). Some people can be cut off for days.
48. English TV. It is
available out here as you probably have already investigated. But again as
soon as there is any bad weather around the signal is lost. Manana, manana…
same old story. There are a few more alternative sources of English TV
coming onto the market, keep your options open.
49. Shoddy workmanship.
Please we are all guilty of the occasional bodge job, but here in Spain
there are quality workmen and women. Just as in the UK be aware of who you
employ to do any work.
50. Property and Subsidence.
More evident than in the UK. Property is knocked up pretty quick here and
some of it doesn’t have the same strict standards that the UK has. One
such problem is that of subsidence. New property can often never show any
subsidence problems in the first year, but be particularly aware of cracks
in walls and terraces. Be also aware of new tiling on the outside of
properties and terraces as these can often hide subsidence deliberately.
51. Back to a general living
in Spain tip…Drinking and Driving… they have zero tolerance here. You
cannot drink and drive. If you are found with drink on your breath you car
will be ceased; and you’ll have to pay up to 500 Euros to recover it.
FIND THE FIRST 25 TIPS by CLICKING HERE:
please scroll down the page
to find them below the first initial photos.
Please visit our property page
www.sale-property-spain.co.uk/spanish_property11.htm
Thank you
Specialists in Spanish Property
for Sale
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