Many people flock to the South of Spain and venture into the property market to buy that dream home. They usually start with a holiday to scope out the place, but like any country, being on holiday there is very different to living there. I’d like to add for the record, that living in the Costa del Sol is as fantastic as being on holiday, maybe even better, because we get to enjoy the average 300 days of sunshine that we get all year round. But there are some things you need to know about buying and living in the South of Spain.
Orientation of property
The first thing to talk about is the orientation of your property. Most foreign nationals when buying in the Costa del Sol, more times than not, ask for a south or southwest-facing property so they get the sunshine all day. This sounds amazing, right?But wait… ok sunsets are wonderful but the evening sun in the Summer is harsh, and you might also find yourself down on one of the beautiful beaches in Marbella, enjoying a cool breeze off the sea, watching the sunset from there anyway. The benefit of an east-facing balcony means you get lovely morning light before it gets too hot and, in the evenings, you can sit outside, sheltered from the heat but still enjoy the western sun lighting up your view.
Our point is, you want to be able to use the balconies of your home rather than being roasted alive. The temperatures can be very high in the Summer.
Whatever you choose, we ask you not to discount properties because they have a different orientation to your first expectation but go and see them first and understand how the days and months work with sunrise, sunset and during the day.
External blinds (‘persianas’)
External blinds, or in Spanish ‘persianas’, are not only a Costa del Sol phenomenon but a Mediterranean thing. When I moved to Spain, I always wondered why the Spanish kept these down during the day, keeping their houses dark. I totally get it now! It’s very obvious when you live here but, the sunshine is very bright and very hot. Keeping the blinds down helps to keep the house cool during the day. This is an alternative to using your air conditioning all day long, saving on the electricity bill, and better for the environment.In addition, persianas double as security shutters to ensure your house is secure which is incredibly important whether you live here all year round or not. Plus, they reduce the fading of furniture and curtains by the hot sun.
Marble floors
Before you rip those marble floors up to change for more modern tiles, first think about this. Marble is a widely used material in the South of Spain, primarily because it is very easy to care for and can be ground and polished to a very high gloss. Marble is beautiful in the Summer, as it keeps the house cool and when cared for correctly, it looks great. Sometimes when you are viewing properties, marble floors can look worn, but be assured, once you get a good floor polisher on the job, they will get those marble floors shining like glass.Solar panels
In the last seven years, the cost of adding solar panels in Spain for consumers has improved tenfold. You would have thought this was a given with the sunshine hours we experience, but in past years, the industry has been disadvantaged by consumer taxation. But we are now seeing the industry thriving! More and more companies are offering solutions from outright ownership to investment financing, allowing homeowners to pay back the cost of implementation with monthly payment terms. The time it takes to get your return on the investment is also reducing – it used to be 8-10 years, now some solutions offering as low as three years. You can also choose whether you want an off-grid or on-grid solution (batteries vs feeding the grid).So finally, the industry is moving in the right direction to improved cost of living, and reduced stress on the environment, but be mindful that if you have bought an apartment in a community and have a shared roof, each owner has rights to their portion of that roof. However, the community needs to decide with a vote, how solar energy is to be approached.
Outdoor furniture – dirt and heat
Being so close to North Africa, we experience the sands in the air from the Sahara Desert. Our outdoor furniture knows it too! We recommend that our clients concentrate on sourcing furniture that is easy to clean and that can take very high temperatures. We do not recommend plastic rattan furniture for example because it cracks from the heat after one or two seasons, needing to be replaced. Getting rid of furniture every 1-2 years, is not great for the environment so choose wisely.A top tip though, if you are going to shut your apartment up for periods of time, an even better solution where available, is to bring the furniture inside. Then it will last you the distance.
