problems getting in to see a show apartment

We are purchasing an apartment on the Costa Blanca with a very reputable Spanish company.We are due to complete in June.Since late last year they have opened a show apartment and after initially being told we could visit we then had problems gaining access.An appointment was made with our agent but we were then told that new EU restrictions meant we couldnt see the show flat.After my husband somewhat lost his temper we were allowed in for a whistle stop tour ,not allowing any time to really look or to measure up.Since then we attemted to make a further appointment but have now been told this isnt possible and we will have access at the time of completion.Another purchaser with the same company ,in the same apartments has been told they can see the show apartment if they make an appointment even although there are new EU regulations. I can understand that they dont want people walking all over the building site but the show place is on the edge of the block and didnt entail any ladders etc.Has anyone else had a similar experience ? I cant understand why they have gone to the bother of a show apartment if no one can see it.Is it a different law for those possibly purchasing than for those who have already purchased ?Any ideas as to how we can get a look in at our next visit in March ? 

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Hi Gillian,

How strange !

The showhome (a 3 bed detached house) for our builder is open for anyone, not just those turning up with the likes of Atlas, Parador, Iberian, Masa etc,  to view during the opening hours. People often wander down our road in order to look at the 2 bed ones (which we bought) & I've often asked them in momentarily (seeing as we, ourselves, relied on people just like us to  invite us in, as, contrary to what the agent told us, each of the rooms in the 2 bed houses aren't quite as large as those in the 3 beds, overall.) If you just turned up, privately, how would they know if you have bought or are you saying the showflat is closed except IF you pre-arrange a visit ?

I'd be very careful anyway if you rely on the measurements being the same as we found many differences.

Where is it you're buying, Gillian ? Please put it on your profile as it makes it SO much easier for members to help you. We are all over the Costas. My husband & I are non residents outside Guardamar on the Costa Blanca.

Janice

 

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Hello Gillian,

This is a very odd situation!

I don't know about the new EU regulations, but maybe this has a big part of the restricted access??

As far as I am aware, you can visit the Piloto (show house), when it is staffed and as oten as you wish.

Being the suspicious person that I am, are they trying to hide something!

Why only let you look in "depth" once you have completed?

Surely they can't hope to sell their product if they won't allow you to inspect the "sample" product in depth!

Hopefully, some of our other members of Eye on Spain may have better answers than I can give you at this moment.

Kind regards,

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 Thank you for your replies.I thought it might be helpful to say the apartment is in Altea Hills and the show apartment isnt manned.Difficult to sneak a look with someone else if our agent is around as she knows us.When we did  get our lightening tour we had to wear special jackets and hats because it is still a building site and they have only finshed the one apartment.I must say we did feel a bit suspicious about room sizes because we wondered if it was the mention of wanting to measure up that elicited such a strong response !!

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Hi there,

We recently visited the show flat in our development (Costa del Sol) for the second time by arrangement with the developer's representative and while we had no problems viewing the apartment we were not allowed to take measurements under any circumstances.  I think developers are afraid that they will be held responsible if the bought apartment does not turn out to match the measurements of the show apartment though as far as I can make out differences in individual room measurements are quite normal in these situations however the overall area including that occupied by the walls should in fact always match up!  As far as EU regulations are concerned I suspect this is more to do with the dangers for the public visiting an operational building site than visiting a supervised show apartment.  When they say you cannot view until completion, I expect they are referring to the actual  apartment you have purchased as opposed to the show apartment.

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When we bought our apartment, we visited the piloto.

These pilotos are "thrown" together, to give the buyer an idea of what the finshed apartment/villa is like.

I do not think they are" like for like", just an idication. Maybe that is why they will not allow you to measure up.

However, when we got our keys and in subsequent months spoke to other new owners, we were all shocked to find that our measurements inside our apartments vareid, as did the kitchen units!

Some of the apartments has smaller hallways than others, sometimes by 8- 10 inches!

And most all of the apartments had differnet kitchen cupboard size that seemd to have been tailor made to fit the size of the kitchen once finished!

So, my advice is never to measure a piloto, it won't reflect the real size of your purchase. When the building work is in progress, I am sure that a few inches out on a wall etc., is not critical to the builders.

They just carry on building, fit the bits in after to suit each unit, and as long as they don't exceed the building overall size, they feel happy! 

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Crikey brother just what I wanted to hear !! At least your reply has made us laugh - or was it cry !!

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Soreeeeeeee, but it is true!

Don't despair, you will get used to all this Spanish stuff, they have their own way of doing things, like, 2morrow???

But I still love our holiday home in Playa Flamenca, Costa Blanca!

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Thank you. I will try not to get too up tight about it and cant wait to see it finished. 

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Well done........see.........you are getting into Spanish mode already!

Manyana................

Kind regards,

This message was last edited by FibbyUK on 2/17/2007.

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We must have been lucky! we measured before all the finishing touches, ie kitchen fitted, wardrobes in bedrooms etc, and all was to builders spec,  Think I would be inclined to check all  with your lawyer,

Is there any body else you know buying on your development having the same problem ?

Regards

Jill

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God Jill, YOU had a KITCHEN fitted ??? (Just joking but you DO hear the oddest stories, certainly in some Almoradi apartments about the builder NOT putting a kitchen in. )

Gillian, all will be fine. If that's all you have concerns about consider yourself lucky. You said your apartment is in "Altea Hills" . Is that the name of the development or is it ACTUALLY in the Altea hills. So many developments in so many areas.

Janice

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Our apartment  is actually in Altea Hills and the developer is well known in the area - beginning with the letter 'B'. We thought they were very reputable which was why we were so surprised at all the hoo ha . I am in touch with 2 other people through EonS (as yet no other subscibers from our particular apartments)As far as I am aware one couple did not gain entrance to the show apartment but seem fairly laid back about it and the other did.I think it has helped that they have bought through an agency whereas we bought direct from the builders. 

Gericom99 's experience seems similar to ours and maybe the answer is to ask to revisit without mentioning the dreaded  ' MEASURING TAPE ' !! 

I suddenly realised last night that I have detailed scale plans of the apartment that were sent to us when we requested extra electrical sockets.It does measure the same as we are expecting and does show all the kitchen units - so here's hoping !

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Good morning Gillian!

Just a thought, have you been on the Development forum here on EOS?

You may be able to talk to lots more people from your development on there and see if others have the same problems accessing the piloto.

Rgds,

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Thank you for that.I have been on to it but only 3 of us in contact.Cant quite understand where all the other purchasers have got to !

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Oh well, it was worth a try Gillian.

Keep popping back to the development forum, you will find people who have problems tend to look for and join, so you may get lucky!

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Believe it or not all suddenly fine to view show apartment (did say this time to just look without measuring up so maybe that clinched it)Pleased to be able to see it but also makes things easier with our rep.who has on the whole been very pleasant and helpful

Thanks for all your suggestions they were really helpful.

Here's to EYE on SPAIN !!

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So glad you feel a certain relief now, Gillian.

Janice

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