For many Spanish home owners the following tips may seem obvious but for those who visit their Spanish holiday home as and when - the obvious can often be the last thing you think about as you board your flight.

1. Electrical systems in Spain often "trip out" either if there is a surge of power to your home or a glitch in the local supply. I therefore recommend that for sensitive equipment i.e. TVs, Digi-box receivers, computers, etc. you protect your equipment with a circuit breaker between the socket and the equipment. This is available from your local electrical supply shop.

2. Electrical systems (part 2). Never leave your property "live" when you are leaving for long periods of time - just imagine the smell when you next arrive if the fully filled freezer you left last month had been affected by a "trip out". Switch off the supply at the fuse box. Remember that while good food in Spain is fresh and inexpensive - the same produce will be at the market when you next visit your holiday home.

3. Bottled gas supplies - always, always turn the tap off from the bottle. Better still, disconnect the head too. Store all your gas bottles away from strong light and heat. And remember that the orange rubber tubing should be dated and renewed at least every 5 years - by a qualified person from your supplier.

4. Water - it is very rare, if ever, you will have a frost in Southern Spain but a cracked joint can still happen. Therefore you should still try to control as best you can accidental leakage; locate and isolate the supply to bathrooms and kitchens or better still turn the supply off to your property at the meter "contador de aqua".

5. With the heat and the humidity in this part of Spain (whether inland or on the coast), it is wise to ventilate your property as often as you can. Don't leave rooms closed up. Keep wardrobes open. Invest in a de-humidifier for sensitive areas.

6. The wind - from the east "el levante" and from the west "el poniente". For those of us who live here all year round we know what damage can be done to stray patio furniture and sun blinds when gusts occur. Need I say more!

7. Many home owners today use a lawyer to complete the sale and purchase of their property. But after that you should remember that you are responsible for paying your annual charges thereafter. For example; you should check when your IBI (local authority municipal tax) payment is due, and if it is paid by standing order or in cash to the local office.

8. Key-holders are very useful in Spain, more so when you arrive at your holiday home only to find that you have the wrong house keys with you! Secrete a second complete set of keys in your home in Spain, and then when you need them you have them.

9. House mortgages come with limited liability insurance policies, so check that the policy you have suits all your needs. If not then get more cover.

10. Peace of mind comes from knowing that you have with you an up-to-date health insurance card; and that you know where the nearest medical centre or hospital is located and its opening times. Have a handy Spanish phrase book too - just in case.

Passed on to Tropicana Properties by one of our clients, Mrs Beverly Austin, of Rio Seco, Almunecar - a regular visitor to her homes in La Herradura and Rio Seco valley.