Site Visit

We used Gordon for the snag over at CDS as i thought it would be cheaper than going over myself.

We got the list to the builder and asked them to sort it out prior to completion and i got Gordon to check all was done prior to signing. There was a little delay tho as Gordon forgot to send the Spanish copy to the builders so their men could do the snags and it got a bit close to completion date before they had it all done, well most of it done, you know what there like and also there not as good over at cds as they are on this complex. He does likes his moisture meter does our Gordon though! The plan was to go over a month after completion to check everything was done (get the odd bits finished) and to sort out furniture etc which seemed to work.

I'm suprised at the rebuild valuation in relation to CDS though, must check that out.

We have electric shutters fitted to bed 1 & bed 2 patios but no shutters at all fitted on the living room patio. We are on the 1st floor and told this is standard for 1st floor. I'm told the gnd floor patios and doors and windows should all have shutters. 

Ian

This message was last edited by Ianmack on 11/9/2007.

I hope you don't mind a posting from a nosy neighbour from CDS, I was looking to see if your clubhouse is open yet. Re insurance - get a quote from www.schofields.co.uk, marginally better policy than intasure (lower excess, better accidental damage cover and marginally cheaper) I have no affiliation to them, but we use them for our UK holiday homes and our apartment across the road from you. They pay out without quibbling too.

I sorted out my own water connection, free, easy and quick and Solbank Prestige Care did the electric, again free quick and easy, Both were connected within 48 hours, whereas our solicitor averages 6 weeks and lots of Euros. For electric, I think the power consumption was 5 ish for a 2bed, 2bath with aircon. If you need a finite answer, please send me a pm and I will double check my paperwork, too late to rummage tonight.

Furniture - I can really recommend Furniture Direct on the N340 coming out of Estepona towards Casares (formerly Galeria). Sergio is incredibly helpful and the more you buy, the more he gives deals. Cash helps too. If your apts are lacking in storage space, I recommend the lift up base storage beds - best thing we bought and available in 10 days from Sergio. Great for storing extra linen and personal belongings if you are renting out.

I know a great curtain lady too, fantastic service, excellent prices, pm me for details.

Sorry for the intrusion and nosiness, but it wasn't that long ago that we were floundering around finding so much out ourselves!

Emma

More photos at   CasaresGolfGardens.co.uk/photos

This message was last edited by CasaresKeith0710 on 11/16/2007.

Hi all

Thanks keith for the photo's, the clubhouse looks great, very promising.

Phoned Intasure re the insurance and they have given me a lower quote for my apt over at CDS based on floor area as stated in an earlier post. They were quite happy to quote on floor area even though i had a diff quote from the mortgage valuation which was higher. They have quoted based on 90sqm living area and contents of £10k. I will obviously use the same method for my apt on golf gardens.

Has anyone else been given a completion date yet.

Ian

Got my lawyer to talk to Developers and we now have a completion date of 21st Jan 2008.

Got it snagged out and things looking good, only minor items and excellent report on quality of build. Developer has promised to have all snags done before completion date. All we need now is the club house fully open and we have a great developement.

Ian

 

Good to hear that things are moving for you at last.

Seems you guys are more lucky than we are; phase 2 seems to have vanished from the globe, and the girls in the office don't even bother any more to reply to the requests for information.   I'm glad your reactions tot the quality are so good.  And indeed according  to the pictures it starts looking a fantastic place.  If only their skills in communication would we half as good as the presumed quality of the work ....

In any case, I follow with great intrest all your stories, since I 'll have to go through them as well sooner or later.

Merry christmas to all of you, and hopefully next year we'll be able to have a christmas drink together on the clubhouse terrace;

Wim   

Hi Wim

Regarding the girls in the office, Caroline now works on a developement in Mijas and Paloma has had a baby and is on maternity leave. The new girl is called Azucena (Azu) and her email address is: ablazquez@casaresgolf.com

Phase two is making progress and most of the blocks are near to completion and they are working on the freshwater pool at the moment which again is nearly done. The Spa is probably 70% done by now assuming progress made from my last visit in Sept when it was about 40% done. They are also forming the gardens and walkways and if anything like phase one should be very good.

Which block are you in and when was you last over there.

Ian

Hi Ian,

 Thanks for the information.

I'm in block 16.   We haven't seen the place since may.  Due to the continuous delays we always postponed our visit; we now think of going over in january. 

So last time I saw it was may 2007.  In Belgium we would have assumed the appartment needed 4 more weeks of work. ( it was merely ready, except for the painting, the timberwork and the cleaning).  It is clear that phase 2 is not a priority.  I also assume they would like to collect some money before they continue.  One thing that is bothering me though is that the aval has not been renewed after the expiration date.  They promised my laywer this would take a few weeks, but weeks turned into 5 month by now.  I keep wondering how lousy they keep informing their customers.  By ignoring these requests they only make me angry.  Being in business myself, I have some experience in transmitting bad news messages.  If you treat customers decently at that time and keep them correctly informed about the reasons for the delay, and the new planning, they usually accept that.  Of course in that case you need a new planning that you can respect, and apparantly that is exactly what is missing in this situation.

The last official pictures are allready 4 month old.  Luckily the EOS forum provides better information.

We'lll have to accept another winter in the cold.  Who nows, maybe one day we'll miss these cold and gray winter-mornings (but certainly not the first 10 years).

 

      

Hi everybody,

 

I hear rumours about serious problems with water infiltration and with electricity.  Is this correct ? Could  this have any influence on the completion date ?

Is there a firm date for phase 1 yet ?  Has the licencia de primera habitacion already been granted ?

We in phase 2 are certainly not their main concern, but it would help us in order to have an idea of how long it wouls take before we are back in play.

Best regards

Wim  

 

Hi All

Going over between 3rd - 7th Feb so will have a good look around.

We are now completing on the 6th Feb subject to an inspection by me prior to the completion date.

Site has confirmed some apts have suffered with water ingress during the severe storms between the 21st & 23rd december but state all has been rectified since. I will try and find out how many as well as checking out my own as they did confirm some water did come in on mine from the flower beds above my patio window over the lounge!

I had someone i know over there check it out last week and he said there was evidence that water had got through but seemed assured that they had sorted it.

Also told by Pablo that people have completed and some are actually living on site! I'll try to find them whilst over there.

Ian

This message was last edited by Ianmack on 1/31/2008.

Hi All

Well we completed on the 7th Feb and the apt was looking great.

Water was getting in from the flower beds on the 2nd floor penthouses and coming into the 1st floor apt below just over the lounge area which is the area directly below the flower beds.  They have given a written guarentee to my lawyer re any defects resulting from this leak will be sorted. They are resealing the flower beds and will test them out by filling them with water prior to repainting the ceilings below after letting the apt fully dry out. All my snagging had been done and to be honest most of it was just little items.

The Spa is about 4 weeks away from completion and they say phase 1 pool  will be ready for March as they need to drain it from the storm water that filled it in december and are waiting for more consistent weather. Phase 2 Pool they tell me will be ready for May as they need this for completions for phase 2. The Clubhouse is open for golfers and looks great and again they say the bar is open short term at the moment, but in a few weeks the bar will be fully stocked prior to the restaurant opening shortly after but definately before May.

All in all they say both pools and the Spa and the clubhouse will be fully up and running by May!

They also said the prices have increased by 5% but i think this is to cover the guarenteed 5% rental income they have introduced to sell off the balance of plots. With this guarantee you have to give them use of the apt for quite a few weeks of the year so they can rent them but in effect you are paying yourself and losing the use of the apt for quite a few weeks. I'll check back thru all my price sheets which i have collected over construction to see if this stacks up.

I'll post some pics on the photo section.

Also, If anyone's interested Imperial Furniture have a sale on at the moment and we got some cracking discounts.

yours

Ian

Hi All

After checking through all the price sheets that I have it seems the prices have risen between 5% - 11%. The last two price sheets i had dated Sept 2006 and March 2006 and they were both identical prices. Some of the penthouses have risen 40-50k so it looks very promising considering the market at the moment.

Anyone else close to completion?

Pictures Views dated 5/2/08:  

1 Pool Ph One:     2 Spa:     3 Spa:      4 Pool Ph 2:     5 Clubhouse Terrace:     6 Clubhouse Interior 

Yours

Ian

This message was last edited by Ianmack on 2/10/2008.

This message was last edited by Ianmack on 2/10/2008.

Hi All

Just a quick update to say a number of owners have now completed including myself and the quality is excellent and the prices are still rising as per the latest price sheet i have dated 31/7/08 which appears to be the opposite to whats happening across the rest of Spain at the moment. The prices for 31/7/08 are approx 5% higher than the prices dated 31/12/07 and the prices for 31/12/07 were between 5%-11% higher than the price sheet dated Sept 2006. Excellent news in these grim times.

Phase One landscaping and pool areas are amazing with the gardners working every day to keep it that way.

Phase 2 pool area is now turfed and the landscaping ongoing with the Spa & Gym and Tennis Courts only a few of weeks away from opening. The Golf Clubhouse Bar & Restaurant is now fully open serving beer and meals along with the usual services for the golfers.

Yours

Ian

Hi, Notice that you have a paddle tennis court - just wondered whether it is available for outsiders to use  - we are at Casares del Sol?

Hi Forest

You would have top check with the sales dept on the main road just short of the development on the left as you travel up from the beach.

The sales woman is called Ines and she speaks good English.

Yours

Ian