Intro

I don't know if this is the right section to say hi but anyway...  hi.. *wavey smiley*

We just bought a finca in Dolores and are now getting quotes for major reform. Hoping to move out before the end of the year.

This message was last edited by Lauryc on 2/9/2007.

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IF YOU HAVE BOUGHT SOMETHING RUSTIC HAVE A CARE BEFORE SPENDIN LOADS OF DOUGH - ANY INCREASE IN SIZE OF CONSTRUCTED AREA AND THIS INCLUDES TERRACES, POOLS ETC IS SUPPOSED TO BE LICENSED BY THE LOCAL TOWN HALL - A BUILDER WILL BE HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR MONEY WITHOUT TELLING YOU THE FORM TO FOLLOW - YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A LICENSE EVEN TO PAINT THE HOUSE LET ALONE ANYTHING ELSE - REALITY IS THAT IF YOU ARE OFF THE BEATEN TRACK INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR REFORM WORK YOU CAN PROBABLY GET AWAY WITHOUT THE LICENCE - BUT DEPENDS ON WHETHER INTERFERING NEIGHBOURS AWARE OF WHATS GOING ON - A WORD IN THE WRONG PLACE FROM AN AGGRIEVED OR JEALOUS NEIGHBOUR COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS - BET THE ESTATE AGENT NEVER TOLD YOU ANY OF THAT

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Hi Rose.

Thanks for the warnings. We are well aware of all the problems that can crop up with rustic property.

We have been house hunting for 18 months.

Our agent is a Brit working for a Spanish agent and we know every detail of the whole thing.

We have no intention of amplifying the build area at all. It is already 140sqm floor plus a 30 sqm terrace.

We have checked the land registry thoroughly and will be applying for the necessary pull down and rebuild licences. It is only the rear 30sqm that needs rebuilding because it's so rough. The rest is just a matter of upgrading. It cost's 1% of the rebuild costs... materials only.

Don't worry. We're not going into this in a blinkered fashion.

We even checked our irrigation rights and got those sorted too.

The 5 near neighbours are all Spanish and we have already met them.  Spent a long time "chatting" to them. With our broken Spanish and their zero english.  It was great fun.

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This message was last edited by JeansSis on 5/17/2007.

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Hi LauryC,

Where exactly is this "Dolores" ? anyway, you seem to be in the right track and propperly advised and I foresee no problem, specially if you have already presented your "good faith" with your Spanish neighbours. To try to communicate with them in Spanish is a gesture that they will not forget and they will look after your property in your absence and will be always ready to assist.  A lot of the foreigners just settle down and then start putting faces to the Goathman, etc....

Spanish "campo" people is in general fantastic and unfortunately a species on the road to extintion...... Please try hard with your Spanish, you will love the tongue and your neighbours will love you and also will completelly open almost half of the world to you as Spain once also used to be a great empire. In America, from Mexico to the Antarctica, you can speak Spanish.

Juan.

 

PS: Tell us more about Dolores !

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This message was last edited by JeansSis on 5/17/2007.

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Hiya Juan and Jeanssis.

Dolores is still very Spanish with a new urbanisation being built there.

Our house is in farmland midway between Dolores and San Fulgencio. There is an old finca to be modernised and an acre of land to work.

The fields around are currently full of brocolli and our nearest neighbours 'grow' chickens. We were told to see them for chickens and veg instead of going to the shops. It was lovely sitting at the large table in their living room and 'talking' about their lives and ours, then being shown all the vegetables they are growing and discussing what we both call them all.

Yes Juan, we intend to become part of the community.

Janice. You are spot on regarding the furniture shops. We have been looking recently. Almoradi has a superb market on Saturday mornings too.  Do you live near there?

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This message was last edited by JeansSis on 5/17/2007.

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The Guardamar market looks well worth a visit too. We shall have to go and see when we are next over.

..

Even though the directions are not too clear, i'm sure we can find it. 

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This message was last edited by JeansSis on 5/17/2007.

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