32" Sharp Television for sale

I've just come back from what was supposed to be the signing for my property at Manuela. The salesgirl I was dealing with has gone and no one new I was supposed to be signing. The second (and last ) payment has been taken from my bank and the house is finished (so they said) I will not go into it in depth but the workmanship is as far from what I was shown in the show house as could ever be imagined. Things like broken roof tiles, cracked pillars where balcony rails secure to and massive holes in tiles where taps go through wall in bathroom, even the large bezzels can not hide all that filler around them, the big metal front security door that scrapes the floor tiles when opened.I am getting a proffessional in and am giving them (euromarina) a month to sort the numerous problems out. Have it snagged properly, their standards have dropped dramatically. Disappointed is not the word.

Ron

Crikey, sounds like you had a bad time. When are you due to go back?

I heard an English lady called Sandra had left Euromarina recently, was she the one you were dealing with?

How close to completion of the site do you think they are? When were you planning on moving out there?

Our completion date on the contract is still March 1st and they reckon we will be completing during March sometime which suits me.

Did you manage to capture any pictures of the site and your Lola?

Steve

Hi Steve

yes it was Sandra, heard she was fired. I am going out on my own on 29th Feb to see if the problems have been sorted out. I am now dealing with a chap called Pascal who assures me everything will be done. I have my doubts. The place is much the same as the last pics a couple of weeks ago from Euromarina site. I have only the pics of my defects.I would say early March the place will be finished. The houses to my left which are no's 17 upwards look to be finished only the gates and wall coating left to be done and I have been inside one of them and it did not seem to have the defects mine has. They obviously made a mistake on dates with mine and to avoid penalties they put all hands on it and made a right cock up. We aim to move as soon as our house sells which hopefully looks to be about end of March barring a pull out. Met several ex pats in the area who love the place so that at least I got right.

Ron

Ron

Glad to hear not everything was bad! Also as ours is no.19 it sounds like we might not have the same problems so thanks for letting us know that.

We hope you have a much better trip at the end of Feb and everything is sorted. We are likely to be going sometime in March to complete just not sure yet what date.

I also know that you have made the right decision to move there and it is good that others you met there have also confirmed you have made the right decision. The agent we have bought through has been selling property in the area for a good number of years and tells me that he prefers selling Euromarina properties to his clients as he has never experienced any problems whatever with them which means less hassle for him when his clients then move in, as he lives in Quesada himself ,and doesn't want complaining clients on his doorstep everyday!

He employs an English lady as his after sales representative. She keeps visiting the site for us and taking photos. Also she keeps up to date with any snagging problems and pesters Euromarina until they are fixed and apparently only when she gives it the thumbs up does my agent then tell me to arrange a visit so I have to leave it in his hands and trust them.

Let us know how you get on in a couple of weeks, are you going to upload the pics you took showing the problems?

Steve

Cheers Steve, sounds like I should have gone through your agent. I will upload the pics I have.

Ron

I have downloaded some of the defect pics. The one with the cracked stone is looking down from the balcony rail. The pics of the tiles where taps come through wall are not so clear but you can see the amount of filler they have had to use because of cutting to big an appature in the wall tiles. A pic of the kitchen is included, nothing wrong here, and a view from the balcony to the lakes, your house is on the left. As you will see they are almost finished. I have taken a shot of mine from the front to show the state of the tiles, covered in wall coating. As this was presented to me as a finished house you can imagine my dissapointment. The balcony's too are coated in lumps of hardened coating. I can only hope they have done something about it by the 29th.

Ron

Hi Ron,

I really hope they sort all of your problems out for you.  Like Steve we went through an agent so cross fingers things we be o.k.  Chris and I are comimg over on the 20th Feb so it would be really nice to meet up with you for a drink when you arrive.  Our e-mails ......................... drop me a line with a contact number in Spain if you fancy it.

I've tried posting replies here in the past but I usually get an error message and it doesn't work, hope this one gets posted.

See you all soon,

all the best.

Bill

This message was last edited by Amadeus on 2/16/2008.

Bill

Have you been to complete yet? If so how was it? Were you satisified. It looks like your row was the first to be completed. Have you got any photos of your interior? I got some sent last week by Euromarina and there was some little finishing touches to made. Also the pools and gardens we have been told are due for completion about the end of March.

When are you planning on moving over? My wife and I are booked to complete on the 27th March so are just going over for a couple of days then.

Cheers

Steve

Hi Steve,

We're due to complete in about 3 weeks which will hopefully tie in nicely with the removals firm from the U.K.  The exteriors look really good much better than other fortunas and the interiors are looking pretty good too, like you said just a few finishing touches.  As I understand it the builder lets the agent know that its finished and then a building inspector checks the house (the build only) against the plans for legality and conformity.  Then the agent  snags it with you present.  Once everything is right then its off to the notary with your solicitor for completion.

In our block the boilers are still awaiting fitting and the houses need a damn good clean which euromarina take care of. They've told us end of March for the pool area which I can believe but don't forget they've got the elections over here at the moment so add a week or two to be on the safe side.  A friend of ours bought through euromarina and they speak extremely highly of them which was comforting to hear. 

Looking forward to meeting you.

Cheers,

Bill

Hi Bill

Cheers for the reply.

I assume from your post you have purchased through an agent. Who have you used, I wondered if it is the same as us? Also are you using a solicitor or just going through Euromarina? I have been told that some people use a solicitor and others don't as Euromarina definately own the land etc they haven't found it necessary and have never had any problems. What advise have you been given?

Cheers

Steve

Hi Steve,

We used Parador properties, and Domus solicitors in Torrevieja.  I would always advise the use a solicitor for the sake of 1% of the puchase price its piece of mind, they check all of the licences and land registry.  Given that Spain isn't adverse to bending the rules or inventing new ones I felt more comfortable using one.

 

All the best,

Bill

Just got back (yesterday) from the site. Pleased to say they have done all the snagging on the inside of the house right down to replacement tiles around tap outlets and floor tiles that were scored from the front door lower edge. Everything seems good. The outside still has lumps of monacap plaster from the walls splattered on top of the roof tiling above porch but am assured once the site is finished as far as house build goes, all the units will be cleaned on the outside. The boiler has been installed, I have electricity but no water yet so can not test it. The drive floor tiles are down and the front path tiles are laid, no gates as yet. They have at last admitted a mistake was made on my sale documents stating 25th Jan 2008 as completion date, should have been March so they got my money a couple of months early, no matter, if they clean the outside I will be very satisfied. They booked me into a suite at the La lagona which was very nice so I cant complain. Had some nice food too. Met a guy who was staying in his fortuna I think it was either 50,51 or 52. They ran a pipe from the far end to supply him with water, his name is Joe and he says he is very happy, builders water, builders electricity so no charges yet. My furniture gets collected 10th March and after repacking and loaded to larger truck will arrived in Alacante 29th. I get free storage for up to a month to enable us to move in, we then contact them to deliver. Exchange of contracts on my house in the UK is about to take place any day now so if all goes well the dates will be just right. 

Ron 

Hi Ron

 

Glad to hear everything was better for you this time. Did you use a solicitor or did you just use Euromarina services? My agent has worked with Euromarina for over 5 years, and his wife worked for them for a couple of years, he has bought 3 properties and hasn't used a solicitor because he knows them so well and trusts them, however he says that a few of his clients did for their peace of mind. I now cannot make up my mind as they charge around 1% of sale price.

When exactly will you be there? We are completing on the 27th March and return to the UK on the 29th. I think Bill may be there at around the same time. Did you take any further pics? Euromarina sent me a few of our interior and a couple of the outside one from the bedroom balcony over looking your garden!! I have posted these two on here.

 

Cheers

Steve

Hi Ron/Steve,

I'm over here at he moment staying with friends until we complete -2 ish weeks.  Tried to call you a couple of times yesterday Ron but kept getting a movie star spanish message.  Are you still over here as I would still like to meet up.  Steve I'm mainly using a solicitor for peace of mind plus they'll translate the escritura at the notary.  If you know someone who didn't use one just get him to talk you through their experience at the notary as thats the important bit.  Dont forget there's 2 red days this month 21st and 23rd these are compulsory holidays so apart from bars etc no one will be working.

 

all the best,

Bill

I did not use an independent solicitor as two of my friends had purchased prior to me and had no problems what so ever without a solicitor. I was worried if I would get the work done now they had my money but they have been very helpfull and done everything I highlighted as far as faults. My friend is still getting things done for free from them which were obviously caused by his own mistakes i.e. moving a table and catching the edge of his door causing a nasty gouge, they repaired it for him. I'm happy with their reputation for build quality, aftersales and legallity to save the 1% on extortiornate solicitor fees.

Bill I came back on the 4th March as I only took a short break to make sure the snagging was completed. They paid the hotel so I thought it rude not to go. I'll try and post some pics.

Ron

By the way found a translater that attends the noterie, she is local and charges around 14e an hour. I am going to contact her when I get her number from a local I met.

Ron

Ron

Thanks for sharing that with me as I was originally thinking the same about the solicitor but still kept having nagging doubts that I couldn't shake off. Over the last 20 years we have purchased and sold a couple of places in Spain (although never new builds) , as 20 years ago we lived and had a bar/restaurant there for a couple of years so we have experienced the exciting Notary office scenario a few times and we speak and understand a little Spanish still.

I understand people do want peace of mind when making a huge purchase such as this and I guess for them, like Bill says, 1% in the grand scheme of things I guess is worth paying.

Still I will have to make a decision tomorrow one way or another. Have you seen the pics I posted and the one overlooking your corner garden, it looks massive by the way I hope you have budgeted for a lawn mower!!

Cheers

Steve

Thanks rhodesie, yes I saw the pics, yes my place does look big and I may have to put down the artificial stuff, will have to look into it. I did speak to Euromarina about the solicitor issue but was assured that many buyers do not bother with them as they (Euromarina) have a massive and respected name in the industry and could not afford a scandel. If you think about it the buyers that have used solicitors have done your work for you, you have not heard of anyone pulling out or any legal probs on thier place so why would there be on your place as its on the same plan of land etc. As my friend said to me if your nieghbours house is ok legally then chances are so is yours. I could well do without the expense anyway what with the euro rate etc.

Ron