I really haven't got the time, but here goes.............
For 1st timers
1) Do not try and furnish over the internet, you are buying long term so fit out and furnish with thought. Take a week's hols on site and have a good drive round the area, get the bulk furnishing and lighting done, then take another weeks hols in your own place after that and decide on how you are going to finish it. Remember that each Jardin has been done by a different contractor, quality may vary, sockets, fittings, waste holes are in different places, room dimensions and terraces may differ slightly !
2) Z-bedz in Camposol/Los Alcazraes - Have a look, Andy is great, no pressure, so just have a look. Remember the bedrooms are small so don't buy beds where the mattress sits inside the base - it might look nice but you are losing valuable inches, buy beds where the mattress sits completely on top and if you can get recessed legs then even better, also remember you need to brush out regularly (I'd recommend every day) the dust and fluff on Condado (loads of it - even after 1 week), so anything to make brushing under beds easier is recommended - your socks and feet get covered in it otherwise !!!!
3) Gines Navarro on the way into Mazarron - Take a couple of hours to walk round both floors, end to end, it's like an old style Lewis's - it has everything so will at least give you a price guide, take a notebook !........ you'll see things that are obviously needed that you didn't even think about.
4a) Ikea in Murcia - worth a look just for ideas and again pricing up. Great for bits, bobs as well as furniture. Have to admit that I've never shopped in a UK Ikea, so shopping at 10pm on a Satdi night in Ikea in Spain is something i won't admit to.
4b) There are furniture stores everywhere, just drive round - take measurements yourselves of your apartment and always carry a tape measure, pen and paper.
5) Brico at Camposol - A mini Gines Navarro for some things, lights are pretty good value as are shower screens (that's where i got mine from).
6) Get your local bank account open, and get your money transferred across at commercial rates and get your local debit card sorted, then pay with it to save exchange costs and use it for drawing cash, paying local bills etc.
7) Shop at Consum on Camposol for food to start with, or if you have time then as you hit the AP7 roundabout coming away from San Javier airport, then go round and almost back on yourself turning down the turn just before the airport turn, there is a cash and carry down there ! Plenty of other bigger supermarkets in the local towns as well - just have a look. The shop on site is not a rip off either, nice fresh bread, good wine choice and all pretty reasonable - if we don't use it then they'll close it !
8) Keyholders - there will eventually be plenty of work for all keyholders, at the moment i reckon no more than 10% of properties on Jardines (1,950 total) have been 'lighted' let alone 'furnished' - I walked all 13 Jardines last week and noted all the incomplete properties. Personally i don't think there will be enough keyholders on site to cope with the eventual demand as all owners furnish this year (most expected completion from June onwards this year - 12mths late like all other PW sites).
9) Changeovers - This is different to keyholding remember. This may prove even more difficult long-term as you'll need at least 3 man hours to do a proper clean and changeover of a fully occupied 3-bed property, maybe 2 hours for a 2-bed, you will need 2 lots of bedding for each bed and 2 lots of towels p/w - if you're planning to rent then don't cheap on it.
10) Keyholders/Changeovers - Choose one that is on site. Do you really think an off site keyholder will attend your deliveries for €20 per delivery or turn up for an emergency ? I'll recommend 2 people - Carol on Jardine 13 and Mick/Lesley on Jardin 4 - both are resident, both are spot on and interested in giving you the right impression and service delivery and both have the time to help - remember tho that as with all keyholders/changeovers that their time isn't free - it is their livelihood !!!!
11) Plumbing/Fittings/Electricians - Ikea Steve is a jack of all trades, good for lighting and plumbing, hanging fittings & curtain poles, removing Bidets and collecting/building Ikea furniture. Mick on Jardin 4 is a time served UK electrician and has done all the lights, fans, fittings etc in his own apartment to a good quality - I've been in it and it's been done with thought. His wife Lesley is (was ?) a UK registered childminder and they are living on site.
Delivery for everything I bought was when i asked them to do it, Z-Bedz will deliver that afternoon if in stock, Gines will deliver next day if in stock. In my case they had my keyholders number (Carol - Jardine 13) and delivery was arranged whilst i was inbetween visits.
Take your time, don't rush it, don't be pushed by 'pack' furniture sellers unless you decide that way really is for you, you're buying for years to come so don't fit and furnish in 7 days !
Finally, <<< crosses fingers behind back >>> the Euro will come back towards 1.30 this year (maybe even lower, thats 1.30+) as the Spanish finally admit their economy is as buggered as everyone else's, and the Europeans get their heads out of the sand, stop fibbing (bullshitting even) and have a real go at helping their economies via interest rate reductions and general fiscal policies like the US and UK governments have. Pity they all have 1 government for the Euro !
Gawd is that the time 