What do you wish you had known, but had to find out the hard way?
#1
What do you wish you had known, but had to find out the hard way?
We have been thinking of preparing a sort of guide or manual to help people who are moving over to Spain (or just buying a holiday home here) get through the most obviously problems they encounter when the make the transition. A bit like that Buying a Property In Spain book, but more localised with local info. And not a book, just a collection of bits of A4 paper really.
I´ve been thinking a bit about the contents, and would like a few more suggestions. So what sort of information would have helped you no end when you bought your house?
The contents so far (in no particular order):
Obtaining an NIE/Tarjeta de Residencia
Local emergency telephone numbers (police, fire, etc)
Useful telephone numbers (town hall, )
Furniture shops/packs.
List of local english speaking solicitors.
Local press/radio
Local services - water/gas/electric/telephone
Touristy places to visit in the area
English speaking banks
Spanish academies
Golf courses
Annual festivities
Where to buy mosquito screens and canopys.
Where to buy air con units
A list of rental management companies
A list of web based rental companies
Spanish taxes explained
Cheap airlines
Transport - bus, taxi, train
I realise that the list could go on and on. I just want to think of the most obvious things the people want and need when they first arrive here. What do you think?
I´ve been thinking a bit about the contents, and would like a few more suggestions. So what sort of information would have helped you no end when you bought your house?
The contents so far (in no particular order):
Obtaining an NIE/Tarjeta de Residencia
Local emergency telephone numbers (police, fire, etc)
Useful telephone numbers (town hall, )
Furniture shops/packs.
List of local english speaking solicitors.
Local press/radio
Local services - water/gas/electric/telephone
Touristy places to visit in the area
English speaking banks
Spanish academies
Golf courses
Annual festivities
Where to buy mosquito screens and canopys.
Where to buy air con units
A list of rental management companies
A list of web based rental companies
Spanish taxes explained
Cheap airlines
Transport - bus, taxi, train
I realise that the list could go on and on. I just want to think of the most obvious things the people want and need when they first arrive here. What do you think?
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: El Cotin, Chiclana
Posts: 297
Re: What do you wish you had known, but had to find out the hard way?
It is a good idea, we would have loved to have something like that when we first arrived. The one thing that on first glance appears to be missing is how to choose a bank account.
I will see if I can think of anything else.
Yvonne
I will see if I can think of anything else.
Yvonne
#3
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: El Cotin, Chiclana
Posts: 297
Re: What do you wish you had known, but had to find out the hard way?
I can see that a banking topic is included but people may find it useful to know which have branches in the UK (making transfers easier and cheaper) and which offer internet banking.
#4
Re: What do you wish you had known, but had to find out the hard way?
Keith - a laudable task you're undertaking here and a bit of a minefield too in some aspects, where the goalposts for "how-to..../where to..." might change. I don't know where you live but a lot would depend too on the area you are trying to cover.
Many people have been helped through a website such as this, and/or others which are particular to their locations, like andalucia.com (Costa del Sol) or mycadiz.biz (Costa de la Luz) where there is a wealth of information. The Ayamonte thread on this forum gives a lot of support and info. to people buying there.
http://www.costaluzspain.com. This website has a directory of towns and its resources and which languages are spoken.
It might help to break it down by having a look at some other threads and see themes which keep cropping up, such as...
Parents always want to know about schools and what the education is like.
Many people want to know about cars - matriculating, insuring, transferring ownership etc.
Legal questions, tax obligations.
Cultural, leisure and travel are other topics where there is so much info. to be had on the web, as well as books about Spain, especially Rough Guide to..... and visiting the Turismo offices.
Local medical centres, location of hospitals, eligibility for free medical care all preoccupy people of all ages.
Postal services - how do folk get their mail.
For people who arrive speaking very little Spanish, where to find an independent interpreter/translator would be vital, I think.
And lastly, how would you get this information out to people - are there places where expatriates are to be found where you could leave your info.
sheets. You could add a list of useful websites for those who have access to internet.
I don't know if these are the kind of things you're considering. Good luck with this - I'm sure it's going to be useful.
Many people have been helped through a website such as this, and/or others which are particular to their locations, like andalucia.com (Costa del Sol) or mycadiz.biz (Costa de la Luz) where there is a wealth of information. The Ayamonte thread on this forum gives a lot of support and info. to people buying there.
http://www.costaluzspain.com. This website has a directory of towns and its resources and which languages are spoken.
It might help to break it down by having a look at some other threads and see themes which keep cropping up, such as...
Parents always want to know about schools and what the education is like.
Many people want to know about cars - matriculating, insuring, transferring ownership etc.
Legal questions, tax obligations.
Cultural, leisure and travel are other topics where there is so much info. to be had on the web, as well as books about Spain, especially Rough Guide to..... and visiting the Turismo offices.
Local medical centres, location of hospitals, eligibility for free medical care all preoccupy people of all ages.
Postal services - how do folk get their mail.
For people who arrive speaking very little Spanish, where to find an independent interpreter/translator would be vital, I think.
And lastly, how would you get this information out to people - are there places where expatriates are to be found where you could leave your info.
sheets. You could add a list of useful websites for those who have access to internet.
I don't know if these are the kind of things you're considering. Good luck with this - I'm sure it's going to be useful.
#5
Re: What do you wish you had known, but had to find out the hard way?
Originally Posted by Arco-Iris
Keith - a laudable task you're undertaking here and a bit of a minefield too in some aspects, where the goalposts for "how-to..../where to..." might change. I don't know where you live but a lot would depend too on the area you are trying to cover.
Many people have been helped through a website such as this, and/or others which are particular to their locations, like andalucia.com (Costa del Sol) or mycadiz.biz (Costa de la Luz) where there is a wealth of information. The Ayamonte thread on this forum gives a lot of support and info. to people buying there.
http://www.costaluzspain.com. This website has a directory of towns and its resources and which languages are spoken.
It might help to break it down by having a look at some other threads and see themes which keep cropping up, such as...
Parents always want to know about schools and what the education is like.
Many people want to know about cars - matriculating, insuring, transferring ownership etc.
Legal questions, tax obligations.
Cultural, leisure and travel are other topics where there is so much info. to be had on the web, as well as books about Spain, especially Rough Guide to..... and visiting the Turismo offices.
Local medical centres, location of hospitals, eligibility for free medical care all preoccupy people of all ages.
Postal services - how do folk get their mail.
For people who arrive speaking very little Spanish, where to find an independent interpreter/translator would be vital, I think.
And lastly, how would you get this information out to people - are there places where expatriates are to be found where you could leave your info.
sheets. You could add a list of useful websites for those who have access to internet.
I don't know if these are the kind of things you're considering. Good luck with this - I'm sure it's going to be useful.
Many people have been helped through a website such as this, and/or others which are particular to their locations, like andalucia.com (Costa del Sol) or mycadiz.biz (Costa de la Luz) where there is a wealth of information. The Ayamonte thread on this forum gives a lot of support and info. to people buying there.
http://www.costaluzspain.com. This website has a directory of towns and its resources and which languages are spoken.
It might help to break it down by having a look at some other threads and see themes which keep cropping up, such as...
Parents always want to know about schools and what the education is like.
Many people want to know about cars - matriculating, insuring, transferring ownership etc.
Legal questions, tax obligations.
Cultural, leisure and travel are other topics where there is so much info. to be had on the web, as well as books about Spain, especially Rough Guide to..... and visiting the Turismo offices.
Local medical centres, location of hospitals, eligibility for free medical care all preoccupy people of all ages.
Postal services - how do folk get their mail.
For people who arrive speaking very little Spanish, where to find an independent interpreter/translator would be vital, I think.
And lastly, how would you get this information out to people - are there places where expatriates are to be found where you could leave your info.
sheets. You could add a list of useful websites for those who have access to internet.
I don't know if these are the kind of things you're considering. Good luck with this - I'm sure it's going to be useful.
I'll certainly be using the web for the bulk of my investigation, but just wanted to use this forum to help me get the topic headings.
My area is Costa de la Luz, so whilst the content will be specific to that area, the topic headings I would have thought would be the same whereever you are.
I started out on this idea to help my friends and family who will be moving out here fairly soon - especially my technophobic mother who can´t even turn a computer on let alone navigate the web to find useful info. Also, a lot of the info (tourist, tel numbers, car rental,transport, festivals, etc) I could extract from the main guide and compile a sort of "Welcome Info Pack" to leave in my apartment for the rentees when I start renting it out.
It´s not a money making venture and I don't plan to spend hours and hours doing it. Just a good idea and a way to keep me out of trouble for a while!
#6
Re: What do you wish you had known, but had to find out the hard way?
Originally Posted by keithwalters
We have been thinking of preparing a sort of guide or manual to help people who are moving over to Spain (or just buying a holiday home here) get through the most obviously problems they encounter when the make the transition. A bit like that Buying a Property In Spain book, but more localised with local info. And not a book, just a collection of bits of A4 paper really.
I´ve been thinking a bit about the contents, and would like a few more suggestions. So what sort of information would have helped you no end when you bought your house?
The contents so far (in no particular order):
Obtaining an NIE/Tarjeta de Residencia
Local emergency telephone numbers (police, fire, etc)
Useful telephone numbers (town hall, )
Furniture shops/packs.
List of local english speaking solicitors.
Local press/radio
Local services - water/gas/electric/telephone
Touristy places to visit in the area
English speaking banks
Spanish academies
Golf courses
Annual festivities
Where to buy mosquito screens and canopys.
Where to buy air con units
A list of rental management companies
A list of web based rental companies
Spanish taxes explained
Cheap airlines
Transport - bus, taxi, train
I realise that the list could go on and on. I just want to think of the most obvious things the people want and need when they first arrive here. What do you think?
I´ve been thinking a bit about the contents, and would like a few more suggestions. So what sort of information would have helped you no end when you bought your house?
The contents so far (in no particular order):
Obtaining an NIE/Tarjeta de Residencia
Local emergency telephone numbers (police, fire, etc)
Useful telephone numbers (town hall, )
Furniture shops/packs.
List of local english speaking solicitors.
Local press/radio
Local services - water/gas/electric/telephone
Touristy places to visit in the area
English speaking banks
Spanish academies
Golf courses
Annual festivities
Where to buy mosquito screens and canopys.
Where to buy air con units
A list of rental management companies
A list of web based rental companies
Spanish taxes explained
Cheap airlines
Transport - bus, taxi, train
I realise that the list could go on and on. I just want to think of the most obvious things the people want and need when they first arrive here. What do you think?
One thing is that your lists would have to be area specific, as many of the things listed, if applied to Benidorm, would be useless to say the Mar Menor.
#7
Re: What do you wish you had known, but had to find out the hard way?
Originally Posted by keithwalters
Thanks - I don't plan to go overboard with this. Maybe stop at the top 20 most important topics as I see them.
I'll certainly be using the web for the bulk of my investigation, but just wanted to use this forum to help me get the topic headings.
My area is Costa de la Luz, so whilst the content will be specific to that area, the topic headings I would have thought would be the same whereever you are.
I started out on this idea to help my friends and family who will be moving out here fairly soon - especially my technophobic mother who can´t even turn a computer on let alone navigate the web to find useful info. Also, a lot of the info (tourist, tel numbers, car rental,transport, festivals, etc) I could extract from the main guide and compile a sort of "Welcome Info Pack" to leave in my apartment for the rentees when I start renting it out.
It´s not a money making venture and I don't plan to spend hours and hours doing it. Just a good idea and a way to keep me out of trouble for a while!
I'll certainly be using the web for the bulk of my investigation, but just wanted to use this forum to help me get the topic headings.
My area is Costa de la Luz, so whilst the content will be specific to that area, the topic headings I would have thought would be the same whereever you are.
I started out on this idea to help my friends and family who will be moving out here fairly soon - especially my technophobic mother who can´t even turn a computer on let alone navigate the web to find useful info. Also, a lot of the info (tourist, tel numbers, car rental,transport, festivals, etc) I could extract from the main guide and compile a sort of "Welcome Info Pack" to leave in my apartment for the rentees when I start renting it out.
It´s not a money making venture and I don't plan to spend hours and hours doing it. Just a good idea and a way to keep me out of trouble for a while!
A very handy bit of info if you are on holiday.
And also get them to write the address down to show the taxi driver in case they get lost
#8
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 143
Re: What do you wish you had known, but had to find out the hard way?
If its for visitors how about siesta times and whether the shops are open on a Sunday?
For people buying how about some information on pools?
For people buying how about some information on pools?
#9
Re: What do you wish you had known, but had to find out the hard way?
Originally Posted by YMF
I can see that a banking topic is included but people may find it useful to know which have branches in the UK (making transfers easier and cheaper) and which offer internet banking.
Lin
#10
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Cartama, Malaga
Posts: 1,168
Re: What do you wish you had known, but had to find out the hard way?
how hard it is to get a job.
national bank holidays and local ones too.
the severity of the guardia civil.
the "no holds barred" attitude of all the police. they WILL assume you are drunk and comitting a crime whenever they stop you.
the way english music (cds) are impossible to find.
national bank holidays and local ones too.
the severity of the guardia civil.
the "no holds barred" attitude of all the police. they WILL assume you are drunk and comitting a crime whenever they stop you.
the way english music (cds) are impossible to find.
#11
Re: What do you wish you had known, but had to find out the hard way?
Originally Posted by bfg69bug
how hard it is to get a job.
national bank holidays and local ones too.
the severity of the guardia civil.
the "no holds barred" attitude of all the police. they WILL assume you are drunk and comitting a crime whenever they stop you.
the way english music (cds) are impossible to find.
national bank holidays and local ones too.
the severity of the guardia civil.
the "no holds barred" attitude of all the police. they WILL assume you are drunk and comitting a crime whenever they stop you.
the way english music (cds) are impossible to find.
I might hold back on the anti-police theme though!
And to expand on the english music idea, I might include a list of places where you can obtain english products. M&S online. That sort of thing.
#12
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2003
Location: Cartama, Malaga
Posts: 1,168
Re: What do you wish you had known, but had to find out the hard way?
Originally Posted by keithwalters
I might hold back on the anti-police theme though!
#13
Re: What do you wish you had known, but had to find out the hard way?
Originally Posted by bfg69bug
so its going to be another "spain is great" book then ?
And it is a guide to just help people settle into their new home. Useful tips. that´s all.
I´m not sure what your qualifications are, but people trip over themselves to employ a Spanish speaking Brit in this area. They are a rare commodity. The Spanish around here generally don´t have a very high level of english. Why don´t you move?
#14
Re: What do you wish you had known, but had to find out the hard way?
If there is loads of building, there is a corrupt mayor ticking the boxes, and your first paragraph will follow soon
#15
Re: What do you wish you had known, but had to find out the hard way?
Originally Posted by keithwalters
Good idea re bank holidays, etc.
I might hold back on the anti-police theme though!
And to expand on the english music idea, I might include a list of places where you can obtain english products. M&S online. That sort of thing.
I might hold back on the anti-police theme though!
And to expand on the english music idea, I might include a list of places where you can obtain english products. M&S online. That sort of thing.