The to do list
Do take a good look. Unless you are familiar with the area and happy to buy "off-plan" at a new site (field) we would strongly recommend you see what is available. If you were buying a house in the UK you would view the house and neighbourhood first.
Do visit more than one site. It's unlikely you would buy the first house you see so buying a mobile home in Spain should be no different. By visiting a selection of sites or parks as in resale you will be able to make comparisons.
Do ask questions. You will have questions and the chances are you won't be the first person to have asked them so don't be shy, people are willing to help. (when dealing with a company selling mobile homes, try asking the representatives if they are just sales staff or whether they've actually moved to Spain and lived in mobile homes themselves)
Do take your time and and go back for a second or third look. Act in haste and repent at leisure as the saying goes but as Spain is such a lovely place there's no reason why you shouldn't go back for another look.
Do make sure there will be a legal contract for the purchase. Although buying a mobile home is not the same legally as buying a house, make sure a proper contract is planned so there can be no confusion.
Do make sure you know exactly what you are being offered for your money. That's also where a proper contract comes in, but for example if a satellite dish is installed does the decoder get included in the price?
Do find out what the on-going costs will be. Rule of thumb is that everything in Spain is much cheaper but there are still costs. You need to be clear what fixed costs there are such as the ground rent. There will also be consumable costs such as electricity and water and although they will be cheaper try to find out what other residents are paying.
Do take advantage of site or park facilities to not only check them out but also to talk to other residents. Other people that have made the move to Spain are a mine of useful and unbiased information.
Do find out whether the park has English speaking staff (unless you can speak Spanish of course). Most parks will have English speaking staff but just in case you need help with something it is worth finding out as they can make the transition to living in Spain so much easier.
Do make sure that if you go on an "inspection trip" that there is no obligation. There are reports of some companies being "pushy". If they need to push you need to ask yourself why. A reputable company would be happy to show you round, answer your questions and let you make your own mind up.
The do not do list
Don't be rushed. Go to Spain and take a look, ideally as part of a holiday after all if you are planning on living in Spain spending a week or two over there is nothing.
Don't be rushed. That may sound like the same advice but it is such good advice its worth mentioning twice. In this case it is don't be rushed into signing anything or paying over any money. Have a good think about it. If you are dealing with a reputable company selling new or reselling mobile homes they should prefer to ensure it is the right move for you rather than just sell sell sell.
Don't forget to talk to a solicitor. It is not strictly required but we recommend it. It could also be worth talking to family (who might have their own views on you moving away) and friends. The more viewpoints you hear the more considered your decision.
Don't worry about the language. Yes it is a foreign language but you can soon pick up the basics. The shops are very helpful especially if you try to speak a little Spanish and other residents will be very helpful as they've done it themselves.
Don't forget that the Spanish culture is different. Things are more "laid back" which can be frustrating when you are trying to get things done in a hurry, but at the same time the laid-back culture is far less stressful. The secret is to spend some time over there to see if it is right for you.
Don't worry if you need to sell your home in the UK first. This is often the case and sellers and companies should understand this (they probably did the same in the case of resale's) so are usually willing to wait for your sale to complete before paying any more than a holding deposit.
What is involved in buying and living in a mobile home in Spain?
Firstly, over the internet you will see lots of companies advertising new mobile homes on parks to be developed in the future. This is what is known as buying off plan. Buying off plan involves paying some money upfront and waiting to see if and when the park is built to plan. If because in Spain plans can and do change. The restaurant planned can disappear or the bar and swimming pool can be moved. All this can happen once you have chosen your plot.
You have chosen the park and ordered your new mobile home. The mobile home you order will be sited on your plot and connected to the mains services. Do not be surprised when you arrive to find your home jacked up off it's wheels and breeze blocks placed so that you can get inside.
The decking and of course the steps so that you can get inside the mobile home has to be designed and built and remember you are in Spain where "tomorrow never comes" so you could be using the breeze blocks for a few weeks.
Mobile home decking can be a little costly as wood is one of the few products that is expensive here in Spain. Allow between £2000 and £6000 to build the decking around the mobile home.
Next is getting yourself established within Spain. It is very easy but you will need help unless you are a Spanish speaker. If the park is finished and fully open then the reception should also be open and they will be able to organise it for you. Not a problem if you are buying a resale as the parks are well established and already a lot of people have settled there.
Make sure living on a mobile home park is for you first. Make sure you have all the facts.
Once you have all the facts you can then decide on the important factors, is it for me? Do I buy new or resale? What part of Spain do we buy our mobile home?
Questions, questions, questions, time to take a look for yourself now.
Written by: Martin Theobald
About the author: For more information and a look at the homes take a look at (resale mobile homes) www.costadifference.com or (new mobile homes) www.costaparkhomespain.com and for specific questions both sites have a contact form.
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