Identify what you are buying
An off-plan purchase starts with a future home described in documents. Match the plot, apartment number, floor plan, parking space and storage room across the reservation, contract and marketing material. Keep a dated copy of the specification and any advertised features that matter to you. Ask who owns the land and which company is taking your payments; a development’s commercial name is not enough to identify your contractual counterparty.
Check the payment protection
Spain’s building legislation regulates guarantees for qualifying advance payments during construction. Ask for the protection applicable to your specific payments and have its beneficiary, amount, property and issuing institution checked. Do not treat a general statement that the development has insurance as proof that your money is covered. Obtain the designated payment details independently and retain each receipt with the relevant guarantee documentation.
- Identify the payment schedule and any taxes stated.
- Ask what happens if construction or delivery is delayed.
Make the specification usable
A clear contract should let you compare the delivered home with what was agreed. Ask how substitutions of materials are handled, how usable and built areas are described, and what communal facilities are included. Consider an independent technical review before you accept delivery. If the kitchen, landscaping or pool is scheduled later, request a separate written timetable and an explanation of what you can use in the meantime.
Prepare the handover file
Before the planned signing, ask for the documents confirming completion and the applicable occupancy status, together with the energy certificate and building information. Their names and procedures can vary by location. Arrange a visit with an agreed record of defects and outstanding items. Clarify who receives notices after handover and retain written responses. A key collection appointment should not be your first opportunity to read the completion documents.
Sources & further reading
BOE — Building Act, advance payments ↗Editorial preview: professional legal review is pending. This guide provides general information and does not determine the legal position of a particular property.
Have a property in mind?
Start by organising its documents and the questions still to resolve.