Buying property: preparation, selection and viewing checklist

1. Decide what you need and why

Define the purpose: a permanent home, second home or investment. Keep different goals distinct.List towns and areas, bedrooms, floor, lift, parking, terrace and acceptable travel times to school, work or the sea.Separate essential features from preferences. Decide whether renovation and a seasonal neighbourhood suit you.

2. Budget for the whole purchase

Set a property price limit and a separate allowance for taxes, completion costs, checks, repairs, furniture and moving. Calculate actual costs for the chosen home.Record your available funds, possible mortgage and monthly running-cost budget. An initial mortgage discussion is not loan approval.Keep a contingency reserve instead of committing every available euro to an advance payment.

3. Prepare buyer information

Start by explaining your circumstances. Gather the complete document pack against an agreed list; do not send a passport to an unknown person just to arrange a viewing.

List buyers, nationalities, country of residence, marital status, intended ownership shares and whether you have a NIE. If not, discuss obtaining one.Have buyer identification ready; for financing, prepare employment, income and existing debt information. Confirm translations and additional documents individually.Decide who will attend completion. Discuss any power of attorney or interpreter in advance.

4. Accounts and payments: agree the plan first

Opening a Spanish account is not a universal first step for every buyer. Article 177 of the Notarial Regulations governs payment identification; it does not set a general requirement to pay only from a Spanish account. A mortgage, banker’s cheque or ongoing payments may require specific banking arrangements.

Agree your specific payment arrangement with the notary, banks and seller before paying. An account’s location alone does not guarantee that a transfer will go through or be accepted.

Record sending and receiving bank countries, currency, account holder, source of funds and payment method. Disclose any third-party payer to the professionals beforehand.Agree source-of-funds documentation, fees, exchange arrangements, transfer limits, timing and confirmation of receipt for completion.Verify the payee through an independent channel. Do not use a new IBAN solely because of a messaging-app instruction.

5. Look beyond the photographs

Walk the actual routes to shops, school, healthcare, transport and parking. Check whether you can manage without a car.Return during the day and evening to assess bars, traffic, noise, lighting and footfall. Ask how the area changes between summer and winter.Check the entrance, shared courtyard, façade, nearby building works and access in rain. Ask a professional about flood exposure if concerned.

6. Windows, light, floor and everyday comfort

Check the orientation of rooms and terrace, direct sun, shade and daylight. Assess the home at different times of day.Open and close windows; check seals, shutters, ventilation and noise with windows closed. See what bedrooms face.Confirm the actual floor, steps before the lift, pushchair access, lift size and furniture access. Ask about the roof on a top floor, and damp and privacy on a low floor.

7. Damp and mould: look past fresh paint

Inspect corners, ceilings, window reveals, behind cupboards and under sinks. Look for stains, blistering, flaking paint and a musty smell.Ask about leaks, condensation, roof repairs and recently repainted patches. Request records of repair work.If concerned, arrange an independent technical inspection before buying. A stain’s colour alone cannot establish its cause, safety or repair cost.

8. Check condition and equipment

With permission, test air conditioning, hot water, pressure, drains, sockets and appliances. Confirm what is included and what the seller removes.Inspect cracks, floors, doors, balcony and terrace. Photos or a single viewing cannot establish structural safety; that requires a professional.Check storage and parking separately: access, dimensions and their treatment in the property documents.

9. Neighbours, community and future costs

Ask about usual noise, shared-area rules, repairs and pool or lift operation. Assess actual living conditions, not neighbours’ backgrounds.Request community charges, IBI and other recurring costs, debt information and approved special assessments. Ask for recent meeting minutes.Check alterations and your intended use. Do not rely solely on the seller’s assurance that letting is permitted.

10. Compare before deciding

For each home, record strengths, drawbacks, likely works, total budget and unanswered questions. Do not choose solely by price per square metre or a view.Confirm documents and transaction terms before an advance. Do not rush a reservation while an important question remains unanswered.

11. Before a reservation or arras

Arrange checks of the owner, signing authority and a recent nota simple. Agree what must be checked before payment.Obtain written terms covering price, dates, amount, recipient, refund or forfeiture, finance and vacant handover. Do not assume every arras contract works alike.Have the draft reviewed before signing. Pause and ask about anything you do not understand.

12. Your first enquiry

“I’m buying for …, preferred area …, property budget …, total budget …, timing …, buyers …, mortgage needed/not needed, funds held in a bank in …, NIE available/not yet. Essential features …”. Full account numbers and documents are not needed in the first message.

TAIRIX INVEST · TORREVIEJA

Free guides. Professional support.

These materials are free to read. Contact Irina and Tairix Invest for property searches and purchase or rental support. Service scope and fees are agreed before work starts.

Irina · Iryna Drahaliova is an API Alicante (APIAL) member, no. A599. Registered in the Comunitat Valenciana real estate agent register: RAICV 5885.

Office: Calle Patricio Pérez, 131, Torrevieja. Visits by appointment.

Contact Irina ↗About Tairix Invest ↗Agency website ↗

+34 692 811 980 · info@tairix.es

Check API Alicante ↗Generalitat register ↗

Keep in mindThese guides and checklists are free to read. They are practical Tairix recommendations, not a universal list of legal requirements. Documents, payments and service terms are agreed for your circumstances.