Understand the features behind a property advert
Decode Costa del Sol property features, from garages and gardens to cooling, kitchens and shared facilities, with practical viewing questions.
At a glance
- Translate common advert features into specific enquiries.
- Separate inclusion, rights, condition and running costs.
- Record observations and unresolved evidence in a viewing sheet.
A Costa del Sol property advert can mention dozens of features without explaining how they work together. Parking, gardens, climate control, fitted kitchens and sea views all deserve more than a tick in a search filter. This reference turns common Spanish and English listing terms into practical questions for the actual property. It covers apartments, townhouses, villas and inland homes without assuming that the same word means the same specification in every advert.
Use it beside the listing decoder, which explains how to separate a claim from evidence. The translations below are reading aids, not standard contractual definitions or findings about any advertised home. Ask for clarification wherever a term affects your decision, then retain the answer with the advert and proposed paperwork.
Give every important feature three separate checks
First identify what is being described: the particular room, equipment, space or service. Next establish what is included and what rights or arrangements go with it. Finally assess the condition, practical use and complete cost. A garage can exist without being included in the price; an included air-conditioning unit can still need assessment; a shared garden can be attractive while offering different control from privately owned land.
Download the feature viewing sheet and mark the items that matter to your household. Keep the original wording, your observation, the evidence requested and the person responsible for resolving the question. A feature that was inaccessible or not demonstrated should remain unverified rather than disappear from the comparison.
Compare the home with your ordinary week
For a Fuengirola apartment, test the route from parking to the front door, the bedroom cooling and the space for luggage. For a Marbella villa, add garden work, pool operation and the systems that need attention between visits. For an inland home near Coín, investigate access and services alongside the plot. These are sample enquiry briefs, not claims that every property in a place has the same characteristics.
The comparison workspace helps retain differences between candidates. Write a short must-have list before searching, then distinguish an existing feature from a change you hope to make. A proposed pool, lift or extra bedroom should not be counted as if it were already available.
Read the feature reference
Look up the term, then use the question to identify the missing information. A translation may have several meanings in ordinary marketing, particularly for parking, solar equipment, furnished kitchens and different forms of outside space. The actual specification, documents and intended transaction matter more than the icon used by a portal.
| Category | Advert wording | Meaning to clarify | Question for the particular home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Space | Superficie construida | Built area | Which document and measurement basis support the figure, and what is included? |
| Space | Superficie útil | Usable area | Which internal spaces are counted, and how does the plan compare with the actual layout? |
| Space | Parcela | Plot | Which boundaries and recorded area relate to the land being sold? |
| Space | Dormitorio | Bedroom | What is the documented room use, physical arrangement and light at the actual room? |
| Space | Baño en suite | En-suite bathroom | Which bedroom connects with it, and what fittings, privacy and ventilation are present? |
| Space | Aseo | Guest WC or smaller washroom | Which facilities are installed rather than assumed from the room count? |
| Space | Ático | Penthouse or top-floor description | Which floor and outdoor areas belong to this unit, and what does the access route involve? |
| Space | Dúplex | Home over two levels | Which rooms are on each level, and how do the stairs fit ordinary use? |
| Space | Bajo | Ground-floor description | Where is the actual entrance, and are there steps or lower-level rooms? |
| Space | Sótano / semisótano | Basement / partly below-ground space | What is its documented use, access, condition and ventilation? |
| Parking | Plaza de garaje | Parking bay | Which exact bay is included, and how is its ownership or use documented? |
| Parking | Garaje cerrado | Enclosed garage | What are the clear opening and internal dimensions, and what use is permitted? |
| Parking | Aparcamiento comunitario | Shared parking | Are spaces allocated, and what is the arrangement when parking is full? |
| Parking | Cochera / carport | Covered vehicle area | What protection, access and documented position does the actual structure have? |
| Parking | Entrada privada | Private entrance or driveway claim | What route and rights are involved, including shared use or maintenance? |
| Parking | Punto de recarga | Vehicle charger | Is operational equipment included, with a suitable supply and installation records? |
| Storage | Trastero | Storage room | Where is it, what is included, and what rights, condition and storage restrictions apply? |
| Storage | Armarios empotrados | Built-in wardrobes | What usable shelving, hanging space and internal fittings are actually present? |
| Storage | Lavadero | Laundry or utility area | Which appliances, connections, ventilation and storage are provided? |
| Storage | Despensa | Pantry | Is there usable capacity and access for the items you intend to store? |
| Outside | Terraza | Terrace | What is its usable layout, exposure, access and documented ownership or use arrangement? |
| Outside | Terraza cubierta | Covered terrace | Which cover exists, what condition is it in, and what records relate to it? |
| Outside | Balcón | Balcony | How does the actual width and access fit the way you want to use it? |
| Outside | Solárium | Roof-level sun terrace in many listings | Which roof area is included, and what access, rights and maintenance apply? |
| Outside | Patio | Courtyard or patio | What light, privacy, drainage and use arrangements does the particular space have? |
| Outside | Porche | Porch or sheltered entrance area | Which part is enclosed or open, and what is the existing documented arrangement? |
| Outside | Pérgola / toldo | Pergola / awning | Is it included, operational and supported by the relevant permissions and records? |
| Outside | Jardín privado | Private garden claim | Does the paperwork show ownership, exclusive use or another arrangement? |
| Outside | Jardín comunitario | Shared garden | Who maintains it, how is access managed, and which charges and rules apply? |
| Outside | Riego automático | Automatic irrigation | Which supply, zones, controller and maintenance arrangements serve the planting? |
| Outside | Barbacoa / cocina exterior | Barbecue / outdoor kitchen | What equipment, services, use rules and proposed work need checking? |
| Outside | Piscina privada | Private pool | What are the ownership, condition, operating costs and applicable requirements? |
| Outside | Piscina comunitaria | Shared pool | Which pool is available, when can it be used, and who manages its operation? |
| Outside | Piscina climatizada | Heated pool | Which heating equipment exists, who pays, and what operating schedule is actually offered? |
| Comfort | Aire acondicionado | Air conditioning | Which rooms have installed equipment, and which modes have been demonstrated? |
| Comfort | Preinstalación de aire | Air-conditioning provision | Which provisions exist, which equipment is absent, and what completion work needs assessment? |
| Comfort | Frío/calor | Cooling and heating modes | Which units supply each mode and where are the controls? |
| Comfort | Aire por conductos | Ducted cooling or conditioning | Which rooms, zones, outlets and maintenance access belong to the system? |
| Comfort | Calefacción central | Central heating description | Is the system individual or communal, and how is use controlled and charged? |
| Comfort | Suelo radiante | Underfloor heating | Which floors or rooms are served, and what system and heat source are installed? |
| Comfort | Aerotermia | Air-source heat-pump description | Which actual system supplies space heating, cooling or hot water? |
| Comfort | Chimenea / estufa | Fireplace / stove | Is it operational, and what inspection, servicing and use checks are needed? |
| Comfort | Ventilador de techo | Ceiling fan | Which equipment is included, and what operation and condition have been checked? |
| Comfort | Doble acristalamiento | Double glazing | What frames, opening systems, condition, shading and records accompany the glazing? |
| Comfort | Persianas | Shutters or roller blinds | Which rooms have them, and are controls, movement and condition satisfactory? |
| Comfort | Orientación sur / este / oeste / norte | Compass orientation | Which room, terrace or facade does the direction describe, and what shade was observed? |
| Comfort | ACS | Domestic hot water | What supplies it, what storage and backup exist, and what household use must it support? |
| Energy | Paneles solares | Solar panels, type to clarify | Are they electricity-generating or water-heating, and what ownership and equipment are included? |
| Energy | Fotovoltaica | Photovoltaic electricity system | Which components and records exist, and what operation has been assessed? |
| Energy | Batería | Battery storage | Is the battery included, what is its condition, and what services does it actually support? |
| Energy | Certificado energético | Building energy certificate | Which current document and registration relate to this exact home? |
| Interior | Cocina amueblada | Fitted kitchen description | Which cabinets and fittings are included, and which appliances are excluded? |
| Interior | Cocina equipada | Equipped kitchen description | What exact appliance inventory, models and condition are agreed? |
| Interior | Cocina americana / abierta | Open-plan kitchen | How do extraction, noise, circulation and working space fit your household? |
| Interior | Amueblado | Furnished | Which individual items are included in the written sale inventory? |
| Interior | Sin amueblar | Unfurnished | What fitted items and equipment remain, rather than assuming everything is removed? |
| Interior | Reformado | Renovated | What work was done, when, by whom, and with which supporting documents? |
| Interior | A estrenar | New or unused condition claim | Which parts are new or unused, and what completion, condition and guarantee records apply? |
| Interior | Suelos de mármol / porcelánico | Marble / porcelain floors | What condition, maintenance and surface transitions matter for everyday use? |
| Access | Ascensor | Lift | Which levels are served, and what steps and doors remain along the whole route? |
| Access | Acceso adaptado | Adapted-access claim | Which specific tasks and route have been assessed for the intended user? |
| Access | Urbanización cerrada | Gated development | What access controls, services, costs and responsibilities actually exist? |
| Security | Alarma | Alarm | Who owns the equipment, what subscription applies, and how will accounts be handed over? |
| Security | Videoportero | Video entry system | Which entrances are covered, what operates, and who maintains shared equipment? |
| Security | Domótica | Home automation | Which devices, accounts, subscriptions and manual alternatives are part of the handover? |
| Services | Fibra óptica | Fibre connectivity claim | What can the operator supply at the exact address under the buyer’s future contract? |
| Services | Pozo / depósito / aljibe | Well / tank / cistern | What supply, documented rights, condition and intended uses require professional checking? |
| Services | Fosa séptica | Septic system description | What system actually exists, with which records, inspection and maintenance arrangements? |
| Services | Vigilancia / conserjería | Security service / concierge | What hours, functions, exclusions and costs are actually provided? |
| Setting | Vistas al mar | Sea views | From which room or seat is the view available, and what is actually visible? |
| Setting | Primera línea de playa | Beachfront description | What lies between the property and coast, and what address-level checks are needed? |
| Setting | Cerca de la playa | Near the beach | What is the complete practical route, including crossings, gradients and return journey? |
| Setting | Primera línea de golf | Frontline-golf description | Which outlook and boundary arrangement exist, and what activity is experienced at the home? |
| Setting | Orientación / luminoso | Orientation / bright-home claim | What was observed at the specific time, and what remains unknown about other seasons? |
| Potential | Posibilidad de ampliar | Potential to extend | Which proposal has been assessed, and which permissions and budget remain unconfirmed? |
| Potential | Licencia turística | Tourist-registration or licence claim | Which actual record, activity and current address-specific requirements need independent review? |
| Potential | Ideal inversión | Investment claim | Which checked use, costs, funding and downside assumptions would support that conclusion? |
Keep area, rooms and equipment separate
A built-area figure, a bedroom count and a list of amenities answer different questions. Ask which measurement basis and records support the advertised space, and connect those with the actual layout. Storage, terraces and below-ground rooms should not be casually added to ordinary living space in your notes. The Registry and Cadastre guide explains why different records need to be read for their own purpose.
A furnished room also does not establish a particular authorised use. If a garage, store or basement is being presented as accommodation, use the change-of-use guide to prepare questions for the relevant advisers. Record the claim without accepting it as a legal or technical conclusion.
Do not lose the shared-building questions
Amenities may belong to the apartment, serve a particular group of homes or form part of a wider community. Identify which pool, lift, garden, parking area or security service the listing refers to, then ask about access, restrictions, maintenance and charges. Photos from a development do not establish that every facility is included for every unit.
The community-of-owners guide connects those questions with the building’s records. Use the pool and terrace checks for outside features and the accessible-home brief for the complete journey. A shared facility should be judged by its actual availability and operating arrangements.
Keep a record of marketing and clarifications
Save a dated copy of the advert and the answers to important questions. The Andalucía housing-information framework addresses information in housing marketing and transactions. Ask your adviser to consider the actual representations and proposed paperwork. Checking a feature does not mean accepting that inaccurate marketing is harmless or that every term has no contractual significance.
Before commitment, identify unresolved matters that could change your choice, budget or intended use. The professional inspection guide helps define the technical appointment, while the professional roles resource distinguishes the questions different appointments should address. Research checked on 11 November 2026; current rules, local measures and the actual property position need checking before reliance.
Connect this feature with the wider property plan
Read the supporting guidance on property orientation and room exposure, outside-space use and maintenance. Keep the proposed use, existing condition and any future work as separate decisions.
Check parking as part of the home
Use the guide to garages, parking and storage on the Costa del Sol. Identify the actual bay, garage or store, check the documentation, and test the complete arrival route. Charging, maintenance and access equipment need their own operating and cost questions.
Include the garden in the ownership brief
Use the guide to gardens and plots on the Costa del Sol. It separates usable outside space, ownership or exclusive use, water and maintenance. Keep an existing garden feature separate from a proposed project that still needs assessment.
Identify the installed comfort systems
Use the guide to air conditioning and heating on the Costa del Sol. Distinguish pre-installation, installed equipment and demonstrated operation. Cooling, heating, hot water and ventilation require separate room and system questions.
Write down the fittings and inclusions
Use the guide to interior fittings and equipment on the Costa del Sol. Clarify kitchens, bathrooms, wardrobes, glazing, access and connected equipment through the actual inventory, condition checks and handover information.