Complete Property Sale

Selling Journey — Step by step

How does the final handover work at the Notary? Completion is the ultimate finish line where funds are exchanged for the title deed and the keys.

If your preparation was handled correctly, completion day should be a quiet, administrative handover. to coordinate the final logistics.

Handover at the Notary

In Spain, the final signing always happens at the Notary Office. The Notary confirms the payment (usually via Certified Bank Draft) and registers the 'Escritura de Venta'. You must present all sets of keys and alarm codes. The buyer will deduct 3% of the price (if you are a non-resident) to pay the Spanish tax office as a retention for your capital gains tax.

The Power of Attorney

We highly recommend giving your lawyer a Power of Attorney to sign on your behalf. This removes the stress of flight delays or bank transfer holdups. Your lawyer can also handle the final pro-rata calculations for taxes and utilities, ensuring you know your exact net proceeds to the euro. Ensure your NIE and banking are ready for receipt of funds.

and walk away with your profit, knowing every legal detail has been handled.

Advisor Insight

"Provide your lawyer with a Power of Attorney (Escritura de Poder) to sign on your behalf. This entirely removes the stress of flying to Marbella, coordinating flights with Notary schedules, and sitting in a waiting room while a bank transfer takes three hours to clear. Let your professionals handle the administrative climax."

What usually happens

Final documents are confirmed.
The sale is completed through the formal legal process.
Funds and ownership are transferred.

Timing

At the final transfer stage.

People

You, Buyer, Lawyer, Notary, Sometimes bank side

Cost

Focus here is on clean execution rather than one specific fee.

Prepare

ID
Final documents
Banking arrangements
Handover details

Risks

Leaving transfer logistics too late
Missing final document checks
Treating completion as simple admin instead of the final operational step

Handover Checklist

Coordinate Power of Attorney for signing
Verify receipt of Certified Bank Draft
Perform formal key and code handover
Finalize net proceeds closing statement

Prepare move logistics

Expert Q&A

At the Notary, you normally receive a Certified Bank Draft (Cheque Bancario). Hand over the keys only once you hold the draft. It is as good as cash in Spanish law. Deposit it the same day.

Yes. Unless agreed otherwise, the house must be 'broom-clean' and empty of anything not in the inventory. An angry buyer can withhold funds at the Notary if the house is still full of trash.

If you are a non-resident, the buyer deducts 3% of the price to pay the tax office as a retention for your capital gains tax. Your lawyer then handles the refund process if you sold at a loss.

You must terminate all service contracts before completion. A buyer does not automatically inherit your staff without a new contract, and you don't want ongoing costs after the sale.

Yes. Gather appliance manuals, alarm codes, and contact details for the pool man. It creates goodwill and prevents the buyer from calling you with basic questions weeks later.