Complete in two weeks - any last minute advice?

Take a bottle of water with you to the notary. Trust me, you'll be glad of it.

Good luck!

First Occupation License - sorted

Bottle of water - good call!

SNAG LIST!!!!!

For anyone who might read this that dosn't know what a snag list is - it's a list of everything that is wrong with the property inside and out, including windows, doors, locks, any fittings. electrical points, electrical equipment, floors, ceilings, walls, electrical and water supplys, electric and water meters, TV/Satellite pre-installation wiring. This list can also include community areas of which as part of the community are legally a percentage of your investment (eg a communal access point such as gates, paths, stairs, etc)

Get this sorted out BEFORE you complete and get the owner/promoter to SIGN it and have at least two copies signed by all parties concerned.

A snag list without the signature of the owner/promoter isn't worth the ink on the paper, leave alone the paper.

Go around the property with a magnifying glass and a fine tooth comb .... look at the corners of the walls and ceilings for any stress marks due to settling of the property. Do this inside and out. Any cracks in the wall render (inside and out), blemishs to the paint work/finish (inside and out), make sure all windows and doors both internal and external are fitted properly and locks work ok.

Check all the electircal points and light switches work. Run the water in the sink, the bath(s)/Showers(s) and flush the toilet(s) and make sure the water drains ok.

Check the drainage is adequate on any and all terraces and that there aren't ANY cracks between the tiles - because when it rains in Spain, it rains and if their isn't adequte drainage and there are cracks between the tiles, then you will get water inside your property - this happend to us and 18 months on I've given up tyring to get the owner/promoter to fix this under the 10 year building guarantee and am going to fork out €3,500 and get it done, then I'm going to pass the bill to my lawyers and get them to chase the promoter though the courts (I don't care if it takes years)

Oh, and don't forget the water heater(s) and any pre-installed Air Conditioning/Heating system.

Don't let them fob you off and say 'we'll do this after completion' - that's what happend to us and as I said 18 months on and still 'Nada'. Your lawyer has the right to delay completion until the snag list survey has been undertaken and signed/agreed by all parties.

If you don't want to delay completion then ask your lawyer to get a written agreement from the builder/promoter before completion, agreeing to a specified time limit after completion, during which any and all problems that you identifiy during this time scale will be fixed within a subsequent time scale

Eg. They give you two weeks to look at everything and then agree to get it fixed within six weeks (which will be more like six months if your lucky).

At least if your lawyer does this for you, it may take awhile, but at least it will be done without any expense to yourselves. 

Superdon - dont worry too much, get through notary and then get ratted!

Enjoy!

Just what Rixxy & Justin ordered for you, superdon, as modelled by Rixxy herself, only kidding.

That was me in my earlier guises!!!

I think I have that many mobiles though!!!

Cheers all. I like the getting ratted idea. Will do that!

Rixxy/morerosado - I thought that was some kind of suicide bomb device in that pic  I know now isnt a great time to complete on a Spanish property.....but surely things arent that bad?

We completed in December and you need plenty of Euors - believe me Spain really relieves you of them - the water , electricity, lawyers fees, notary fees ( the biggest rip -off)   the bank charges even if you bank with the same bank as the developer.  50 Eurso in a Spanish bank will just disappear.

Don't  be in too  big a hurray to furnish - take your time and get what you want .    I know  what it is like you are dying to get that apartment up and  running and companies know that .  Watch the companies that provide a full service . Look and see what say curtains would cost you at home - that is what we are doing . If you are moving to the CDS  it is well worth the time to shop in Gibraltar .    We could have saved a small fortune if we had bought pillows , cutlery etc there.  Remember they have a Morrison's which sells quite nice kitchen utensils/ bed linen ( a sheet is a sheet anywhere)  .    Anything that is predominately British and can be brought from home - do so .  I have brought all my towels , bed linen etc but beware of the size of a Spanish king size bed - it has been very difficult to find the right size over here and the Spanish duvet sets have that horrible pillow which is no good to us who like a British pillow.  

It may sound silly but paint before the furniture comes.   I think white walls will be boring after a time.  We haven't  completed our painting yet and our furniture is being delivered bit by bit , but our lounge is big enough for us to work around.

Remember to change the lock on the door and  don't forget your household and building Insurance .  You will need some even although you are buying an apartment.   Buy a wallet to keep all your bills etc and buy a safe if you have not already got one.

Last but not least  leave a key with a trusted person so that furntiure can be delivered , but the shops are so helpful they will deliver at your convenience .    You will need a good bottle of red wine to sit out on that balcony . All you really need is a bed to sleep on initially and a table and chairs for the balcony - heavenly.    I wish you all the best - it is so exciting.

Alternatively have a drink before notary and just go with the flow - relax and yes you get the keys at notary as you sign, not before and not a minute after!

Then tell us all where the housewarming party is, I got 3 bottles of cava need using up!!