I own it and I am not there

The order they turn up in

1. 19Property management and key holdingAsk what happens to your key when that person is ill or on holiday, and get the answer in writing. It is the question nobody asks and the one that matters.
2. 20CleaningIf the person works in your house regularly, there is an employment side to it. A company invoices you and carries that itself; an individual paid in cash does not.
3. 21Pool maintenanceWhether the price includes the chemicals or not. That single line is the difference between two quotes that look identical.
4. 22GardenerWho pays for the water, and whether palm trees are included. The red weevil kills a palm in one season and treating it is a specialised job.
5. 23Mobile coverage and a cameraThat a camera may film your property only. Pointing at the street, the communal pool or the neighbour is unlawful, and a fitter who does not mention it has not read the rules.
6. 24Community administratorThe colegiado number. And ask for the last minutes and the last accounts before you buy: an urbanisation with a lift to replace tells you so in those two documents.
7. 25Home insurance, and a loss adjuster when it goes wrongThe unoccupancy clause. Most policies stop covering water damage after 30 days empty, which is exactly the situation you are insuring against.

Read the full guide for this stage