IT'S OFFICIAL!

We operate a professional snagging inspection company in Spain www.inspectahomespain.com and have now been instructed by a number of buyers to inspect properties on this site

Something new has happened with this builder in that, unlike any other builder that we have worked with in the area, they insist that this inspection can only be carried out after you have completed and signed, which for a variety of reasons,a totally unacceptable practice

We have checked more than 1500 properties in Spain and regularly find defects, which are serious enough, for us to advise the owner not to complete. We find properties that are not complete, properties with dangerous electrical faults and more details can be found on the various articles that have been publish on this website and in local papers such as Coastrider and Costa Blanca

Just to clarify however 97% of all properties checked only have minor problems.

This week on www.coastrider.net are running an article about this builder failing to respond to some building problems

I am not saying that they are the worst buildre in the area and typically you will see the normal defects like tiling, painting, water pipes blocked etc, but once you have completed and paid you are not in good position to get things done, especially when they get busy with repairs and completions

If anybody has already completed and snagged I will carry out 1 inspection for FREE so that I can show people what they might be missing as I am unhappy with the practices of this builder and the agents, specifically MASA, EUROLAND and ATLAS are failing to properly advise the customers

The latest reason they have given to keep us from checking is

Please insists that you have access to inspect BEFORE completion

This message was last edited by inspectahomespain on 1/20/2007.

On Friday 19th Jan, I discovered that Insptahomespain were being refused access to my intended home prior to me coming over to sign on the dotted line.  I contacted our agents Euroland and asked why and was told it was not the done thing  It is difficult to argue on the phone with someone who's first language is Spanish, but when I reminded him, I was the customer and I wanted it, I was told the builders insurance would not allow access to anyone other than their employees.  When I asked if I would be insured when I checked the property prior to signing, he couldn't answer that one.  In the end I sent an email asking them to make a formal request to the buidlers to allow the company in and asked that I received a written response with the reasons why they were not allowing access.  As Inspectahomespain rightly says, what chance have you got of the builders coming back to complete any snags when everyone seems to be completing around the same time and as I have read elsewherethe builders are running round to keep to deadlines, especially when they already have your money.  Incidentally, I am already aware of one defect on my property where the solarium wall is massively out of level and may need a rebuild!.  I could just imagine a team of bricklayers trampling through my newly cleaned home with bricks and mortar, whilst I am trying to sunbathe!  I will try and keep you posted.

This message was last edited by r3dde on 1/21/2007.

This message was last edited by inspectahomespain on 2/8/2007.

As we are purchasing a top floor apartment in Dream Hills 2, we were very interested in the results of the inspections you have already carried out. Also grateful to you for taking the time to post the results.

Of particular interest were your comments about the bathroom extractor fans. We agree that these are essential, but when we made a request for these to be fitted, we were informed that the builder did not fit them.

From your knowledge of this type of property do you know if we will be able to have these fitted at a later date - we are not due to complete until December 2007? I wondered whether the problem might be due to a lack of an external wall. Can you please advise?

Thanks

There is no problem fiting these as although there is no legal requirement to find these in Spain the vents in the bathrooms have to be connected to an outside air vent which is located on the roof terraces

You fit the fans and then wire them into the lighting circuits with a 15 minute delay circuit

Thanks very much for that information inspectahomespain. Still puzzled as to why the builder would not fit these, but nevertheless we are reassured that we will be able to have these essential items fitted later.

Thanks again.

Hi Smiley,

Have just got back from Spain having done initial snagging, but couldn't get anyone to sign it on site! Also had great difficulty in getting anyone to take a copy of it!

Jules

Hi,

For those of you in the same boat as us - completed and awaiting for snagging to be done - then I hope that you are having better luck than us!

We submitted our list to the show home and then.....nothing! We chased this up with Torrevisa who claimed not to have seen it and were amazed that we gave it to the show home (Hello, that's what is says to do on the form!) and so we re-submitted it via our solicitors and then.... nothing!

Well tell a lie, they did come in and try and fix a few things but the key word is 'try' and actually the list remains almost in its entirity untouched. I've deliberately not mentioned the fact that we completed just before Xmas and so we're actually talking 4 months and we're still waiting. Have now got to the stage where we will have to make a formal complaint as recommended by Inspectahomes and hopefully that will get them moving!

If you haven't completed yet, whilst you will get loads of pressure from agents and the builders to do so I would stronlgy recommend that you don't if at all possible as the only way these people are going to learn if is it starts to hit them in the pocket.

Ian

Our snagging was done at the beginning of February 2007, and our list was sent to the builders.  To date the builders won't respond to my emails, so I have no idea where we are up to, which is very frustrating whilst being stuck in the UK.  Our estate agents won't help as we used an independant snagging company, which is just a load of rubbish.  It seems to be true, once they have your money they will not assist further.

In saying all this, we still can't wait to get back over to Spain.

Martin

I have been checking places this week and some progress has been made on the snagging repairs

As normal with Spanish builders yiu just have to pester them but it can be a slow process

We like to deliver good news so I am delighted to advise some good feedback from this development

The fact is that often the build of different phases of a development are supervised by different foremen and we often see a marked difference in quality and this was evident today

There were still a few issues with finish and especially cleaning of the oustide areas but nothing major

We checked 2 ground properties in the 300 number range and found very few of the defects that we found on the 400 number range, in fact the finish was good

The only concern was on the power as we monitored the voltage for 1 hour and measured a variation between 208v - 237v with regular power spikes. The flickering of the lights was noticable so you should protect appliances, TV, computer and sat box with an anti surge lead, easily bought form the local DIY shops

 

 

This message was last edited by inspectahomespain on 4/27/2007.

Just to keep people advised  that a buyer has been given permission to inspect his property 2 days prioer to the agreed completion date

More buyers should do this so at least you can refuse to complete if there are big problems

 

Came over in March 2007 to complete,  Inspected apartment and refused to complete.

Still waiting for Torrivisa the builders to make good, Please check before signing.

my agent and solicitor are finding the builder hard work.

Cameron.

Hi folkes

               We were supposed to complete december also yawn,yawn. we bought 386a i'd just like to know at what  stage do you get the snagging list, what to look for, who to hand it in to, how long we have to make up the list, and any other information would be helpfull to all waiting completion whenever that maybe. cheers! steve.

Stevie G 

we completed in February 2007 and we still haven't got our jobs done. I send at least 2 emails a week to the builders asking to complete the outstanding work.  I always put a read receipt on the email so I know they are recieving them, but they do not respond.  I rang last week, but the person who I needed to speak to was busy and didn't ring back.  Last week I sent a letter by recorded delivery outlining my dissatisfaction and I wait to see what that will achieve.  I had one email back and the lady said she could find no record of my snagging list submission.  The snagging company I used confirmed that the snagging list had been sent by post, email, fax and a copy left with the showhouse.  Although I have previously been employed in the building game, I decided to use an independant company who checked electric, plumbing and general build,  as I did not feel confident enough to check electrics.  I am glad I did this as there were problems with unearthed plug sockets. The bathrooms look like they have been tiled in the dark.  I think you only have a small number of days between taking possession and submitting your detailed list, but they are supposed to fix everything within 15 days.

There are one or two articles on eye on spain regarding snagging which are worth reading.  Good luck

Martin

This message was last edited by r3dde on 5/13/2007.

Hi Martin

 Thanks for the info ,we,re on R4 urb, i take it your somewhere else if you completed in feb 07 or did you move in without the habitation licence. is this why we're being advised not to complete before the ( LFO) is issued, to make sure everythings in order, as once you have completed and the builder gets his money it's (adios amigos) cheers and hope you get things sorted eventually. cheers

                     Steve.

Hi Stevie,

it looks you are my diagonally upstairs neighbour. We completed end of Feb. You have 15 days to bring in your snagging list to the pilot house and as far I know they have to take care of the reparings within 6 months. At this stage, every time I go back, something has been done. My list was not that long but I can confirm that partly 'they tiled the bath room in the dark' and spoiled quite some cement,

Joop

Hi Joop

Thanks for the info, we still have not heard anything about our completion date yet, hope it's not too long. look forward to meeting all our new neighbours, anymore of our neighbours out there on or about R4?  

sorry my wife's just informed me were at 368 not 386 drrrr! bet someone thought they had bought into a timeshare ! sorry.