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Hi everyone,

We arrived back today and i was devastated last night locking my place up.   Had a very hectic week out there but got almost everything done.  I've put some pictures on for you to see how much i achieved. However, i am sorry that most of them are of my apt as the rest looked pretty much as the pictures in january were. 

It was all very touch and go.   We rented an apt in the port again and got to work straight away. Well, when we finally got the keys after pacing up and down for the call from cordoba to say it was inked. We did the snag and found very little wrong in our apt. Well, quite a few little things but nothing major.  The guy in charge of the snagging Juan Antonio is a very nice bloke but those of you who can't speak enough spanish will not be able to do it without somebody to translate and make things clear.  I know a lot of you are using professionals anyway to snag but beware if not. Its just the language barrier, nothing else. It also has to be written in clear spanish on the snag sheet but he agreed to everything i picked up on.  Some of it he tried to get out of i.e the iron fence and repainting outside terraces, but he agreed in the end.   He told me they have 30days to complete the snag from completion.  The electric and water were fine.  However, there is no wiring in one of the bathrooms for lights on the ceiling.  He told me that this is normal and they do not provide it but they are looking into it again as there is a light switch and the electrician installing my lights said he thinks it is up there but has not been dropped down.  I think it might just be a problem on mine which i have to sort out.  Anyway, we put a lighted mirror in the bathroom and that was fine for now, until they come and sort it out. 

Anyway, back to everybody else and not just my apt.

i asked him about everything, as he had all the answers.  He told me that the satellite on the roof is already linked to the apts for installation and will have basic satellite channels on it now. No sky tho obviously, as we have to do that ourselves if we wish.  I asked him about using sky cards from home and he knows somebody who can install it at this stage and you can bring your sky card over and use that (although its not entirely legal maybe??) Telephones are wired too so a dial up connection or telephone would be easy enough to sort out.   The television, which i know only some were offered due to dates, is a 42" flat screen and are awaiting delivery. 

If anybody plans to stay in the apts the first time they go, then make sure you check that the gas has been put in your air con unit, as ours is still empty and they are going to gas it up.  Had we finished furnishing and wanted to stay there there would have been no heating.  It does work because we checked it, it just doesn't generate heat without the gas. 

Pools.   I asked about these as the pools and gardens looked to be being worked on and in the process of filling (albeit with dark green/brown water!),.  The area looks good, just a little neglected.   He told me that they have a garden contractor coming in and were just waiting for the better weather to get them done.  Apparently the total area is to be re-gardened (i took that to mean a complete re-do around the pools). When i asked him when they would be finished he said the pools and gardens will be done by the end of march for beginning of april.

The penoncillo road seems to be coming on and i don't think it will be long before access can be gained from this side.

The elevators and lifts were being worked on all week.   The guys were still there at 10pm last night so they are trying to get them sorted now.  They had a problem with them but he didn't go into detail as i am ground floor and obviously thought i was just being nosy! ha  

There's lots of stuff still to tell but i'ts a bit of an essay already and most of you have probably fallen asleep. i need to get some food now as i haven't eaten all day but wanted to let you know how i had gotten on.  Let me know if anything else i not mentioned

suzanne

 

What good news and thank you for posting. 

I shall be there Monday and can hardly wait.  I am hoping my 42"  TV will be waiting for me and as I was the first to sign I hope they throw in the surround sound as well. 

Once you have settled please continue with you 'Tales of Duquesa' Suzanne.

hi all I signe din July 2003 can you tell me how you get your TV?

hi mike.   they offered the tv to a bunch of us ( a very small bunch) provided we completed by the 24th january.  However, i think when the next batch are due to complete they might offer again.   I think they wanted to get some people in early to put some life in it and so the others could be less wary after the long delay.   Thats my thought on it anyway.  Ask your lawyer to ask what the free tv is all about and if you can request the same.

Laurden, the tvs on order but no saying when they arrive!! take a radio ha.  There were lots of other points i needed to say and they are coming to me all the time but i won't draw on and on.  Did you see my pics laurden? i am so happy i could burst at the moment, even with the little things to finish i am very happy and glad i carried on with my purchase.  I thought i might have come across you over there.  I know you said you not over until feb but temptation is very strong to get out there isn't it.  You'll be happy, believe me.  The finish is lovely.  The curtain company commented on the wood finish and detailed coving, the hidden air con units etc.  They thought the finish was very good.

I also have  to recommend to you all the Curtain and Bedding company right outside.  I have the phone number and e-mail.  Lady called Mandy couldn't do enough for me.  Herself and the fitter just said 'oh, lets go and see it and get measurements' even though i had them.  They came and fitted to a very high standard at the drop of a hat and had everything you could want for every taste.  They know what they are doing.  If you go, mention that suzanne sent you and she will look after you, she told me to say that too.

Another thing, when people visited and said about the apts needing a good clean.  Don't do what i did and waste 350 euros paying somebody because the builder cleans them for you.  My apt was clean (well, clean as you can expect an empty place to be). My lawyer said the builders had cleaned it for release, but i still went ahead with the expensive industrial clean after what people had said. 

The apartments that have not been released haven't had the clean from the builders yet and the difference is so noticeable.  I let my cleaners in and to be honest it wasn't much different after.  A mop and a spray and cloth is all i think they used.  The heavy stuff had been done. I wasted 300 euros so make sure you have a look on completion before instructing a big clean.  A top clean is all that is required, especially whilst snaggin is going on.

Remember, no shower cubicle or bath screen.  i had to run and buy one of those from local furniture shop whilst fitter was there.  Also you need 3 outside lights.  The local shops are great.  It was different being there this time as we looked into things much more detailed.  The chinese shop at the bottom of the road is brilliant for all your nik naks and the super sol, just up the road (not the one on the roundabout, its up the road on the oposite side of the roundabout) is ace.

Carrefour:   You can get everything, everything from here much cheaper than anywhere else.  Everybody recommended it to me, even the spanish gardener that was digging in the apartment we rented.

Anyway, i am rambling again sorry so i'll go for now

suzanne

Nice photos Suzanne.

I do like your patio furniture.  Did you find that locally ?

Jon

yeah great photos are all our balconies tha size?

We measured our terrace 2 weeks ago and the actual floor area is 54.72 m2.   13.84m2 just outside the patio doors is slightly raised and under cover and the rest is in the open.    We are in the middle of Block 7 on the ground floor.

Jon

SUZANNE! YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE POSTED THOSE PICTURES!
Just when I had virtually made up my mind to pull out you dangle those tempting pictures and now I'm confused again. Heart or head? I'm not sure what will win.
Alan

Suzanne it is just great reading your 'Tales'  your enthusiasm just falls of the screen...lovin it!  and you have made your new home beautiful.  I have taken note of all your suggestions and can hardly wait for next week...and on top of everything the carnival starts Friday in Sabbi...for me it is all coming together now, furniture is due Tuesday until then we are staying  at  'La Duquesa Golf Hotel'...as of Weds we will be staying in the apartment .  

I had already noted the bedding shop at the bottom of our road, and I already use the Carrefor in Estepona...my poor husband will have a serious dent in his credit card next week . 

May I ask Suzanne?  The only thing that I have not really sorted is electrical lighting...I know there is a great shop in Algecieras but it is a bt of a drive, is there anywhere more local that sell good quality light fittings?  Also where did you get the shower and bath screen? 

Yes, I too love the patio furniture.

Congratualtions and may you many happy years in your new home.  It was a long wait but I can see that it is now worth it..

 

 

 

Please continue to ramble...it is of great interest to us.

As you drive up the bank towards Duquesa Village, half way up is a little complex where there is a bar called Beckys, and across from that is the most loveliest lighting shop, just ask anyone where it is, it's easy to find.

Thanks for that will go up next week and take a look.

our balcony measured 80.60 and we have sliding patio doors on loung and main bedroom.   second bedroom has window but i know some of you have the juliet balcony here.  i chose especially to have both sets of sliding doors onto the main terrace

Hi suzanne, may I ask where did you buy the bath and shower screen?

 

Thanks Leema for your post, I know where Becky's is, will go up there next week and take a look.

Hi Laurden

They are a very helpful couple, they have some really nice stuff, I think they also install light fittings for you, you'd have to ask but I'm sure they do.  Good luck, we are getting our keys within the next couple of weeks and have furniture express going in and doing everything in ours.

Maureen

We went to a couple of the furniture shops at the bottom of the road.  The bath screen cost us about 110 euros and we took it away there and then.  Also they had bathroom mirrors, all kinds with lights and without, cabinets etc. Our fitter fitted them whist he was doing the rest of the stuff.  I got some mirrors in the chinese shop for half the price of the furniture places.  There is also a little hardware shop at the bottom that sells everything, little things you forget, plugs etc.   they were helpful.  There is also a big furniture shop with a whole floor downstairs of lighting laurden, reasonable prices too.

You really don't need to travel miles if most of your stuff is sorted as there isn't much on the price.  Go in the curtain and bedding company and ask for Mandy too.  She is familiar with the development now and very helpful.  She told me to send people in and she would 'look after them'

suzanne

Have those of you that have now completed had a 'lock change' as I understand this is essential? There have been some horrendous stories posted on the main forum and I feel it's really not worth taking the chance.
Alan

Good reminder Alan

Change locks immediately after completion and before furniture is in ! Especially if you are on ground floor.

Suzanne, you did, didn't you ?

CONGRATULATIONS!!   It's fantastic to hear that somebody has actually moved in!Please continue to keep us informed Suzanne-it was wonderful to read!!We are in block 3 and understand that there is a problem with the road which is why the FOL hasn't been granted for our block and other blocks too.Please,please can you try and find out what's going on with the access road.Why aren't they getting on with it?(Or are they?? You mention a road in your posting)We cannot understand why the developer doesn't just get on and do it and then he would get his money from all those blocks. That's probably too English a thought! We stood in our apartment last February and ordered all our furniture during that visit believing we were about to complete. How foolish we now realize!

We hope that you can get some "on the ground",up to date info for us poor people in the wrong blocks on phase 1!! Looking forward to hearing more from you.

Sue and Dave

Hi sue and dave.

They are working on the road.  Last week it looked at the stage where they could begin the hard core before laying.  However, they seem to be doing it in sections for access to others on the penoncillo road.  I really think it is coming on and won't be long.  The developers are responsible for only some of the costs and the council are also doing it.  Not sure who the people who are acutally working on it belong to. Hopefully, i am back out next tuesday so i will try and find out some more.

Locks:  i have arranged the lock change but was told not to have it done until snagging completed.  The builder had to ring me to get into my apt as he said there are no other keys anywhere but i know what everybody means.  I just couldn't get anybody else to do it until snagging finished.  That was advise i was given but i hope to get back next tues and make sure it is done

suzanne

Great news Suzanne!Thanks alot. Are you moving out to Spain permanently?Looking forward to updates on the road as that seems to be our stumbling block.We are ready to complete as soon as the licience comes through. We hope to spend quite a lot of time there but are not selling up here yet.