Resale and purchase preparation
Buying a furnished home on Costa Blanca South: what stays in the sale?
A furnished home can simplify your move. Before committing, agree exactly which furniture and equipment are included, their condition and how they will be checked at handover.
At a glance
- Clarify included items before signing purchase commitments; do not rely on the word furnished alone.
- Identify furniture and equipment room by room, with dated photographs and explicit exclusions.
- For new builds, compare the actual specification and furniture package with the show home.
- Agree a final inventory check, missing-item procedure and delivery of keys and remotes.
What does furnished mean when buying a property on Costa Blanca South? Treat it as a starting point for questions. Ask for an itemised inventory, agree exclusions and condition, and have your independent adviser connect that agreement to the purchase paperwork. The practical checklist below is our recommendation for comparing homes in Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa and San Miguel de Salinas; it is not a claim that every sale includes the same contents.
1. Agree the contents before committing
A listing photograph records a presentation, not your complete agreement. Ask the seller which visible items will remain and which belong to a tenant, staging company or another person. Raise essential items while negotiating the offer, rather than discovering different expectations just before completion.
Spain's Notariado warns that private purchase contracts can bind the parties; get advice before signing. Spanish Civil Code article 1281 gives importance to clear contractual wording. Ask your independent adviser how to record the agreed contents and exclusions in the transaction documents. Do not assume that a loose item is included, or that an attached item may be removed, without checking the agreement and applicable rules.
2. Make a room-by-room inventory
Use a simple list with a room, item description, quantity, condition and photograph reference. Identify distinctive pieces clearly: for example, a dining table and four matching chairs, rather than dining furniture. This is a checklist example, not an advertised property specification.
Include terrace and solarium furniture, lamps, curtains, mattresses and smaller items you genuinely expect to keep. Record valuable or sentimental exclusions separately. With permission, take dated photographs; they help identify an item but should accompany the written list. Check storage rooms and garages too, without assuming communal equipment belongs to the seller.
3. Describe appliances and their condition
List the fridge, oven, washing machine and other agreed equipment individually. Note the make and model where available, visible damage, missing parts and any reported fault. Ask for a demonstration where safe and permitted; use a qualified technician where condition or installation raises concerns.
Request available manuals, purchase receipts and warranty information, then verify whether any remaining cover applies to you. The presence of an appliance does not establish its working condition or your warranty rights. Include air-conditioning remotes and other controls in the handover list, and agree who removes unwanted items.
4. Separate the show home from your purchase
For a new-build home, request the specification for your particular unit and the written details of any furniture package. Ask which photographed finishes, appliances, lighting and decorative pieces are standard, optional or excluded. Compare package costs with your total purchase budget before ordering extras.
For a resale, think about how you will actually use the contents. A sofa or outdoor set that suits a short visit may not suit year-round living. Measure important spaces and allow for replacement, delivery and disposal where needed. Furniture should support the home you want, rather than distract from its condition, layout or location.
5. Keep one agreed version
Ask your adviser to identify and date the agreed inventory, arrange the appropriate signatures and reconcile it with the purchase documents. If an item is substituted or removed, record the agreed change. Where languages differ, have the contractual wording and translations checked before signing.
If furniture is assigned a separate value, obtain advice on the correct legal and tax treatment; do not invent a split to reduce taxes. Agree how damage, missing items or changes before completion will be addressed. Any remedy or payment arrangement needs the parties' agreement and appropriate professional advice.
6. Plan the final check and handover
Arrange a final visit, or an authorised representative, close to completion. Compare the agreed inventory and photographs with what remains, note differences and raise them promptly with your adviser before signing. Confirm all agreed keys, access fobs, garage controls and equipment remotes, alongside any applicable access arrangements.
Use the same approach for an apartment in Torrevieja, a home in Orihuela Costa or a villa in San Miguel de Salinas. Verdi Estate can help coordinate viewing questions and the handover checklist. Independent advisers confirm contractual obligations; a technical inspection remains a separate task.
Questions buyers ask
Does furnished mean everything in the photographs is included?
Do not assume so. Request a written inventory and explicit exclusions, including decorative pieces and any third-party items. Have your adviser check how the agreed list relates to the purchase documents.
Does a show home establish what my new-build purchase includes?
Check the specification for your own unit and any separately agreed package. Ask the developer to identify standard items, paid extras and display-only furniture in writing.
What should I do if an agreed item is missing at the final visit?
Record the discrepancy and notify your independent adviser promptly before completion. Discuss an agreed solution with the parties; do not assume that a particular compensation or withholding arrangement applies automatically.
Sources and further reading
Official sources checked on 23 October 2026. The inventory and viewing steps are Verdi Estate's practical editorial recommendations, not a statutory checklist or individual legal or tax advice. Confirm the contents, contract wording, ownership of items and any tax allocation with your independent adviser; arrange technical checks where needed.