Holiday homes are often sold furnished, particularly apartments, although furniture may be of poor quality and not to your taste. However, buying a furnished property can represent a bargain, as the cost of the furnishings often isn’t reflected in the price. If you’re buying a new property as an investment for letting, some developers or agents will arrange to furnish it for you.
If you plan to furnish a holiday home with antiques or expensive modern furniture, bear in mind that you will need adequate security and insurance. If you own a holiday home in Spain, it may be worthwhile shipping surplus items of furniture you have in your home abroad. If you intend to live permanently in Spain in the future and already have a house full of good furniture abroad, there’s little point in buying expensive furniture in Spain. However, many foreigners who decide to live permanently in Spain find that it’s sometimes better to sell their furniture abroad rather than bring it to Spain, as the furniture isn’t suitable for the climate and house styles.
A wide range of modern and traditional furniture is available at reasonable prices. Modern furniture is popular and is often sold in huge stores in commercial centres and reasonably priced furniture can also be purchased from large hypermarkets and IKEA in Asturias, the Balearics, Barcelona, Bilbao, the Canaries, Madrid and Seville. Pine and cane furniture is inexpensive and widely available. If you’re looking for classic modern furniture, you may wish to try Roche Bobois. Department stores such as El Corte Inglés also sell a wide range of (mostly up-market) furniture.
If you’re buying a large quantity of furniture, don’t be reluctant to ask for a reduction, as most stores will give you a discount. The best time to buy is during the sales. Most furniture stores also offer special deals on complete furniture packages, e.g. from around €5,000 to totally furnish a two-bedroom apartment. It’s possible for residents to pay for furniture and large household appliances over 12 months interest-free or over five years (with interest).
If you’re looking for antique furniture at affordable prices, you may find a few bargains at antique and flea markets in rural areas. However, you must drive a hard bargain, as the asking prices are often ridiculous, particularly in tourist areas during the summer. There’s a reasonable market for second-hand furniture in Spain and many sellers and dealers advertise in the expatriate press.
There are do-it-yourself (DIY) hypermarkets (such as Akí and Leroy Merlin) in most areas, selling everything for the home, including furniture, bathrooms, kitchens, decorating and lighting, plus services such as tool rental and wood cutting.
Household Goods
Household goods in Spain are generally of high quality and although the choice isn’t as wide as in some other European countries, it has improved considerably in recent years. Electrical items have traditionally been more expensive in Spain, although the gap has narrowed and prices are now comparable (particularly in hypermarkets). Note, however, that Spanish-made appliances, electrical apparatus and consumer goods aren’t always the most reliable and they’re sometimes of eccentric design. A wide range of imported brands are also available.
Bear in mind when importing household goods that aren’t sold in Spain, that it may be difficult or impossible to get them repaired or serviced locally (however, should you need to get something repaired, there are strict rules to protect consumers). If you import appliances, don’t forget to bring a supply of spares and consumables such as bulbs for a refrigerator or sewing machine, and spare bags for a vacuum cleaner. Note that the standard size of kitchen appliances and cupboard units in Spain isn’t the same as in other countries and it may be difficult to fit an imported dishwasher or washing machine into a Spanish kitchen. Check the size and the latest Spanish safety regulations before shipping these items to Spain or buying them abroad, as they may need expen­sive modifications.
Spanish washing machines take in cold water ONLY and heat it in the machine, which makes machines that take in hot water (such as those sold in the US) obsolete.
If you already own small household appliances it’s worthwhile bringing them to Spain, as usually all that’s required is a change of plug. However, if you’re coming from a country with a 110/115V electricity supply such as the US, you will need a lot of expensive transformers, so it’s usually better to buy new appliances in Spain. Don’t bring a TV or video recorder without checking its compatibility first, as TVs made for other countries often don’t work in Spain without modification.
If your need is only temporary, many electrical and other household items (such as beds, cots/highchairs, electric fans, refrigerators, heaters and air conditioners), can be rented. Tools and DIY equipment can also be rented in most towns. There are DIY hypermarkets such as Akí and Leroy Merlin in most areas, although DIY equipment and supplies are generally more expensive than in many other EU countries (many items are imported).
If you need kitchen measuring equipment and cannot cope with decimal measures, you must bring your own measuring scales, jugs, cups and thermometers. Foreign pillow sizes (e.g. American and British) aren’t the same as in Spain, although various sizes can be purchased in stores such as El Corte Inglés.
This article is an extract from Buying a home in Spain. Click here to get a copy now.