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Confessions of a Property Manager

Hi, I'm Lisa and in my blog I'm going to be spilling the beans on what it's really like to be a property manager in Spain looking after other people's properties. Your wouldn't believe some of the things that I see and happen to me. I'm going to be telling you all about it!

Welcome to my blog!
Monday, March 10, 2008 @ 9:46 PM

My name is Lisa and I own a family business in Casares Coasta with my mother Joy. We look after properties around this area, Sabinillas and Manilva, some we simply look after on behalf of the owners, others we rent out for holidays and we have recently taken on a few long term rentals.

We currently work from home, which is not always easy and dream of the day we can afford an office! My husband works in Gibraltar and we have two boys which attend the Manilva school, ages 5 (nearly 6) and 4 1/2. My mother also lives with us so as you can imagine life is far from dull in our house.

We have been slowly building up our business for the last 5 years, we have built it up from the bottom, starting out doing meet and greets, cleaning, laundry and then into property management and finally the rental side. Like any job it has its ups and downs, its frustrations and its joys.
In this blog I will be giving you "from the eyes of a property manager" Sharing the issues we face and how we deal with them. I hope it will give you an insight into what goes on behind the scenes.


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19 Comments


Justin said:
Monday, March 10, 2008 @ 8:14 PM

Hi Lisa. Glad to have you on board. I'm sure everyone will find your stuff really interesting. We absolutely love the stories you tell us so I'm sure everyone will appreciate it that you're going to be sharing them with everyone.


Maria de Castro said:
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 @ 6:52 AM

Hello Lisa:
Welcome to EOS adventure. I tell you.... you won´t get bored and thanks a lot for your coming contributions,ideas and solutions.
Maria


John said:
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 @ 7:36 AM

Welcome to EOS Lisa. Looking forward to reading your blog. How about some hints and tips on renting out apartments?


Brian Smith said:
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 @ 8:23 AM

Hi Lisa,
Welcome to EOS. I am particularly interested in reading how you have set up and moved forward your business, as this is something my partner and I have considered doing as we plan to move into the Vera Playa area of Costa Almeria.
Kind Regards

Brian Smith


Chris Mitchell said:
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 @ 8:52 AM

Keeping a wary eye out!!


Andrew Emerson said:
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 @ 4:13 PM

Welcome Lisa,
As an "end user" of proerty management services, I am particularly interested in and looking forward to, what you have to say in your blog.
Andy


RICHARD HORNSBY said:
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 @ 5:32 PM

HELLO LISA AND WELCOME
I AM A PLUMBING AND HEATING /MAINTENANCE ENGINEER MY WIFE AND I WITH TWO OF OUR CHILDREN WOULD LIKE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE YOURSELVES IN SAN PEDRO DEL PINATAR CANT WAIT TO READ ON HOW YOU GOT THINGS STARTED
REGARDS RICHARD


Julie Gallagher said:
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 @ 7:27 PM

Hi Lisa
I'll be very interested in your articles. My husband and I are moving to Spain (Murcia region) next year (fingers crossed the house is ready)and I'm thinking about moving into this type of work. So looking forward to any hints and tips you care to give away.
Best wishes
Julie


EbroVoice said:
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 @ 8:11 PM

Hi Lisa,

It will be enlightening to here of your experiences down in southern Spain as my readers in Catalonia are branching out more into this fields.

So often owners ask me why do they not get any "take up" on their rentals when they have such wonderful properties with diversified interests and activities in a beautiful part of Spain. Best of both worlds / beautiful coast nearby and wonderful mountains, river and countryside.

WE will watch your blog with interest.


ann.appleton@gmail.com said:
Wednesday, March 12, 2008 @ 10:41 AM

Hola Lisa

looking forward to reading all about your venture hopefull get some tips on how to avoid the many rogue property managment companies that spring up some times, that take your money but dont fulfill the promises and then as the owner you wonder why you dont get repeat rentals.




Jane and Graham Hawley said:
Wednesday, March 12, 2008 @ 5:10 PM

Hola Lisa, Glad you are making a success of this business. Having spoken to a few people about this kind of service it would seem that reliability and focus on standards seem to be hard to find. This is a business I would love to operate so will watch with interest.


June Hayhurst said:
Tuesday, March 18, 2008 @ 8:08 AM

Thank you Lisa for your blog re rentals. I rent my apartment in Tenerife and am experiencing the same problem with the currency exchange rate and would be very interested if you could share any tips of advertising in Europe, especially northern Europe. Does one have to write the ad in the local language etc. Any assistance greatly appreciated.


Phil said:
Tuesday, March 18, 2008 @ 2:38 PM

Hi. What about long term rentals and prices? D you have any listings. I am thinking about relocating to Spain.


Karen said:
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 @ 8:43 PM

Hi Lisa, Ive read all your posts this evening and found them interesting and amusing. You have done well, keep up the good work and I look forward reading your blogs. John requested some hints and tips on renting your own property. I'd be interested in that too!


Alan Harrison said:
Wednesday, May 28, 2008 @ 3:48 PM

Lisa,
this blog of yours will prove very useful,entertaining and I suspect also allows you to let off steam occasionally when you write.Reading between the lines it's all about customer is King and you seem to have that in spades.
My girlfriend and I are thinking of buying in Guardamar but we'll have to get over there and see for ourselves what's on offer.Thanks once again.
Alan


Oliver Jackson said:
Monday, October 20, 2008 @ 3:57 PM

I WOULD LIKE TO HEREBY EXPRESS THE DREADFUL LEGAL MANAGEMENT, THE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND THE BAD ATTITUDE OF THIS "SELF DEFINED" LAWYER.

FURTHER TO MY SEARCHES, I COULD FIND OUT THAT THE LAW FIRM MANAGED BY HER FAMILY-IGNACIO & CO- IS WELL KNOWN FOR BAD PRACTICE. THEY PROMISE YOU SUCCESS, BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE REAL LEGAL KNOWLEDGE AND PREPARATION...ALSO CONFIRM THAT COSTALUZLAWYERS COMPRISES ONLY ONE "LAWYER", MARIA CASTRO, NO PARALEGALS, NO ASSISTANTS...

SHE IS SELLING SMOKE. SHE RIPPED ME OFF AND DID NOT MANAGE TO RESOLVE MY PROBLEMS. I´M ACTUALLY IN A WORSE SITUATION NOW



Oliver Jackson said:
Monday, October 20, 2008 @ 3:58 PM

I WOULD LIKE TO HEREBY EXPRESS THE DREADFUL LEGAL MANAGEMENT, THE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND THE BAD ATTITUDE OF THIS "SELF DEFINED" LAWYER.

FURTHER TO MY SEARCHES, I COULD FIND OUT THAT THE LAW FIRM MANAGED BY HER FAMILY-IGNACIO & CO- IS WELL KNOWN FOR BAD PRACTICE. THEY PROMISE YOU SUCCESS, BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE REAL LEGAL KNOWLEDGE AND PREPARATION...ALSO CONFIRM THAT COSTALUZLAWYERS COMPRISES ONLY ONE "LAWYER", MARIA CASTRO, NO PARALEGALS, NO ASSISTANTS...

SHE IS SELLING SMOKE. SHE RIPPED ME OFF AND DID NOT MANAGE TO RESOLVE MY PROBLEMS. I´M ACTUALLY IN A WORSE SITUATION NOW



Oliver Jackson said:
Monday, October 20, 2008 @ 3:58 PM

I WOULD LIKE TO HEREBY EXPRESS THE DREADFUL LEGAL MANAGEMENT, THE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND THE BAD ATTITUDE OF THIS "SELF DEFINED" LAWYER.

FURTHER TO MY SEARCHES, I COULD FIND OUT THAT THE LAW FIRM MANAGED BY HER FAMILY-IGNACIO & CO- IS WELL KNOWN FOR BAD PRACTICE. THEY PROMISE YOU SUCCESS, BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE REAL LEGAL KNOWLEDGE AND PREPARATION...ALSO CONFIRM THAT COSTALUZLAWYERS COMPRISES ONLY ONE "LAWYER", MARIA CASTRO, NO PARALEGALS, NO ASSISTANTS...

SHE IS SELLING SMOKE. SHE RIPPED ME OFF AND DID NOT MANAGE TO RESOLVE MY PROBLEMS. I´M ACTUALLY IN A WORSE SITUATION NOW



Maria said:
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 @ 12:21 PM

Dear Oliver:

Could you please send me who you are? I do not have your name among my clients. I will be pleased to see if we did something wrong and if it is the case, to repair it.

Please give to me your name and contact details.

Best regards,

Maria L. de Castro


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