The deal is done - now a few questions

Hi all.  Finally, 2 months after our initial completion date of Aug 7th, we completed on Thursday - 3Bed Apart on Jardine 5.  Not before time, as we have our flights booked for the family coming out on Oct 29th.

Its been a tough time with the financials, and can now give first hand account how the credit crunch impacts on domestic borrowing just as much as major commerce.  When we signed up last October, no urgency on lending, so we left it until June when we received first indication of Summer completion.  By then, the credit cruch was changing spanish lending, and our hopes of 80% borrowing were soon dashed given our UK commitments.  Eventually, having spent extra on broker fees, we ended up with CAM Bank and a 70% mortgage.  The sting....they might be the developers bank, but valuation on our property came in at Euro 118k!!!

This was always a long term investment for our family, so this short term price dip is somewhat irrelevant other than the lower lending we achieved.  Some minor nerves around the running costs now, but really looking forward to coming out in 2 weeks and finally enjoying our investment after all the stress of the completion.

Here are a few comments for those considering investing:
1.  Find a good solicitor with recommendation.  We used one in Alicante that a workmate had used, and he has been brilliant - done everything - NIE's, Set up Power of Attorney, Handled completions, advised on 101 things along the way - yet to pay him anything which has been a surprise, and even with all of the help provided, he has not deviated from his 1% fee.
2.  Irrespective of completion date, sort your mortgage out early - that is our one big regret
3.  Thought about skipping on it, but opted to use Snagitmurcia in the end.  A very comprehensive service for a fixed fee, and glad we did this in the end
4.  Because our financials became alot tighter than we had anticipated, we have had to skip on the furniture pack deals.  Instead, we have gone for an Ikea option on beds, matresses, sofas and patio furniture.  Found what we wanted in UK, and have used a local company Flatpaxabia to do the buying, collection and delivery.  When we arrive, our gear will be already there, and just have the day one fun of building beds.  Done this before, and know that Ikea furniture is straight forward, so not a concern
5.  Just reading this board and making a few contacts has been invaluable.  Expect to be in touch with Carol again soon and add to her clientelle of holiday home owners

Now a few questions:
1.  For those who have been completed for a few months on Jardines, how much is the water and electricity bills working out at per month?
2.  Are we getting a stable view yet on the Community Charges?
3.  I still have to buy a fridge freezer when we are there.  Where is the best place to buy that will deliver within a day or two?
4.  Planning to  buy lights and install myself.  Is the wiring the same as used in UK, or am I in for a surprise?
5.  How is the supermarket on the development?

I'm sure will have more questions later, but will post as and when

Cheers for now
Martin & Helen

Hi Fozzie,
                 Just popping in to say hi we will be there from the 26th staying in Jardine 13 but our jardine is 09.
As for the lights the wiring should be the same my husband is gonna to do ours just need a stepladder, have already got lights packed in the hand luggage minus the boxes.  See you around to say hi and thats a good idea about the furniture. We are hiring a big car to go shopping in Ikea and like you I will go and see what I want this week in croydon store.

Congratulations on your persitence on completing

we purchased lighting from Ikea cheep but effective. Camposol hardware store supplied the bulbs and other bits like ladder and drill extension leads etc and only just down the road. don't try to understand how the lights are switched certain lights will only work when the other fittings are connected.

Polaris not connected properly to the utilities yet and have not started charging comunity fees 

we purcheased our fridge freezer from the large supermarket at the Nueve Condamina Murcia We hired a seven seater and removed seats to get the large items in the back. can't recal the name of the supermarket but everything electrical is here you can get the same at the carrafore also. Ikea is on the opposite side of the motorway so two birds can be killed with one.

You will find hunting for your own furniture and electrical goods is easy fun and rewarding knowing you save a fortune.

there are lots of shops at the above to finish your apartment like art decor and bedding from Primark

head towards Mazerron and when almost there, there is a large garden center and next door a large retail outlet selling patio furniture also

Good luck

Martin, Bought out fridge freezer from Gines Navarro in mazarron. Prices are slightly more than carrefour. However they deliver for free and on the same day we ordered. Phil

Thanks for the advice.  I am sure the wife will be in her element with all of this shopping.  If the sun is shining that week, hope to enjoy pool and relaxation, but if it is indifferent as we keep observing on the internet, then shopping will be the alternative, even if the 3 ankle biters might not agree!

Looking forward to a beer a vino on the terrace, and joining everyone else in the cafe bar.

Now can someone just sort out the weather!!!!!

Cheers all
Martin

Thanks for the advice Martin, we are in a similar situation to the one you were in so this is a good informative and re-assuring post.

Hi Fozzie... Martin & Helen
congratulations on completion and welcome to the forum,

when you get there you'll see the stress and waiting has all been worth while. 

We bought all our electrical goods from Saturn in the shopping complex near Ikea, fridge freezer, washer, dishwasher and 32' tv, prices reasonable and delivered free in 2 days.  good luck in Ikea, it was a mad house when we went,  (3 times in 4 days!!) 

The supermarket on Condado is quite well stocked but a bit on the expensive side but there is a big supermarket just 5 mins down the road in Camposol and others, including Lidl, in Mazarron.  

We were on builders water and electric still last month so no charges yet.

Hope you get better weather than we had, we managed a G&T on the terrace the evening before we left.....with umbrellas up and wearing jumpers 

We came out on 5th and staying till Friday (24th). We had a great idea...1 week furnishing and 2 weeks holiday....with three days left we are still furnishing.....part of the problem has been our fussiness I suppose but also our ability to finally decide on something only to find they are out of stock and not re-stocking until after we go home (beds and sofa's at IKEA; fridge freezer/microwave/dishwasher at Media Markt)!!! Be prepared for a bit more stress than you bargained for or choosing an alternative......or maybe we have just done it all wrong :( hahaha