If you are trying to rent or sell your property in these tough times then a well presented home is crucial to first attract buyers and then to acheive the best price.

Here are our top tips on how best to present your home for the maximum results:

• Clean, clean, clean – this may sound obvious but a clean home is infinitely more desirable and rents or sells much more quickly. It may be a pain – or expensive – to clean and dust your home once a week particularly if you are not there to do it yourself, but there is nothing more offputting than dusty furniture and dirty windows.
• Show show show – try and present your home as you would expect to see a show home – beds made up with towels folded on top as you would find in a hotel, pictures on the wall, candles or flowers on sideboards and no gaps in the furniture where you haven’t got round to buying something yet!
• Bright and Light – a well lit home allows people to really see the property’s best features. If there is good natural light then make sure all blinds are open and curtains well pulled back. If you are short of natural light then invest in some lamps in appropriate places.
• Don’t wait to paint – a quick coat of paint is a swift and cost effective way of sprucing up a home, it is amazing how much better somewhere looks with some fresh Dulux on the walls. Soft colours tend to be more popular with clients and last longer than plain old white.
• Smooth not squeaky – ensure that all wardrobe and patio doors open and close easily and quietly, there is nothing as likely to spoil a clients first impression than if they can’t open a door easily or it complains loudly when they do!

If you are able to use some of these tips we are confident you will have more success with your property, if you looking for a purchaser or a tenant.

You will often people talking of their Gestoria, their lawyer or accountant and it can sometimes be confusing as to who does what.

A Gestoria is probably best defined as a cross between an accountant and a solicitor as we know them in the UK.

A gestoria is a profession which requires the person to undertake formal qualifications and pass exams.

They carry out a variety of tasks including:

• preparing company and individual accounts
• setting up paperwork for small businesses and limited companies
• processing paperwork for purchase and sale of cars
• processing social security documentation
• offering general business advice

A good Gestoria is essential if running a business in Spain and a very useful contact even if you are just residing here.

If you need full legal advice then you are best speaking to a Lawyer (Abogado).

Apartsol can reccommend a number of qualified individuals who will be happy to advise you.

NIE numbers, residencias, green cards, foreigners cards, resident, non-resident, what does it all mean, and how do you know what or who you are?!

When moving to Spain you will hear lots of people talking about some or all of the above, and it probably won’t make sense! To understand a bit more it is best to travel back in time a little….

Before January 2007 the Spanish authorities required that any EU national living in Spain (that is here for more than 3 months) obtained a Residencia Card from the National Police. This involved fingerprints, passport photos and the end result was a little wallet sized card you carried around with you. Some foreigners didn’t bother with this and it was just about possible to do without if you weren’t too involved with buying a house, business and so on.

Since January 2007 EU law has removed the obligation to hold a Residents Card as we are all European these days and Spain was not allowed to discriminate against foreigners by demanding they apply for and use this card.

However Spain was a little grumpy about this so have instead requested that EU nationals apply for a Foreigners ID Paper (a single document on green paper), which they ask you to present if you want to go on the electoral roll, enrol children in school, wish to upgrade or change your driving licence etc. So, you can still live in Spain without this ID paper, however you cannot particpate fully in all aspects of local life that you may wish too.

The good news is that it only requires a 6 euros administration fee and a few hours at the local police station submitting forms to receive your ID paper. Apartsol can help you with this.

NIE numbers (numero de identificacion de extranjeros) are regarded as essential in Spain, and are applied for at the same time as the ID paper and are included in the same 6 euro administration fee.

An NIE number is similar to a National Insurance number in the UK and basically allows the Government to charge you tax. It is therefore essential to have as it allows you to carry out any activity which involves tax, including:

• working and receiving a wage
• earning money from renting your property
• buying or selling property
• buying a car
• having a mobile phone contract

Again, Apartsol can help you with the forms for this – we keep a supply in the office.

The terms resident and non resident used to be used frequently in relation to tax issues when selling property and applying for mortgages as there were different rates applicable depending on your status. Again, since January 2007 this has been declared illegal by the EU and the rates are now the same. However it is best to consult a local tax adviser regarding your tax status when moving to Spain.

Apartsol have a good grounding of this knowledge having made the move ourselves and will be happy to answer any questions that we can, and can also recomend some local advisers who will normally be happy to have a quick chat for free to help you get started.

When moving to a new country there is a lot to consider: where to live, where to work, should I bring my pets, and not least, where can my children go to school.

The Spanish state education system is generally recognised as being of a good standard and most British children settle quite quickly.

Due to the large expatriate population on the Costa del Sol most Spanish schools will have about 25% of their intake originating from the UK so normally children will find friends pretty quickly. The teachers are also used to adapting their lessons for the needs of pupils who don’t have a full grasp of the local language.

Most state schools provide after hours Spanish lessons for the children free of charge so they can catch up quickly – indeed most parents find their children are very soon transformed into useful translators for their parents!

To enrol at a state school you will normally have to submit the following documents:

• Completed enrolment forms (usually available from the local town hall)
• Copy of your rental contract or house deeds
• Copies of your passports
• Proof you are on the electoral roll (padron)

Bear in mind that if you are moving to Spain in the Spring it is quite common for the schools to ask your children to wait until September before starting.

As good as the state schools are, they are not necessarily the best option for all children: if your child is approaching or part way through their GCSE’s, has difficulty mixing with other children or you are only planning a short stay in Spain and anticipating they will need to return to the British curriculum soon then a Private school may be better suited.

These are often known as International Schools on the Costa del Sol as they cater for a wide variety of nationalities and also a surprisingly high number of Spanish students who attend for the more personalised teaching and broader curriculum.

Some of the International Colleges are:

• Sunland International School is near Pizzara, Cartama
• Benalmádena International College
• The Tutorial College Mijas Costa
• International School Estepona
• Aloha College Nueva Andalucia
• Mayfair College near San Pedro
• Long established, the Sunnyview School is close to Torremolinos offering primary and secondary school education. Phone 952 383164

These are just a selection of the schools available in this part of Spain.

If you would like any more information regarding schooling in Spain just drop us a note and we will do our best to help

New Ryanair Links to Liverpool & East Midlands

From April 1^st the low cost airline Ryanair has opened a new route from Malaga to Liverpool with three flights per week.

Also new for Summer 2008 is a regular Ryanair service from Malaga to Nottingham East Midlands Airport.

This will be followed in May by a link from Malaga to Marseilles with a twice weekly frequency.

Although the budget airlines’ reach is expanding all the time did you know over 25% of Easyjets flights already touch down each week in Malaga!

Investment in infrastructure pays off.

One of the many strengths of the Costa del Sol as a place to live and work is the fantastic infrastructure built up over more than 40 years of tourism.

Despite what seems like almost global ‘doom and gloom’ Malaga & the Costa del Sol received a huge increase in new visitors in January thanks to new investment in the AVE high speed train network and the local tourist board’s commitment to marketing Malaga as a cruise ship destination.

The latest figures from the Costa del Sol Tourist Board show an 75% increase in the number of people arriving in Malaga via cruise ships (compared to 2007) and a massive 154% rise in the number of visitors arriving by rail thanks to the new AVE high spaid rail link from Madrid.

The Cruise ship passengers are’ treated to local tours of the Capital’s historic sights and provide a valuable boost to the local economy.

The AVE rail link is now increasing the Costa del Sol’s popularity as a short break destination of choice for Spanish residents looking for a relaxing few days on the Costas. Their tourist euros are being spent in Hotels, apartments, restaurants and bars alike, giving extra impetus to the businesses on the Costa del Sol.

These are just 2 examples of the new modern Costa del Sol which is stepping up to become the true all year round destination of choice in Spain.

Malaga

The capital of the Costa del Sol enjoys one of the finest climates to be found anywhere in Europe.

Malaga is the major coastal city of Andalucia and is a genuine and typical Andaluz city with a gritty individualism untouched by tourism and the passage of time. The Moors occupied the city until the mid fifteenth century, after which it grew to become one of the foremost merchant centers in the entire Iberian Peninsula. This illustrious past has left its imprint on the historic centre, particularly around La Alcazaba, a fortress that dates back to 1065 and is now a fascinating archaeological museum.

Malaga’s old town is charming, with narrow streets that still have a Moorish air, Baroque facades and little squares, and the hidden corners that preserve a nineteenth century air.

There is plenty to see in both the old part of the city and in its more populated neighborhoods, next to the port or the beach at El Palo. Garden lovers won’t be disappointed in Malaga either. I

n the centre of the city is the beautiful Alameda Gardens, and just outside on the way to Antequera one finds the extensive Jardines de la Concepción.

Málaga airport is of course on of the major airports in Spain due to the number of tourist arrivals on charter flights from Northern Europe using Malaga airport as a gateway to the Costa del Sol.

Arroyo de la Miel
Arroyo de la Miel, whose name means “river of honey” is the populated area between the mountains and the coast in the region of Benalmadena.

This is where most of the area’s population and businesses are located and it has a wide range of attractions including a sports complex, bilingual library and the world famous theme park Tivoli World. It is also where the cable car to the mountain peak starts from. Arroyo offers a wide selection of café bars, restaurants, supermarkets, banks and a health clinic.

Arroyo de la Miel is only 15 minutes by train from Malaga International Airport or a 10 minute journey by taxi. The train from here runs from Malaga centre to Fuengirola via the airport. It stops at Arroyo on the hour and half hour. Fuengirola is just seven minutes away and Torremolinos only five minutes away by train.

There is a regular bus service to Benalmadena Pueblo, Mijas, Fuengirola, Malaga and Marbella.

Mijas
At first sight Mijas is the Andaluz pueblo blanco par excellence – its ancient white-washed houses clinging to the hillside surrounded by some of the best coastal views in Spain.

In fact its beauty – and easy access from the coast – has made it a ‘mini resort’ in its own right with some 90% of the population now of foreign origin. Since the sixties many artists and other crafts people have made their home here and the town now boasts a wide range of bars, cafés and restaurants for the visitors coming here on a day trip basis – as well as those staying in villas nearby.

There is a thriving arts and crafts movement in Mijas, particularly linen and wicker items and the locally made bread and honey is definitely worth trying. Still on a culinary note, the traditional local fare includes gazpachuelo (an egg soup) and for those with a sweeter tooth, there are the typical cakes made with almonds, called bunuelos and homazos.

One of the most interesting buildings in Mijas is the hermitage of El Puerto which can be spied, just about everywhere in the village, appropriately enough, halfway up a mountain! Keep looking and you may just catch a glimpse a hand glider wafting over the peak.

Mijas is also well positioned for some of the area’s championship golf courses – including Los Lagos and Los Olivos – and the panoramic views really are superb!

The Costa del Sol has a huge range of sights and delights to enjoy – how many of these have you seen?

1. Ronda – a beautiful old Spanish village set in the mountains with stunning views.
2. Puerto Banus – treat yourself to a day of star spotting portside where all the celebrities hangout and where every other car is a Ferrari.
3. Sierra Nevada ski resort – just 2 hours drive from Malaga is Andalucia’s very own ski resort.
4. Club Municial de Hielo, Benalmadena – try your hand at Ice Skating on Benalmadena’s brand new Ice Rink, the only one in Andalucia.
5. Los Burros – Mijas Pueblo is an authentic Andalusian village and you can take a donkey ride to see all it has to offer at a most leisurely pace.
6. A true wonder? The Alhambra Palace in Granda is acknowledged as one of the 7 modern wonders of the world – well worth a look, but don’t forget to book
7. Wonky Wonder – known as ‘the wonky’ in Spanish, Malaga’s Cathedral is so named as it has a tower at only 3 of it’s 4 corners.
8. Stalactites & Stalacmites – Nerja is home to some fabulous underground caves only discovered in 1959 and they are now Spain’s 3rd most visited tourist attraction.