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