Setting up your home in Spain
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 d