Buying
Property handover on the Costa del Sol: a practical checklist
A smooth handover needs more than a set of keys. Prepare an inventory, record meter readings and agree who will explain the home's equipment before moving day.
Published · 3 min read
By Costa de Oro · Real-estate agency · Marbella & Costa del Sol
Start with a written handover plan
Once your advisers have coordinated the purchase arrangements, organise the practical details of taking over the home. Agree who will attend, when access will be available and which items are expected to remain. Keep these arrangements aligned with the purchase documents; a checklist does not change the terms of the sale.
Create one shared list covering keys, equipment, included furniture and questions that need an answer. Give each unresolved item a named contact rather than assuming someone else will handle it.
Check the home against the agreed inventory
Arrange a final visit at a time agreed with the seller and your advisers. Walk through each room with the inventory and record any differences. Check storage rooms, parking spaces and outdoor areas as well as the main accommodation.
If appliances are included, ask for a demonstration of their normal operation. Note any item you cannot check. Photograph relevant discrepancies and send them to your adviser promptly so they can advise on the next step before you make decisions about signing or payment.
Collect every kind of key
An apartment may have separate access arrangements for the pedestrian gate, entrance lobby, garage, storage room and communal facilities. List the number of keys, fobs and remote controls handed over, and confirm what each opens.
Ask how guests, deliveries and tradespeople gain access. For a home with an alarm, intercom or smart controls, arrange the proper transfer of the service or account through its provider. Avoid leaving the new owner dependent on the previous owner's personal account.
Record meters and useful contacts
Where accessible, photograph meter readings and identifying numbers on the agreed handover date. Keep these with the handover notes. Confirm the arrangements for utility account changes with the relevant providers; taking a reading alone does not transfer an account.
Request the contact details for the building administrator or maintenance contact where applicable. Ask how to report a water leak, a failed gate or a communal-access problem. Check the process for booking removals or using a shared lift before moving day.
Learn how the home works
Ask for manuals and a short demonstration of heating, cooling, hot water, shutters and irrigation where present. Locate the electrical panel and water shut-off, without operating unfamiliar equipment yourself. For a villa, request any available pool or garden maintenance instructions and service history.
Save the information somewhere everyone managing the property can find it. If you will leave soon after completion, decide who will hold a spare key and respond to practical issues while you are away.
Keep a first-week checklist
Use the first week to confirm that the practical handover is complete. Keep unresolved items together with the contact responsible for each one.
- Confirm that keys and access devices work.
- Record meter readings and follow up on account transfers.
- Store manuals, guarantees and maintenance contacts.
- Measure rooms before ordering large furniture.
- List unresolved handover items and follow up with the appropriate contact.
Common questions
Is photographing the meters enough?
No. Photographs document the readings, but you still need to confirm and follow the account-transfer process with the providers.
What if an included item is missing?
Record the difference against the agreed inventory and tell your adviser promptly so they can explain the next steps under the transaction terms.
