EURO RATE

Hi everyone

We have had a good week, sadly now back. Have put some more pictures on here & as you can see there are men working. We popped back on Sunday on our way to the airport & they were even working then, which was impressive. As ever all apartments are in different stages of completion, but we could see a big difference from when we was out there end of May, beginning of June. On Sunday they had started on the middle area, moving the earth.

Went to see Michelle. She said work is due to start on the commercial site in Jan 07. There is no plans to start on the villa's or 2 other developments at present as need for more properties have slowed down. Builders are still saying completion for end of Dec, however we think March to completely finish off the site. We also asked about the comunidad & Michelle said the first meeting would be arranged straight away after everyone has completed, the first one is organised for us. We saw the plan of the middle of the site & there is going to be a children's pool as well, which is good as I was not sure about this.

We found out that if you have brought with Medsea, they clean the apartments after the builders have done their clean, which I am pleased about. They also do a snagging report for us.

We are pleased with the look of the apartments & can't wait to move in & meet everybody.

Linda & Rob (31a)

Hi Linda & Rob

Many thanks for your photos.Great to see the progress.Queried the colour of the tiles in the bathrooms with Michelle last week, who said that they had been changed from the ones shown in her office in June. Seem o.k.Small bit of information--the security gate at the top of the stairs to upper appts is 1metre 40cms high.Its so reassuring after reading other forums about no progress, illegal builds, licence of occupation, dodgy workmanship & general ill feeling,that there has never been any really bad things put on about Los Olivos.May this ever continue.Thanks for your otime & trouble once again.

Regards Haydn & Judy.

Linda and Rob, Thanks for the photos - there is a definite wow factor! Great news about pools! We have been in touch with our 'personal adviser' from Atlas (this is a new role- previously you just rang the office), and they said the builder is still saying December as you have heard as well, but that she thinks they will not be ready then because of the Christmas holidays. But I think we are getting really close now! Linda

Linda and Rob, Thanks for the photos - there is a definite wow factor! Great news about pools! We have been in touch with our 'personal adviser' from Atlas (this is a new role- previously you just rang the office), and they said the builder is still saying December as you have heard as well, but that she thinks they will not be ready then because of the Christmas holidays. But I think we are getting really close now! Linda

I emailed our Atlas 'personal adviser' today and she said :

"....The date still provided by the builder is 31/12/06. However, after viewing your last report and photo, I would say realistically the builder may go over the date and
use the 3 months clause which means February or March"

Note use of the word "may" - I think that'll be a "will" then....
(even if they stick to 31/12/06, there's paperwork to prepare and snagging to be carried out so the earliest date for completion would be end Jan - but much more likely March I reckon).

However - we're not overly worried - gives us more time to get our finances sorted (hoping to avoid all those mortgage niggles by paying outright - depending on some inheritance money due my way).

At least progress appears to be pretty rapid judging by the latest photos.

We're off to Spain next weekend - but nowhere near Los Gallardos - in fact, Seville for a bit of relaxation and culture (hopefully plenty of flamenco of which we're both aficianados).

Dave & Ailsa (2A)

Hi all,

Back from another lovely week in Almeria . Nothing really to add to previous reports except to say things are really beginning to come together now. Everybody still saying end of dec to complete building work then maybe a month or two for paperwork etc. Will upload photos soon as possible.

Carole,Steve & Calum (27B)                                                 

Thanks for the photo's. Was there any more progress on the pool area?

Also does any one know what colour our kitchen units are?

Linda & Rob (31a)

Photographs are great - there really is rapid progress now it seems, at least on the exterior. The interiors look pretty much as they did when we were there in September, but I suppose they all vary. Linda and Rob, the kitchen units in the show home were a sort of cherry wood colour I think (but I could be wrong) - and anyway they don't seem to be sticking to exactly the same details. Best wishes, Linda

Looks like they are just about to start pool area. There were a couple of  diggers on site and the area had been cleared and levelled.You can just see this on one of the photos.

I have to say, we are all well behaved and patient aren't we? When the Jacarandas got to this stage people were tearing their hair out! Los Olivos does seem to be making steady progress! Best wishes, Linda

Hi All

I've just spent two weeks laid up with a bad back and, now that I am mobile again, have just gone down with a heavy cold.  Oh, for warmer climates.  Okay, so I might still get a bad back or a cold out there but I suspect I will care less about it!

Love the new photos.  Things really do seem to be happening quite quickly now.

Salud......Terry 19b

I think everybody is now back from holidays over in Spain, so no more progress reports, which is going to be hard & a testing time. However we know someone who is living on HN, who has said he would try to keep us informed how the site is going.

I am getting over a cold & Rob now has another one. He had better not give it back to me. Central heating now on, but I hear it is still lovely & warm in Spain

I have now handed in my notice at work, given them 3 months. It will be sheer bliss not to do that drive to work. I will not miss the traffic or the road works, which are crazy.

I already have a picture in my mind how our new home will look, when we make it our own with what I want to buy, but don't tell Rob.

I think it is all so exciting, a new start & making new friends & not long to go now.

Linda & Rob (31a)

Thanks C.S.& Ca, the photos are great.

Linda your enthusiasm & outlook are so uplifting,that it,s infectious.If the atmosphere created on this forum is maintained when we are enjoying our permanent / holiday homes then Los Olivos will be an idyllic community.Best wishes to all.

Haydn & Judy.

Hi All

Just got back from a break in Mojacar, to check on what progress is being made. I have got to say that although there are not vast amounts of workers the ones that are there are making excellent progress and working late on into the evening as well. I have placed some photos on the site which show kitchens/bathroom tiling etc etc. All look extremely good quality. Still some progress to be made with the pool/communal area though. As regards timescales, end of Dec looks a little optimistic though but we understand that this is still the information still being given out.

Another thing to report is that around the town of Los Gallardos there appears to be alot of construction going on, since we were there in March 06, the service station across the road from the site has acquired a rather flash cafe that was always packed on a lunchtime.

John & Pam

Thanks Pam & John for the photo's. They show more progress has been made since we were out there, which was only just over 2 weeks ago. The pool I am sure, will soon be in. Just think in a few months, we will be in there having a swim in the lovely sunshine.

By the way what was the weather like when you were out there?

Linda & Rob

Great photos - such progress in only a few short weeks! That is definitely a hole pool appearing!!!!!

 

(Ours still isn't rendered though!!!!)

Ali & Ken 11a

I've just uploaded yet more photos - courtesy of Mike & Sheila who are in Jacarandas - photos taken on their recent trip (they are going out again Dec 9-17 so hopefully we'll get some pre-Christmas news & pictures !!).
I think these are the best pictures yet - very good detail and pin-sharp.

Dave (2A)

Hi all - I thought I would break the silence!!! Does anyone know if the heavy rain has held up the work on Los Olivos significantly? We have still heard nothing re completion dates. Hope everyone well, Linda

Thanks Linda for breaking the silence &Daveailsa for the great photos.

As we are nearing our provisional completion date i hesitate to ask the next question

Under who,s auspices do we come &where do we formally complete?

Today on Viva Almeria (buying property) there is an English translation on the latest edict from the Junta which is the latest chapter in the ongoing saga of illegal builds, corrupt officials &collusive agents builders &solicitors.The template for allowing already built ,being built,&proposed ,even if legal, is that each locale must not expand by more than 30% over 8 years-ref population.My concern is that the Draconian measures proposed are now ,as mentioned,on our doorstep i.e.Vera, Albox, Almanzora,etc..We engaged Fursters solicitors in Vera,courtesy of Parador,who so far have behaved impeccably, but we did all the legal workat the notary in Vera &our Spanish contract mentions that we are in the area of Almanzora.To counter this i think that the pedigree of the people already living on Huerta Nueva would have forwarned us.However,wheredo we complete?

I think i,ll stick to just reading Los Olivos forum & go to bed with pleasant thoughts.

Besr regards Haydn & Judy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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We've been in touch with our contact, Jane, at Atlas's Client Service Centre about dates for completion.
I asked about a realistic date (am getting tired of hearing "builder is still saying end-Dec....") as I wanted to set up a forward-contract with a currency broker. I suggested that from pictures and progress reports this would not be earlier than March.
She replied asking if we had a date in mind in March that we would like to come over to complete.
I replied back saying "how about week commencing 26th March?".
Today I got a further reply saying "we would like to inform you that I have spoken to the builders office and spoken to Michelle, she has informed me that at present they cannot guarantee that the property will be totally complete for the dates you would like to come".
I have asked if this definitely means that the earliest for completion is some time in April as that is what she seems to be intimating - am awaiting a reply.
So, could be another 4 months at least....

Dave, 2A