Hi there.
I assume you guys are all new purchasers at the new end of the building that never stops growing!!
Elaine and I have owned in Block 8 for 2 years and from what I am reading you are having very similar experiences to us! At one point I had virtually given up on ever seeing my deposit or the apartment!
We got back home last night and it was a very hot week and I have observed the progress to the pool and tennis court area.We never believed that they would put the finishing touches to it until your block was completed due to the mess that would get into the pool etc.
If we can share a few experiences with you hopefully you will have a better understanding and hopefully not fall into the same depressed state that we did when teying to get info on what was really going on.Here are a few things that may help you:
1.If you have purchased through Iberian or Atlas you are on you own from the second they have your final payment!! Their aftersales dept doesnt want to know especially if its likely to cost them money
2.Make sure you have a thorough inspection of your property before you sign( Iberian or whoever will possibly tell you that they cant get access to show you-dont fall for that-once you have signed its too late!) Make a list of any snags-look out for patios that wont lock/fit,chipped enamel in the bath(s),boiler works and is fitted properly,all light switches are working,water is running,toilet pans arent cracked,the place has been cleaned properly-you will be removing tile grout for months!
3.Take the list to your solicitor and assuming its a good solicitor 9see point 4!) they will get the jobs done before you sign.
4.Ref solicitors-there are very good ones and very bad ones.We had Iberians recommendation-Aroca Seiquer and Associates-they presented me with a bill for 20,000 euros on the day we were to sign.That quickly became 9000 when I told them where to stuff it!! They said it was so high because thay didnt know we had a mortgage on part of the purchase price-I showed them THEIR letter of acknowledgement from months earlier.They also didnt acknowledge that I had pre paid them 2000 euros 1 year earlier until I showed them their receipt!! lesson is take all your paperwork/proof when you go to sign.We know of a very good lawyer called PSB Moises Juberias y Asociados sl tel 965706035.Also get an agreed price from them so you know how much to expect.
5.ref Certification of Habitation-well this is a lottery.If you are an early buyer you probably wont get one until the whole block is nearing completion(unless a brown envelope moves around amongst the powers that be!) We couldnt move in because of this and it was because the builder was in dispute with the lift installer which took forever and which Iberian could never ever get to the bottom of-not that they wanted to anyway!
6.ref the builder-They are secure but until recently it was run by the old man who we met who must be near 100 years old.A lovely guy but obviously lost his marbles.His daughter has now taken over and since then the work you see recently has been moving again.The site was being run by sub contractors who she fired off.
7.Ref Block 7 well yes there is now a massive hole which one of our residents nearly drove into hence the hasty construction ot the white wall! We dont actually have confirmation that it will be another block but probably yes it will be.At the moment we still dont have a ramp for our garage and we thought it may have been that.
8.ref the old blocks-it seems hard work to get them to accept the Brits but I am sure that will come (I actually have a key to their pool - the one that Iberian said we would have access to-another lie-but I wont say how I got it!!!!-it was legal and uncompromising though)I just make a point of saying Ola to any of them when I meet them.I will break them down!
9.When you do get water and electric connected make sure you set up a standing order with the suppliers or they will constantly cut off your supply WITHOUT NOTICE-it will happen at the worst possible moment!
On the positive side?? Well we love the apartment and it is well constructed and Campoamor is the reason we bought there.It is very affluent and not just a concrete jungle.The weather never lets us down and we can play golf all day if we want.The red wine is good and even the cheap stuff is superb!
I heard that some of the apartments in your blocks are 2 storey? Is that true?
Hope to see you there by the pool sometime
Regards
Mark and Elaine Winters