Topic: Expat

  • How to hire a cleaner in Spain as an expat

    If you’ve spent time in expat Facebook groups for the Costa del Sol, you’ll have seen the same post dozens of times: “Can anyone recommend a reliable cleaner in Marbella?” The responses range from genuinely useful recommendations to phone numbers that go unanswered. Finding someone good takes time. This guide cuts through it.

    What to look for in a cleaner

    • Reviews from people like you. A cleaner who works well for local families isn’t necessarily the right fit for an absentee property owner who needs photo reports and reliable keyholder access.
    • English communication. If you need to brief someone remotely, explain a specific task, or deal with a problem at the property, being able to communicate clearly in English matters.
    • A clear process for access. How do they get into the property? Key safe, keyholder, lockbox? Make sure this is agreed upfront.
    • Proof of insurance. A professional cleaner should have liability coverage. It’s worth asking, especially for higher-value properties.

    The paperwork question

    Spain has specific rules around domestic employment. If you hire someone informally and they work for you regularly, there are obligations around social security contributions. Most expat property owners use a professional cleaning company or platform — which handles its own employment and tax obligations — rather than hiring an individual directly. This is the simpler route if you just need your property cleaned and don’t want an employer relationship.

    Managing from abroad

    The key to a good remote cleaning arrangement is clarity upfront. Agree on: frequency, what’s included in each visit, how access works, how you’ll communicate, and what happens if something is wrong. Photo reports after each clean are a simple way to stay in the loop without chasing anyone.

    Set it up once, properly, and you shouldn’t need to think about it again.

    How SAM helps

    SAM connects you with vetted, English-speaking cleaners across the Costa del Sol. Post a job, receive quotes, compare and confirm — all without making a single phone call in Spanish. Cleaners on SAM are reviewed by other property owners, so you can see who others in the same situation have used and trusted.

  • Managing your Spanish property remotely: the complete guide

    You’re in Manchester, or Amsterdam, or Dublin, and your apartment in Marbella is sitting empty between guest bookings. The pool hasn’t been checked since October. You’re not sure if the heating’s working. And the next guests arrive in three weeks. This is the reality for thousands of expat property owners on the Costa del Sol — and it’s entirely manageable if you approach it properly.

    The people you need

    Remote property management runs on reliable local contacts. At minimum you need: a cleaner who can handle turnarounds and regular maintenance cleans, someone who can hold a key and provide access for trades, and a basic maintenance contact for small repairs. For larger properties or active Airbnb rentals, consider a local property management service to coordinate everything.

    Setting up reliable access

    A key safe is the simplest solution for most properties. Choose a good-quality one (not the cheap flip-cover models), fix it to a solid wall, and share the code securely with your cleaner and any other trusted contacts. Change the code periodically and always update contacts when you do.

    Staying informed without chasing

    The best remote arrangement is one where you don’t need to chase anyone. Ask your cleaner for a photo report after each visit — a few photos showing the property is clean and in good order. Set up a WhatsApp group or similar with your key contacts. Agree upfront on what they should handle independently and what they should flag to you before acting.

    Seasonal considerations

    Costa del Sol properties need different attention at different times of year. Before summer: check air conditioning, replace pool chemicals, and arrange a deep clean. After summer: a thorough post-season clean, check for any damage, and arrange regular maintenance visits through winter. Before your arrival: a pre-arrival clean so the property is ready when you land.

  • Property checks between visits: what to ask your cleaning service

    A property left empty for three months without anyone checking on it is a liability. Leaks go undetected. Damp builds up. Pests move in. A storm does damage that no one notices until it’s compounded. Regular check visits — even without a full clean — are one of the smartest things a remote property owner can arrange.

    What a property check should cover

    • Check for water leaks under sinks, around toilets, and on ceilings
    • Check for damp patches, particularly in bathrooms and external walls
    • Run all taps and flush toilets to prevent traps drying out
    • Open windows briefly to air the property
    • Check the terrace for debris or storm damage
    • Confirm all locks and shutters are secure
    • Note anything that needs maintenance attention

    How often to arrange checks

    Monthly is a reasonable minimum for an empty property. During autumn and winter — when storms are more likely on the Costa del Sol — fortnightly is better. A check visit takes 30–60 minutes and the cost is minimal compared to discovering a leak that’s been running for two months.

    Photo reports

    Ask for a photo report after each check — a few photos covering the main rooms, the terrace, and anything of note. This creates a record and gives you peace of mind without having to be there. SAM cleaners who offer check services will provide this as part of the visit.

  • Key holding services in Marbella: how it works

    If you own a property in Marbella and don’t live there full-time, at some point you’ll need someone else to access it on your behalf — to let in a plumber, receive a delivery, or meet a guest for a check-in. A key holding service is the professional solution.

    What a key holding service involves

    A key holder holds a copy of your property keys — or the code to your key safe — and can provide access when needed. They’re not a security company (though some overlap exists), but rather a trusted local contact who can be at your property within a reasonable time to let someone in, check on something, or handle a routine task on your behalf.

    Who provides key holding in Marbella?

    Many cleaners and property managers in Marbella offer key holding as an add-on service. If you already have a cleaner you trust, ask whether they offer this — it’s often the simplest arrangement, as they know the property and you have an established working relationship.

    Dedicated property management companies also offer key holding, usually as part of a wider package that includes cleaning, maintenance coordination, and guest check-in/out.

    What to agree upfront

    Be clear about: what they are authorised to do (access for trades only, or also handle basic decisions), what the response time should be, how access requests are made, and how keys are stored. A key safe at the property eliminates the risk of lost keys and makes access management simpler for everyone.

  • Pre-arrival home preparation: getting your Spanish villa ready

    You’ve booked your flights. You land Friday evening. The last thing you want is to arrive at your villa to find it dusty, stuffy, and with an empty fridge. A pre-arrival clean, arranged a day or two before you land, makes sure the property is ready when you walk through the door.

    What a pre-arrival clean should include

    • Full clean of all rooms — dust, hoover, mop
    • Fresh bed linen on all beds
    • Bathrooms cleaned and stocked with essentials
    • Kitchen wiped down and checked for any expired food in the fridge
    • Windows opened to air the property
    • Terrace swept and outdoor furniture wiped
    • Air conditioning tested

    If the property has been empty for months

    A property that’s been closed up since October needs more than a quick clean. Budget for a 3–4 hour airing and clean rather than a standard hourly visit. Ask your cleaner to run all taps, check for any damp or leaks, and open all windows for at least an hour before closing up. Properties near the coast accumulate salt air and dust quickly in closed rooms.

    Coordinating from abroad

    Post a job on SAM 3–5 days before your arrival date. Specify the property, date and time you need it completed by, and whether it’s been empty for an extended period. A photo report when it’s done means you can see it’s ready before you even board the plane.

  • Storm damage checks and property inspections in Andalucía

    Andalucía gets its share of serious weather — particularly between October and March. The DANA weather events that hit the region periodically can bring heavy rain, strong winds, and flash flooding. If your property is empty when this happens, you may not find out about any damage for weeks.

    What storm damage looks like on a Costa del Sol property

    • Water ingress through terrace doors or windows — especially older frames
    • Blocked drains causing flooding on terraces or in basement parking
    • Fallen trees or debris on terraces or in gardens
    • Damage to awnings, pergolas, and outdoor furniture
    • Roof tile damage on older buildings and townhouses

    Post-storm checks: what to ask for

    After a significant storm, ask your key holder or cleaner to do a check visit within 48 hours. They should look for: water on floors near doors or windows, visible damage to external areas, anything blocking drains, and any structural issues. Photo documentation is essential — especially if you need to make an insurance claim.

    Preventing the worst

    Preventive steps before the storm season: clear terraces of lightweight items that can be blown, check drain covers and clear any debris, close shutters on south and west-facing windows, and confirm your home insurance covers weather damage to garden structures and contents.

    A local contact who can check on the property quickly after bad weather is worth more than most insurance policies. SAM cleaners who offer property check services can be available on short notice for post-storm visits.

  • How to find a trustworthy cleaner in Spain: 7 things to check

    If you’ve had a bad experience with a cleaner in Spain — and many expat property owners have — it usually comes down to one of a few things: no-shows, poor communication, a job that wasn’t done properly, or someone who was fine for the first few visits and then started cutting corners. Here’s what to check before you commit to anyone.

    1. Verified reviews

    Not testimonials on their own website — verified reviews from actual clients on a platform where fake reviews are harder to generate. Look for consistency over time, not just one or two glowing write-ups.

    2. Clear pricing

    Can they tell you clearly what the job will cost before they start? A professional cleaner should be able to give you a fixed quote or a reliable estimate based on your property. Vague hourly rates with no estimate of time are a warning sign.

    3. Response time

    How quickly do they respond to your initial message? Someone who takes three days to reply to a quote request will probably take three days to reply when there’s a problem. Speed of communication is a reliable early signal.

    4. References or platform history

    If they’re relatively new, ask for references from existing clients. If they’re on a platform like SAM, check how many jobs they’ve completed and how long they’ve been active.

    5. Coverage during holidays and sick days

    What happens if they’re ill the day before your guests arrive? Do they have cover, or do you need to arrange it yourself? For Airbnb hosts, this is a critical question — not having a backup plan is a significant operational risk.

    6. English communication

    If you’re managing the property remotely and need to brief someone, flag a problem, or change a booking, being able to do that in English matters. It’s not about expecting Spain to speak English — it’s about being able to manage a working relationship clearly.

    7. Insurance

    Ask whether they have liability insurance. A professional cleaner or cleaning company should be insured for accidental damage. It’s a simple question and the answer tells you something about how professionally they operate.

  • Why photo reports matter for remote property owners

    You’re in London or Dublin and your apartment in Marbella has just been cleaned. How do you know the job was done properly? How do you know the oven wasn’t left dirty, the bathrooms are genuinely clean, or that the last guests didn’t leave any damage? The answer, if you’re relying on trust alone, is that you don’t.

    What a photo report is

    A photo report is a set of photos taken by your cleaner after each clean, showing the property in its cleaned state. Typically: each bedroom (bed made, surfaces clear), bathrooms, the kitchen, living areas, and the terrace. Sent via WhatsApp or email immediately after the clean is finished.

    What it gives you

    • Confirmation that the clean happened and was completed properly.
    • Early damage detection — if something is broken or missing, you know before the next guests arrive, not after.
    • A record for insurance or deposit disputes — timestamped photos showing property condition at a specific point in time.
    • Peace of mind — you can see your property is ready without making a phone call or sending a chasing message.

    How to request it

    When posting a job on SAM, specify that you require a photo report after each clean. Most professional cleaners who work with remote property owners already do this — it’s worth confirming it’s part of the arrangement before the first visit.