Heating - Gas or Electric?

Hi,

I was wondering what is the latest development / progress with everything at La Entrada in regards to the Secrurity booth? Are we getting a guard back there soon, or is it permanetly decided that the guard would rotate the different phases in his new booth located between us, Panorama Park, and the (third phase, La Recoletta)?

If so, has anyone in the comitee decided what are they going to do with that booth? and in regards to the intercom.... on the main gate outside, do we still have to leave the apartment to come down to open for guest? or all the way to the main Iron gate by the old guard booth to open for visitors?

I mean, we (all of us that owns an apartment there!!) pays a hell of alot money each month in community fees for the maintenace and well keeping of our community, and I sincerely mean that we should get something back in terms of better info, better security and general HI-Tech equip. for our apartments (For Christ sake's it suppose to be a 5 star beach resort) as PROCLAIMED when we all decided in last few years before overtaking (last year) saw the invest opportunities when purchasing our apartments! So, our dear president and all others elected into the community should be working maybe a bit harder and get things back on track, or in place pretty soon. It's been nearly a year since completion, and things should be up and working by now!!!

I see alot of complains and general unsatisfaction with the builder Gomendio, and I fully agree that they have done a very bad job in terms of handing over the apartments, the lack of cupboards in the Kitchen and bathrooms (basically the whole apartment was 60-75% completed), it was a fusstrating just to get them to do complete the snags ( alot of snags), and in terms of workmanship and quality of the apartment, I feel that we have overpaid and didn't get our money's worth..........         I am not sure now how the outcome of the legal process is working out, but Good Luck to those who have tried. However, whatever the outcome is, it is time that we concentrate on getting the couumnity back on track and not just to sue for a mere kitchen or bathroom cupboard. I have spent numerous thousands of euros to have shelves, cupboards place up in the Kichen, bathroom (even the simple thing of having a toilett roll and brush holder, towel hanging holder was not included in the bathrooms!!!), extra spot-lights installed, and shelves place in the hugh cupboard in the bedrooms,. Things that usually are normally installed in a new or used apartment anywhere in the World, be it the U.K, Norway and the rest of Europe. Just to make my apartment a normal comfortable home when I am or family (and freinds) are spending our holidays there.

I haven't joined the lawsuit or hand in any claims, as I feel that it would not hold up in the Spanish courts,(and I may be wrong!!!)  but I do wish and support all of you that choose that path, but I have choose to just accept that the builder is one (words that wouldn't be suitable to be written here!!!), just the mere thought of seeing or speaking with the builder's Rep.s at the their office in Panorama Park makes me sick! I have choose to go on with my apartment, and re-doing most of it, new bathrooms, tiles etc. and to make it the way I want it to be, and to the standard probably not found in Spain, but those of home.

So, I sincerly hope that once this law suit is completed, that we that live in La Entrada can concentrate on making the community a happy, pleasent place to live, and go on with the day  to day life, and most importantly to get everything back on track be it the intercom, the security guard issue, the putting green etc. And maybe the president, and all of us in the community should get in touch with like the community of Panorama Park, and make ours La Entrada a part of their community and join their website (I am sure in the long run, it would benefit all of us, and them) and once the later phases are completed on the bearen land leading to the half completed, rocky beach (as promised to be turned into a beach lagoon resort by the builder!!!), they could join.........once their community are establised, and the wholde area would and might look more like the Senorio de Punta Prima 5-star Beach Resort as advertised by the builder and real estates agents (inkl. the real estates agents that are in the pockets of the builders.... and there are plenty of them and I'm sure we know who they are.........)

Kind regards, and have a nice summer holiday in Spain! or wherever you may be.

I propose we try to get all three communities to work closely together for the general development of Punta Prima.

In addition the standard of the apartments in Recoletta is much, much higher than La Entrada. And Panoramic park is far higher too. I think we were the guinea pigs to see where they could save money. They have got away without too much back lash from us (only 16 residents are suing) - they know they simply would not get away with it on a new development too.

Its not just bathrooms and kitchens - I am missing a balcony outside my master bedroom and I paid the same price as the apartment that did have the terrace outside the main balcony.

I agree about the inercoms...its ridiculous.

What is the situation on re voting for a new president? We need somebody far more proactive and who has a web presence. We need someone who wants to get things done. Our community charges are very high and I dont mind paying them as long as they are maintaining a five star development!!

Some of you may have noticed that I was ''named and shamed' on the minutes of the meeting for a slight arrears on paying my charges. I would like to let you know that this is not arrears but payment they were chasing me for two months before I completed.

Both my solicitor and I could not see why they would expect me to pay charges on a property that I did not legally own. They wanted payment for Nov & Dec but I didn't complete until Jan of this year. My solicitor explained that Gomendio and Gesfin are very friendly and in each others pocket. He explained they were ''just trying it on'' and sure enough they have now wiped it....and so they should, it wasn't money I owed!! Gomendio just didn't want to cover the cost of an empty apartment for two months but they were quite happy to be over six months late in developing it!   It goes to show that a less stubborn person may have felt pressured to pay that and would have been ripped off.

I estimate that Gomendio saved over £400,000 GBP on our development in cutting corners and sub standard finish.....thats a hell of a lot of money and I know for a  fact that alot of agentshave now dropped them....that is why Recoletta has a much or as ecpected finish....they couldnt take any more bad press. Which is lucky for us as we have invested in Punta Prima as an area and we want it to  continue to grow.

Does any one have any ideas on how we can work smarter as a community ?

As much as I love the development and hate to always seem so negative it really saddens me that everything is such a battle.

The maintenance company are very much in the pocket of Gomendio so I

Hi, There was an AGM, but I didn't attend, so this is the only way that we're going to change the President etc is if we attend the AGM  and vote!  I agree he's not proactive and I would love to see web presence, community news etc. Why not join forces with Panoramic Park, they've got a great website and I'm sure there's a lot of informtaion that they're getting that would be useful to us. There is defintly a feel of lack of community and support.  Gesfin I have found to be very helpful, remember they are not elected as such they are employed to manage on our behalf. I've found them to be informative and very useful - well worth a visit at their office. 

I didn't inlcude myself in the kitchen action as quite frankly I don't have any faith in Spanish lawyers. I'm sure yours is fine, but mine will not give me a final account of my purchase and ignores on my e mails on the subject.  I kept being told when i queried figures, it will all be clear in teh final account, but for the last year, they've not given me a thing!!! So, you can see why I'm a bit adverse to dealing with any action, but I wish you luck.

I don't see any progress, proactive measures for La Entrada. i still can't believe that we have to provide our own sunbeds!!!  Everytime we go to the pool we have to lug our chairs/sunbeds down. Why can't we have nice wooden ones available that are left down by the pool - it would look so much nicer. I aksed about this and was told that there was nowhere to store them and people wold be towels on them which would cause arguments!! Well how do other developments/hotesl manage???  It looks shabby. What about the mud around the main pool, whta's happening here?  I really don't feel we have a forum to bring these type of issues up. We should have a website where we put our ideas/complaints and somebody responds.  Also, what's happening iwth the planters!!!  We were told that the gardeners didn't see it as there responsiblity - well make it their responsbility. it looks so ugly without plants. 

I feel like there is so much negativity for what should be a very postiive experience.

 

 

 

I get upset at people continually having a "Pop" at the president of the community. For those of you not aware he took the position at the first AGM because nobody else had the bottle to do it. There were lots of people at the AGM who were very happy to put forward lots of worthy suggestions until it came to the time when they had to do something about it. If he is that bad then why don't you put yourselves forward ? I hear you say he should be more proactive and perhaps there is something in that however it's sometimes difficult when you don't get support from the troops you are trying to work for. Negativity, I agree with you as all you seem to want to do is complain about someone who took a position that none of you wanted and gives up his own time on your behalf just to be put down buy you at every oppurtunity. I think he should walk away for his good and let you all continue with the stone throwing, when your there.

As regards the builders, I've said previously that I wish those taking the builders to court over the kitchens all the very best but nowhere in my contract does it say that we would get wall units. Fitted kitchen with white goods is what was written in the contract that we signed and thats what we got.. As regards the missing balcony, I'm very sure that with the documents signed at the onset there was a plan of the block with the appartment on it and it also didn't have a balcony. La Recoleta of a higher standard, I can't comment as I've not seen them but I know they are of a higher price for the same size appartment and the open areas are much much smaller. Panorama park isn't in my opinion of a higher standard and also didn't come with wall units in the kitchen ! You can also buy plants at any number of garden centres, we did and I agree with you it does look better.

I like what we have and its what we signed for. That there are some points to be resolved isn't under dispute its just expecting someone else to do it for you is the issue. And when someone does try they just get a lot of verbal form you. If you want to improve things work with the President not against him.

This message was last edited by Tony P on 8/11/2007.

This message was last edited by Tony P on 8/11/2007.

Tony please don’t take our opinions personally. This is a forum where people express there concerns....and we all have different concerns for different reasons.

I don’t think anyone is having a 'pop' at the current president. It is just very difficult to make contact with him as he doesn't seem to have much of an online presence. Furthermore I can appreciate it is probably quite a difficult job to do but maybe we could share his workload if he talks or communicates with us? The only information I have is of the minutes from the meeting which unfortunately I was unable to attend due to work commitments. Other than the minutes of the meeting, this forum is the only other means I have of gaining information on our development.

With regards to him being ''the only person to have any guts' to take on the role as president, I think that’s a little unfair. I, for one, did not complete until January of this year and these things were already in place. What we are now suggesting is that we try and work smarter as a community as everything has been trial and error to date. It is essential that we communicate via the internet as some people will find it impossible to make the meetings. It would be helpful if the president posted on here a process and infrastructure on how we can all work together. He could discuss his concerns with us and we can help.

Some people are happy with there apartments and some are not. If you got exactly what you expected then im sure it may be annoying to hear about our dissatisfaction. But if like me you struggled to find the deposit money by draining every last financial resource along with remortgaging my property here, then I have every right to challenge Gomendio. La Entrada is not a luxury second home. It is my pension. I struggled to find 45k and did it on my own with out a partner. So forgive me if I seem concerned on the way the development has turned out and what will happen in the future.

The reason I am suing is because fortunately for me I have the paperwork to strengthen my case. Some people are unable to sue as they don’t have proof of what they were expecting. I am in possession of an email from Gomendio clearly stating there would be vanity units in the bathrooms and in my Spanish contract it states there will be kitchen wall units but it is not mentioned in my English contract. Furthermore, as I explained I actually used to sell the properties at this development and Gomendio were deemed to have an excellent reputation from Madrid and their first development at Panoramic park lived up to our expectations. Am I so wrong to try to challenge Gomendio? If our posts offend you so much Tony and you are happy with both your apartment and the way the community is run......then perhaps you shouldn't come on to this site and read what we have to say. - I don’t mean that sarcastically!

Gomedio cocked up on allocating my apartment- hence why I didn't complete until Jan this year. I dealt with them as a builder direct. The balcony is just something I will have to live with and was the same list price as the apartment that does have a balcony from the master bedroom. That was just of a whole heap of problems that I have had since completing....so yes I was more than a little dis appointed after picturing myself waking up in the mornings and stepping out onto my terrace for the past three years.....but for this I don’t have a leg to stand on as the deal was done over the phone and I was a little too trusting of the developer I was currently representing ( and had earlier that day sold one of the apartments in the block I bought in ). So please, a little less sarcasm in your post Tony.

So moving forward, the spec of our apartments are being dealt with by individuals on a private basis. Good luck to those who are suing. I hope we get the result we want.

So now how do we best get the community working together and on the same side?

First and foremost we need a website. This can be done with little expense. Then we need to consider hosting which again can be done with little expense. I own an E commerce website and would be happy to run the site on my server. I will find out the costings but it should be minimal. Perhaps others could find out some costings too?

Content of the website?
Pictures, things to do and see, services of key holders and taxi drivers etc for promotion of the development and then perhaps a member login area that all owners have access to where all updates can be posted or even a link to this site that leads to this forum.

Secondly, I propose we help the current president but in order for us to do this he needs to establish contact with us. I think we need to try and establish who has internet access and collate as many email addresses as possible. Once we have that info we could then maybe send out a monthly news letter that we could take turns in writing?

AGM Meetings.

Could it be an option that issues that will be raised and discussed at the meetings are briefed to people in writing/email before the meeting takes place? Could we consider electing someone who will be present to vote on our behalf in our absence? I have not been able to attend the last two meetings but really wanted to but just couldn't with my work commitments.

Does anyone have any comments or suggestions on any of the above?

Suki

Let's be very clear:

1)  I WAS told that I would have a fully fitted kitchen with a breakfast bar.  Neither was true. At no time was I ever told that I would just have bottom units.  To infer that we should have questioned the contract becuase it didn't explicity state that we would have top units is like asking if we are going to have doors on the wardrobes - ridiculous.

2) Gomiendo 50% of the time have been unhelpful. Their attitute has been aggressive and unhelpful. I'm not a shy, retiring person and I found thier approach upsetting. Indeed last time I went to the Sales Office I was told that there wasn't going to be  a Marina and if I was told there was going to be then to go back to my estate agent.  So what about their sales literature explicity stating there is going to be a marina? The whole thing stinks.  La Roceleta is getting a better deal because sales are slower than before - it doesn't take a lot of working out.

3)  I suggested a website to the President and got no response.  Somebody did volunteer to put one together and indeed I've just been informed has registered the domain name.  Yes the President has a tough job and yes we should be more supportive, so why doesn't he send out a letter/email asking for volunteers etc?  It can be done through this forum or by letter. I would certainly love to help make La Entrada a better community and even though I'm in the UK, I'm sure there I could contribute somehow.  Why not get a list of ideas and put them together. There's so much we can do, but the President or Secretary need to set the ball rolling

4) I've contacted Gesfin about the planing and done some research on air plants that might be suitable. These are all things that we can help with if giving hte chance and a forum to communicate.  We can even maybe organise a confernence call to discuss the community. There's so much that can be done......

So, can we come up with an action plan?  Can you help?  There's the 3 of us and the guy that is doing the website already that should like we want to be active. I'm sure there are others too???

Let's be very clear:

1)  I WAS told that I would have a fully fitted kitchen with a breakfast bar.  Neither was true. At no time was I ever told that I would just have bottom units.  To infer that we should have questioned the contract becuase it didn't explicity state that we would have top units is like asking if we are going to have doors on the wardrobes - ridiculous.

2) Gomiendo 50% of the time have been unhelpful. Their attitute has been aggressive and unhelpful. I'm not a shy, retiring person and I found thier approach upsetting. Indeed last time I went to the Sales Office I was told that there wasn't going to be  a Marina and if I was told there was going to be then to go back to my estate agent.  So what about their sales literature explicity stating there is going to be a marina? The whole thing stinks.  La Roceleta is getting a better deal because sales are slower than before - it doesn't take a lot of working out.

3)  I suggested a website to the President and got no response.  Somebody did volunteer to put one together and indeed I've just been informed has registered the domain name.  Yes the President has a tough job and yes we should be more supportive, so why doesn't he send out a letter/email asking for volunteers etc?  It can be done through this forum or by letter. I would certainly love to help make La Entrada a better community and even though I'm in the UK, I'm sure there I could contribute somehow.  Why not get a list of ideas and put them together. There's so much we can do, but the President or Secretary need to set the ball rolling

4) I've contacted Gesfin about the planing and done some research on air plants that might be suitable. These are all things that we can help with if giving hte chance and a forum to communicate.  We can even maybe organise a confernence call to discuss the community. There's so much that can be done......

So, can we come up with an action plan?  Can you help?  There's the 3 of us and the guy that is doing the website already that should like we want to be active. I'm sure there are others too???

Im very much in agreement with everything you have said Lousien. Lets get everyone working together. If the president no longer wants to do the job then maybe he should  stand down and we vote someone new in. If he is happy to continue then please let us assist and lessen the load.

For those who are interested in getting some conference calls going and partaking in them can you please list your skype address on this post or by private message. Or maybe I will start a new post for it.

For those of you who don't know what Skype is then please go to

http://www.skype.com/download/skype/windows/

Skype allows you to call other people on Skype ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD...............FREE!

It is free to download and works off your internet connection all you need is a microphone which you can buy on the sykpe website or ebay or most nokia phone microphones are compatible with pc's.. Skype to Skype is completely free. Please do not get confused with costs listed on their website - those costs are related to landlines and mobiles etc

Once you have downloaded skype you can search for contacts. If you want to add me then search under Suki Humby, Southampton, UK.

Please not I have broken my skpe microphone and am waiting for a new wifi skpe phone to arrive so you will only be able to skype by instant message until the new phone is here.

Hope this is of use.

Thanks

Suki