Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2022 12:43pm
My opinion only, but what are you expecting them to find that you can't see yourself?
Many of us have bought for the first time mortgage free and, in my experience, not many get surveys which in the UK the basic mortgage surveys are purely to confirm that in the event of non payment, the mortgage company could sell the property and cover their expenses. If buying an old or listed property then a survey will be more thorough but the solicitor here will be covering the legal side.
Having lived here nearly 5 years and knowing it to be in an earthquake zone I would look for cracking in your property and those around it. I would ask for an electric check as Spanish wiring can be suspect. I would turn on everything and make sure it works, opening and closing every window, making sure any water boiler both heats and doesn't leak, all taps work and drain as they should, including the showers and the same with the air conditioning on heat and cool with no leakage. If there are any bottled gas installations I would want to see the contract and when it was last checked, it needs to be at least every 5 years. Check electric gates or garage doors work. Look for signs of damp as this can be an issue in some areas, especially if the property is regularly left empty.
I would also consider the position of the property re flooding. Every now and again we have torrential downpours here which can be very localised and in built up areas the water has nowhere to drain away and will race through the streets. From memory, which can be a little patchy at times, I think only small parts of Benimar have been affected.
From a brief wander around on streetview it looks like a lovely established urbanization with no obvious problems.
Ask to see the deeds and make sure everything is exactly as it should be. If there is an underbuild, is it listed as storage or living accommodation? Does anything look like it has been added on or enclosed and if so it must be on the deeds, as does the swimming pool.
Hopefully you have found your own independent solicitor and are not using the one recommended by the estate agent to ensure you are their only priority.
My vote? A waste of money.