Get Your Paperwork in Order Before Selling Your Villa in Spain

Life happens – and whether you are moving on to a new adventure, downsizing, or making a change for personal reasons, selling your property is a big and often emotional step. Among the excitement, one vital aspect is often overlooked: ensuring that all the documentation for your villa is in order before you list it for sale.

At Select Villas, we cannot stress enough how important it is that your property is properly registered and compliant with the current regulations. You do not want to wait until a motivated buyer is found, only to discover that an issue with the paperwork puts the sale at risk or causes costly delays.

Why proper documentation matters when selling your home

Having your documents ready in advance will reduce stress when an offer comes in and can also speed up the completion process. It helps us as your agent to accurately market your property, ensuring that the details presented to potential buyers match the legal records. This transparency builds trust and reduces the chance of complications down the line.

A common misconception is that selling a property is simply a matter of finding a buyer. However, there has been a noticeable increase in sales not reaching completion due to problems with the property that cannot be legally rectified or because of issues that could have been resolved ahead of time – such as planning infractions, missing certificates, or changes to the property that were never officially recorded, and this is devastating to both vendors and buyers.

The importance of appointing a gestor early

As a vendor, you are not legally required to appoint a lawyer, as the buyer’s lawyer will usually conduct the due diligence and property searches. However, we highly recommend engaging with a local gestor (an administrative consultant) as soon as you decide to sell. A good gestor can help review your paperwork, identify any gaps, and ensure everything complies with the latest local and regional regulations.

Why is this so important? Because these rules change frequently, and what applied to your neighbour’s house, or even your own property a few years ago, may no longer be valid today.

For example, you may have extended your villa, added a pool, or made other modifications – but if these changes were not officially declared and recorded with the Town Hall, they could pose a problem during the sale. Likewise, your property might have an existing planning infraction that needs to be resolved before a sale can proceed.

Common issues vendors must watch out for

One significant requirement that has become more strictly enforced in recent years is the need for an eco-certified septic tank. Under EU regulations, properties not connected to the mains sewerage system must have an approved, eco-friendly system. Without this, you may not be granted a valid Habitation Certificate (Cédula de Habitabilidad), which is required for the legal sale of your home.

Some local councils are also now asking for updated floorplans (distribution plans) and property fact sheets, which must be submitted and approved before the sale. Because these requirements vary between municipalities and regions – and even change depending on the Town Hall location – working with a local expert is highly recommended.

Hiring a gestor from outside the region may result in misinformation or delays, so we always recommend working with someone familiar with the local procedures here in the Marina Alta region which could save you valuable time and money in the long run.

Need help selling your villa in Spain? Select Villas has you covered

At Select Villas, we work closely with trusted local professionals who can help you obtain quotes for any required upgrades or paperwork. If your property does need work – such as a septic tank upgrade, we can assist. Also to bear in mind you can wait until a buyer is found and potentially include it in the sale negotiations.

Checklist: documents required to sell your property in Spain

When you are ready to list your property with us, we will ask for the following:

To List Your Property:

• House Deeds (Copia simple de la compraventa or Escritura)
• Latest IBI receipt (Annual Property Tax)
• Annual Rubbish Collection Fees (Basura)
• Annual Community Fees (if applicable)
• NIE Certificate for all current owners

To Progress the Sale:

• Name and contact details of your legal representative in Spain
• Certificate of Renovation (Certificado de obra nueva, if applicable)
• Habitation Certificate (Cédula de Habitabilidad)
• Power of Attorney documentation (if applicable)
• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) – If you do not have one, we will organise and cover this for you as part of our Exclusive Package.
• Recent electricity bill
• Recent water bill
• Confirmation of whether the property was ever owned by a bank (i.e., a repossession)

Why vendors in Costa Blanca North choose Select Villas

We understand that paperwork is not the most thrilling of subjects, but it is absolutely critical to a smooth and successful sale. At Select Villas of Moraira we will request to see your property documents at the time of listing the property, so if we notice any discrepancies between the physical layout and what is listed, we can advise you early on so you can raise this with your legal representatives.

Selling your villa is just the beginning of our commitment to you. Our dedicated After Sales team ensures that everything runs smoothly from the moment a reservation deposit is placed. We handle communication between lawyers, buyers, and notaries, ensuring nothing is missed.

And our support does not stop when you sign at the notary. We are here to assist you beyond that milestone with any post-sale queries making the transition as stress-free as possible.

Ready to sell your property? Let’s get started

Choose Select Villas and experience a seamless property sale backed by local expertise, trusted contacts, and an unwavering commitment to service.

Contact us today for a free copy of our Vendor’s Guide and to arrange a no-obligation valuation. Let us help you prepare your property for the market with confidence and peace of mind.

• Landline: +34 966 490 861 | Mobile: +34 616 002 993
• Email us: enquiries@select-villas.es
• Visit us at Our Office: Avenida de Madrid 5, 03724 Moraira, Alicante (opposite the Sabadell Bank)