Setting up your home in Spain

by Chrissy Dawson

Moving furniture:Whether you are selling up and moving to Spain for good, or you simply want to shift the odd sofa and dining table to your holiday home, you need to find a removal company who is experienced, efficient and fully insured. Choose a removal company that specialises in moving to Spain and make sure they have a proven track record and that they can provide references. Ask for a written quote which details all charges and any possible extra charges that may be incurred for packing, moving larger items or storage.Prices can vary considerably depending on the company, so get several quotes before deciding who you are going to use. Professional companies will send someone to your home to assess what needs to be transported before they give you a quote. It is highly advisable to pay for insurance, which usually costs about one or two percent of the total value of your goods. You do not need to pay for customs clearance from the UK.A good removal company should be able to ship your load from the UK and other northern European countries within three days and give you an exact arrival date.It is a good idea to choose a company affiliated to EuRA (the European Relocation Association), the industry body for relocation companies in Europe. Its 236 member companies worldwide must adhere to the EuRA's rules of conduct. See EuRa's website www.eura-relocation.com (tel. 00 44 870 072 6727) for a list of companies who specialise in moving to Spain.Buying furniture packages:There is a wide range of interior design shops and furniture showrooms on the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca. If you'd rather avoid days spent traipsing around though, there's an easier and quicker option which is to buy a complete or partial furniture package. The showrooms will also deliver and install the furniture. You may choose to kit out the whole property down to the last teaspoon from one shop, which typically costs from around 12,000 euros for a two-bedroom apartment. This is a popular option among owners who intend to rent out the property or use it only occasionally themselves for holidays.You needn't worry about having an identical décor to your neighbour's either as the packages come in a huge variety of styles from traditional Spanish to classic British, antique to modern or cosy cottagey to minimalist and streamlined, to suit all tastes and budgets. You can also mix and match and modify details within packages to add your individual flair. Allow plenty of time for delivery as your requested package may not be immediately available.In Costa del Sol, stores offering furniture packages include the English-run Casa de Casa Interior Design in Marbella, with prices starting at 13,000 euros to furnish a one-bedroom apartment. Mabrideco Decoración and Decoración Belamar near Marbella and Newmobel in Mijas Costa. CU-inspain sells packages for properties in Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca or Costa Calida. El Corte Inglés is Spain's largest department store and has large furniture, household and linen departments. It also arranges delivery. There are branches in Puerto Banus, Marbella and Málaga. Ikea has also recently opened in Seville, just off the A49 Seville-Huelva motorway at the Castilleja de la Cuesta exit.You can also discuss your requirements for furnishing your Spanish property with your member estate agent, who may offer accompanied furniture shopping trips as part of their after-sales package or can recommend quality shops and suppliers.Check out www.completelyfurniture.com for a broad range of furniture packages selected from various suppliers.Setting up utilities: Electricity:Once you have bought your Spanish property, check all past bills have been paid, and then sign a contract with the local electricity company to start from the day you move in. Grupo Endesa (tel. 900 737 373) is the biggest in Spain, with various regional offshoots including Sevillana Endesa in Andalucia. Iberdrola (tel. 901 202 020), the second leading company, serves various regions including the Costa Blanca.You can usually register online or by phone rather than needing to visit a branch. Make sure you have you passport, bills/contract from previous owner and the reference number for your electricity supply on a past bill if possible. Bills arrive every two months. If it is based on an estimate, make sure you know how to read the meter to check you are not being overcharged. The easiest way to pay is by direct debit from a Spanish bank account. Otherwise, you can pay in cash at post offices, local banks listed on the bill or at the electricity company's office. Gas:Mains gas is only available in the main cities in Spain. Elsewhere, gas is supplied in canisters (bombonas) which are delivered to your home and are far more economical than mains gas, though awkward to carry and prone to run out at the most inconvenient times. The supplier is Repsol (901 100 100).If your house in Spain has mains gas, contact the local gas company to switch the gas on, read the meter and provide a supply contract.Gas Natural (tel. 900 760 760) is the main supplier throughout Spain. Its regional supplier for the Costa del Sol is Gas Andalucia (954 48 01 00).Endesa (tel. 900 737 373) supplies gas and electricity. You will be billed every two months and - as with electricity bills - the best way to pay is by direct debit through a Spanish bank account.Water:Water is controlled by the local municipality and charges can range from 50-300 euros to install water in your home in an urban area or up to 1,500 euros in rural areas. There is usually a quarterly charge for a minimum consumption, even if you don't use any water during the billing period. Check bills each quarter as they can often be inaccurate.To transfer a water contract into your name, go to your local town hall with your passport (or residence card) and previous bills from the former owner. Non-residents will also need to give their foreign address.The water companies which supply the Costa del Sol are Acosol (tel. 95 283 93 29) in the Marbella area and Emasa (tel. 952 135 013 or 900 777 420) around Malaga.Installing a telephone:This requires dealing with Telefonica, the national phone company which owns all the cabling in Spain. Great patience is required, although they do have English-speaking staff. Dial 1004 - a free number - and ask for their "servicio inglés" - or see their English website www.telefonicainenglish.com An engineer will install the line within a few days, for which you will be charged 110 euros, usually spread over the next three bills. Line rental costs approximately 30 euros for two months.There are six other phone companies in Spain - including Tele 2 (901 107 366), Uni 2 (902 011 412), Auna (015 or 902 500 060) and Jazztel (1565) - but Telefonica is the only company which offers local calls.

Comments? Questions? Email Here

© HowtoAdvice.com

How to Advice .com